LOUISIANA
REPORT FORM
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1. English and Scientific names: Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus |
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2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage
(e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): |
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3. Locality: |
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Specific Locality: on |
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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): |
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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. |
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22. Are you positive of your identification if not,
explain: Yes, primarily because it was
a stake out bird already identified by Michael |
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23. Signature of reporter: ____Jeffrey W. Harris___________Date:_December 9, 2011_____Time:_8:00
PM______ |
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