LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     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.

English and Scientific names: Couch's Kingbird, Tyrannus couchii

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

Parish: Rapides

Specific Locality: Impoundment with scattered baldcypress on east side of Messina Road (Forest Road 273) a little over one mile south of LA Hwy 28 West.

Date(s) when observed: February 15 and 16, 2011.

Time(s) of day when observed: 1530 hours and 1130 hours.

Reporting observer and address:

Steve Shively

Boyce, LA

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): None yet.

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): None yet.

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Full sun behind observer.

Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 8x binoculars, 15-30x spotting scope.

Distance to bird(s): 50 yards initially, then bird called in to 30 feet or so.

Duration of observation: 15-20 minutes at a time.

Habitat: Open water with scattered baldcypress of various ages including standing snags.

Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): Initially saw bird sallying out from perch which led to observation with binoculars and then spotting scope. Bird often returned to same perch. Sorties were relatively long (10-15 seconds), and elaborate with lots of swooping around. Bright yellow of belly clearly visible without optics.

Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: Bird roughly mockingbird sized, but plumper and shorter tail. Initially assumed it was western kingbird but brightness of yellow was troubling and when seen with optics the longer, thicker bill was evident. When I got a good look at the underside I could see that the yellow extended right up to the whitish throat. Back was greenish. Tail was strongly notched. No white outer retrices as seen from behind.

Voice: Responded to electronic playback of Couch's vocalization with essentially the same vocalizations. Hard to describe sounds. "Check, check, check...chatterrrrrrrrr."

Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Tropical kingbird - song different. Western kingbird - longer, thicker bill; yellow of underside extends further up to throat in Couch's.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Photos obtained on 2-16-11 by Steve Shively. Will send.

Previous experience with this species: Saw one in 1984 maybe on the upper Texas coast.

Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification): Sibley guide, National Geographic guide, Golden guide, Peterson's Birds of Texas, ipod Bird Jam.

This description is written from: Notes made in vehicle immediately after observation on 2-15-11.

Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: I'm positive. Only question might be if Tropical Kingbirds sometimes display bilingual ability.

Date/Time: 2-16-2011, 1440 hours.