LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): 1 male in apparently adult plumage

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Lafayette

Specific Locality: 102 Goodwood Cir., 2.4km N Milton, LA

4. Date(s) when observed: 7 Nov 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 6:45am

6. Reporting observer and address: Erik I. Johnson, Lafayette, LA 70508

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): none

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): none

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): overcast early morning light (local sunrise at ~6:27am). Bird at ends of branches in even, but low light

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 10 x 42 Swarovski EL, good condition

11. Distance to bird(s): 20 ft.

12. Duration of observation: 1 minute

13. Habitat: residential with lawns mixed with large trees (e.g. sweet gum, hackberry, live and water oaks) with nearby hardwood forest along Vermilion River to west and cane field to south.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): Bird foraging slowly near ends of branches

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species): I first saw underparts (mostly undertail coverts and belly) from behind – looked yellowish and longish tailed (I did not see the tail color well because it was folded and almost head-on), and larger than a warbler. Then I saw the head as it turned its head to the side and noticed the pointed long oriole-like bill, narrow well-defined black throat patch, narrow dark eyeline, and dark nape and crown. I watched the bird move slowly along the branch and hop to other nearby branches, seeing it at different angles, including front-on and from the side. I noted the large single bold white wing patch on the folded wing and all yellowish-orange underparts, perhaps getting brighter in the face (auriculars and supercilium). All the features I saw were consistent with a pure Bullock’s, without obvious introgression of a Baltimore phenotype.

I should note that the bird did not appear as bright orange as in Sibley’s 1^st edition, 5^th printing (2001), where he depicts the bird to be nearly the same color as Baltimore Oriole. The bird I saw was more yellow-toned, which seems to be more consistent with the many photos a simple Google Image search revealed.

16. Voice: not heard

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Most like male Hooded or Streak-backed Oriole, but combination of facial pattern, dark nape and crown, and single bold white wing bar clinch Bullock’s.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): none

19. Previous experience with this species: Virtually none.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation: none

b. after observation: Sibley Guide to North American Birds immediately after

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_X_notes made after the observation (date:7 Nov 2011 – submission to eBird about 1.5 hrs after observation); __X__memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes

23. Signature of reporter: Erik I. Johnson, 8 Nov 2011, 8:45am