LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     

1. English and Scientific names:  Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus

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

Description: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gif1 adult bird

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)     Vermilion

Specific Locality: on Leger Road about 0.5 miles south of intersection with Mark Twain Rd._________________________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed:  December 4, 2011

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5. Time(s) of day when observed:  6:30 – 7:00 AM

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6. Reporting observer and address:  Jeffrey W. Harris, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):  Jerry Lenhard

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8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):  Michael Seymour first discovered this bird; Erik Johnson saw it the day before we did.

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9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):  There was no contrasty sunlight on this morning because of strong cloud cover.

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10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):  Alpen binocular, 10 x 50; Jerry used a Nikon 8 x 40; both in good condition

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11. Distance to bird(s):  40-60 feet was the closest we could get before the bird dropped to thick cover

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12. Duration of observation:  10-15 minutes total

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13. Habitat:  near a tree/hedge row with waist high thickets covering several acres adjacent to the tree line

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14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):  The bird was heard first as it gave the characteristic call of the species (at least the one offered by the Arizona Field Ornithologists); it then flew up from cover into a small leafless tree (about 4 feet off the ground) to give us good views.

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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):  The bird had a relatively long tail and a distinctive white throat that caught our attention.  The chestnut colored crown was also very obvious once the bird was located.  Under our lighting conditions, the bird actually looked kind of a drab olive green in dorsal color with a pale belly patch obvious from a distance.

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16. Voice:  Yes, the bird called repeatedly during our observation.  At one point it dropped out of sight into the thicket, and I used playback of “calls” (not the species song) to get the bird’s attention.  It responded to about 5 seconds of calls (maybe 3-4 notes) and resumed the previous position in the small tree.  No further playback was used.

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17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):  I guess the only similar species (from a distance) would be a White-throated Sparrow or maybe a Swamp Sparrow with extremely white throats, but really, there was no other species to which it could be confused.

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18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):  I videotaped the bird for several minutes; the recordings are not that great given the distance, but the attributes needed for identification show well enough.

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19. Previous experience with this species:  none

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

Description: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/dot_clear.gifSeveral field guides were examined prior to the trip; sound recordings of calls were also memorized prior to the trip (Sibley’s and National Geographic Field Guides were the primary source of plates; Arizon Field Ornithologists supplied the recording of calls).

a. at time of observation:  none

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b. after observation:  none

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21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); __X___memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain:  Yes, primarily because it was a stake out bird already identified by Michael Seymour; and the species really cannot be readily mis-identified (as an adult bird) with other species.  If nothing else, our report adds to the known period to which the bird was seen.

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23. Signature of reporter: ____Jeffrey W. Harris___________Date:_December 9, 2011_____Time:_8:00 PM______

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