Louisiana Ornithological Society’s

Louisiana Bird Records Committee

Report Form

 

 

  1. English and Scientific names:

 

Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Myiarchus tuberculifer

 

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

 

One

 

  1. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) (specific locality)

 

Caddo Parish. Cross Lake near Lakewood Drive. 32.528685/93.857792.

 

  1. Date(s) when observed:

 

December 1, 2012

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

10:00 AM CST.

 

  1. Reporting observer and address:

 

Jay V. Huner

428 Hickory Hill Drive

Boyce, LA 71409

 

  1. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):


Terry Davis.

 

  1. Other observers who Independently identified the bird(s):

 

Charlie Lyon and Hubert Hervey.

 

  1. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

 

Sun reasonably high with light from over shoulder.

 

  1. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

 

Mine – Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars in good condition

 

Distance to bird(s):

 

About 75 yards.

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

Saw bird for about two minutes. Terry Davis heard the bird at least twice during the 30 minutes we were in the area.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

Hackberry and Cypress in riparian area adjacent to Cross Lake.

 

  1. Behavior of bird/circumstances of observations (flying, feeding, resting; including and stress habits in identification: relate events surrounding observation):

 

Bird was initially heard calling by Terry Davis. I saw it approach our position about 30-40’ above the ground in a large cypress tree. It worked itself around limbs and the main trunk of the tree. Terry was unable to visually locate the bird and I lost it after it “dropped down”.

 

  1. 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):

 

Here is Terry Davis’ description of the encounter which appeared on LABIRD on 12/01/2012.

 

“The Dusky-capped gave the descending mournful “where” call twice at 10 a.m., then fell silent. I was looking in a different direction when Jay spotted the bird approaching while we were using Ash-throated playback. I was not able to get on the bird after it dropped low farther away, but Jay saw that proportions and colors were right for the Dusky-capped….As we were about to leave, I heard another distant call. We waited a few more minutes but the bird did not show so we left….”

 

  1. Voice:

 

I did not hear the bird. Terry Davis described the call as “descending, mournful “wheer call”.

 

  1. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

 

Other Myiarchus spp. are very similar. Size and color of breast – yellow – were used to distinguish between other similar species.

 

  1. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached”):

 

Photos and recordings were made by C. Lyon and T. Davis when the bird was first located several days before.

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I had encountered Dusky-capped Flycatcher on two previous visits to southeastern Arizona.

 

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

 

    1. at time of observation: None
    2. after observation: Sibley’s Field Guide and National Geographic Field Guide.

 

  1. This description is written from: ___notes made during the observation (notes attached?); __notes made after the observation; ____ memory.

 

Used notes from Terry Davis.

 

  1. Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain.

 

Yes.

 

  1. Signature of reporter __Jay V. Huner__ date 6/18/2013  9:35 PM