LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

Photos Below

     This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

1. English and Scientific names: Couch’s Kingbird

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

3. Parish: Cameron

Specific Locality: “Oak Grove” = “Rutherford Oaks” = woods along Joe Rutherford Road

4. Date(s) when observed: 05/12/2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed: about 6:00 p.m.

6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): David Muth, Dan Purrington

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Robby Bacon apparently found the bird, Gary Broussard saw it later. Both realized it was a “Tropical” Kingbird, and Gary noted that it responded to Couch’s by flying closer, but that it never called.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Good evening light, with bird in full sun at times.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s

11. Distance to bird(s): ca. 15 yards at closest point

12. Duration of observation: about 30 minutes on and off

13. Habitat: Live Oak woodlands just inland of marsh.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation: I noted the bird in flight when I arrived at the woods. It landed, sat, and preened about 20 feet off the ground. It sallied out a few times into the treetops. After we played the tape, the bird flew close to us and began calling.

15. Description: Yellow-breasted/ bellied tyrant flycatcher similar to Western Kingbird but with more extensive yellow. White chin and throat, greenish back, brownish wings and tail with some green tones and some edging to coverts. Pale gray head with dark “mask” of dusky feathering on eyeline and upper part of auriculars. Thin area of pale ashy gray where yellow of breast and white of throat met.

Bill black, broad at base, with slightly convex sides seen from below. Bill seemed thick seen from side. Overall length of bill didn’t seem overly long, although that’s clearly a subjective description.

16. Voice: I only briefly heard the voice. I was well back of Purrington who was in turn behind Muth when the bird began calling over Muth’s head. I only became aware of the bird’s response when I got closer and heard what I thought was Purrington’s tape, only to find out he had already shut it off. The call I heard was consistent with the call on the tape, and didn’t sound like Tropical Kingbird.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Similar N.A. species would be Western and Cassin’s, neither of which matched this bird’s plumage, and more closely similar would be Tropical, which call eliminates. I hope that Muth’s video and audio sufficiently documented the calls. Other possibilities would be austral migrant tyrants, none of which I am familiar with in life.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): yes, by all 3 of us. Mine attached. Muth believes he has audio of the call, but I haven’t heard it yet. I may have some of it calling on video but haven’t checked.

19. Previous experience with this species: Fairly slight.

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

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

21. This description is written from: memory

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: This ID boils down to the evaluation of audio regardless of my level of confidence, and rightfully so.

23. Date: 5/15/2012