LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

PHOTOS BELOW

1. English and Scientific names: Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)

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

One Male CITE, adult plumage (photos inserted in this document at end)

3. Locality: Parish: Cameron Parish, Louisiana________________________________

Specific Locality: Cameron Prairie NWR, Pintail Loop, eastern section of drive, in roadside canal on western side of road. ______________________

4. Date(s) when observed: January 07, 2014

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 1:05 – 1:08pm, stopping and slowly progressing along with other vehicles driving the one-way scenic loop.

6. Reporting observer and address: Molly Richard, Lafayette, LA 70506

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): other LAbird reports directed me to bird – see LAbird email William Jones on 01/03/2014

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Bright afternoon sunshine lighting the bird from overhead/behind – photos clear.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Nikon 10X42 Premier binoculars, and Canon EOS Rebel T3 fitted with a Canon 75-300mm zoom lens at full zoom.

11. Distance to bird(s): as close as 15 feet

12. Duration of observation: approximately 3 minutes, as allowed by traffic on loop.

13. Habitat: impounded, flooded fresh marsh

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

CITE was with 2 male and one female Blue-winged Teal, swimming in the canal away from each vehicle as it passed. It flew ahead, and then around behind the vehicle in front of my car, landing back in the canal next to me. It then swam alongside, then ahead of my car, eventually again flying back around me in to the canal. It remained in the canal and did not fly into the larger impoundments on the right and left during my observation.

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):

Obvious cinnamon/russet plumage on head, neck, chest and sides. Evident blue and green on speculum even while swimming. Bright red eye. Scapulars brown with black spots. Compared to BWTE, the bill was larger, longer and more shoveler-like, the head was larger than BWTE, and overall the bird appeared beefier than BWTE. See photo of both birds together. Blue on wing also evident in flight – see photo below.

16. Voice: Did not note specific vocalization separate from BWTE – the birds were uttering a low grunting, a sort of nervous muttering, as they pulled ahead of my car.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Male NOSH has cinnamon sides, but had green head and white chest; no white on this male CITE.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): I took 18 photos of the bird, 17 of which are clear and quite close, including one of the bird in flight.

19. Previous experience with this species: I have observed male CITE in the Rio Grande Valley, along with a female CITE in fall of 2013 in Cape May, New Jersey.

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

Before making trip to chase this reported bird, I consulted Sibley and Crossley guides.

a. at time of observation: none consulted during short 3 minute observation and photographing.

b. after observation: my own photographs.

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);__X_notes made after the observation (date:1/07/14 LAbird email, then 3X5 submission on 1/08/12); _____memory.

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

23. Date:_Today is 01/27/2014_Time:__4:00pm

24. May the LBRC have permission to display this report or
portions of this report on its website? __Yes_____________________

If yes, may we include your name with the report? __Yes______________