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English and Scientific
names: |
Cinnamon teal
(Anas cyanoptera) |
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Number of individuals: |
1 adult male |
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Locality: LOUISIANA: |
Cameron Parish |
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Specific Locality: |
Sabine NWR - specifically in a pond area just behind the Visitor's Center. The bird could be seen from the boardwalk leading from the parking lot to the trail that follows the perimeter of the marshy area. |
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Date(s) when observed: |
November 29, 2005 |
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Time(s) of day when
observed: |
about 10:45 AM |
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Reporting observer and
address: |
Jeff Harris Baton Rouge, LA 70806 |
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Other observers accompanying reporter who also
identified the bird(s): |
Jerry Lenhard, Wood Johnson |
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Other observers accompanying reporter who
independently identified the bird(s): |
none |
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Light conditions (position of bird in relation to
shade and to direction and amount of light): |
dreary (cloud cover was full) and windy day, but visibility around the pond was good. |
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Optical equipment: |
All of us had 8 x 42 binoculars, and Jerry found the bird in his Kowa TSN2 spotting scope with a zoom lens (25-60X). |
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Distance to bird(s): |
80 yards |
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Duration of observation: |
45 minutes - we scanned a mixed flock of ducks during this time to try and identify all species that were present. When we found the cinnamon teal, we spent a great deal of time looking at him because none of us had seen one before. |
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Habitat: |
Marshy, freshwater pond with lots of tall reeds and grasses. |
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Behavior of bird: |
The bird was feeding with other ducks in the pond. |
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Description:
|
The duck appeared to be about the same size (or at least similar) to a green-winged teal that was nearby for comparison. The cinnamon-colored feathers of the body stood out and is what helped us notice the bird in the first place. Eye and bill color were difficult to discern at that distance. |
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Voice: |
did not pick out the voice of this particular bird from the flock of 60-80 ducks. |
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Similar species: |
We saw blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, northern shovelers, and mottled ducks in the same pond. No other species resembled the male cinnamon teal. |
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Photographs or tape recordings obtained? |
none |
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Previous experience with this species: |
none |
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Identification aids: |
at time of observation: We had Sibley's Field Guide
and two different versions of Peterson's Filed Guide with us at the time of
observation. We consulted all 3 books as we examined the bird -- we
compared plates, but we also looked up the range maps to convince ourselves
that it was possible for the bird to be there.
|
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This description is
written from: |
This is strictly from my memory; however, Jerry Lenhard had recorded the date at the time of observation in his database. I had forgotten even the year in which we observed the bird, but he provided the correct date. |
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Are you positive of your identification? If not,
explain: |
Yes. There is just no other duck that would look like this bird. This bird had a teal-like head shape, and not the shape of something like a redhead or a canvasback. |
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Reporter: |
Jeffrey W. Harris
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Date and time: |
February 19, 2008 |