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):

1, unknown plumage

3. Locality: Parish:   Acadia

   Specific Locality: Leger Rd., 4.9 mi SSE Crowley, LA

 

4. Date(s) when observed: 2 Dec 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 8:40am

6. Reporting observer and address: Erik I. Johnson, Lafayette, LA 70508

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): none

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Michael Seymour found and reported the bird two(?) days earlier.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): sunny, morning light; sun over left shoulder at about 45o

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Swarovski 10 x 42 EL binoculars, Nikon D100 camera with 80-400mm Nikon ED lens; both in good condition

11. Distance to bird(s): 15 feet

12. Duration of observation: about 20 seconds

13. Habitat: scrubby early successional bordered by a line of Live Oaks

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): After looking for over an hour, I decided to play a White-throated Sparrow playback to get a group of about 20 birds excited, hoping this would make the GTTO curious.  It worked and the GTTO briefly popped up, but still in the middle of a bush, briefly looked around, and silently dropped back into the brush.

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): Large sparrow, larger than Melospiza, but slightly smaller than Eastern Towhee.  Steep rufous crown, greenish-olive primary edging, but otherwise grayish-olive upperparts and grayish underparts with white throat.  Tail not seen well.

16. Voice: not heard

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Rufous crown distinguishes it from Olive Sparrow, greenish wings, and gray upperparts distinguish it from Swamp Sparrow.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): yes, EIJ

https://picasaweb.google.com/115026760334011394048/Rarities#5682069179990165762

19. Previous experience with this species: seen once in Arizona in 1993.

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

a. at time of observation: none (looked in Sibley before leaving the house)

b. after observation: google images, Sibley Guide to North America, National Geographic 3rd Ed.

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.

23. Date: 3 December 2011   Time: 8:50pm