LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

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

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage: 1

3. Locality: Parish: Cameron

Specific Locality: Little Chenier, on Little Chenier Road about 2.7 miles east of X with Muria Road

4. Date(s) when observed: February 5, 2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed: early afternoon, I think around 12:30

6. Reporting observer and address:

Paul Conover

Lafayette LA

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): This was apparently a new location for this species this winter.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Overcast but sufficient, bird below eye level but in dense brush.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s

11. Distance to bird(s): probably about 15 feet

12. Duration of observation: about 10-15 seconds of solid viewing/photographing, about a minute of total visual observation. An additional minute or two of listening to it scold.

13. Habitat: A road running on a chenier through the marsh. Roadside lined with scattered mature live oaks, smaller deciduous trees, fallen timber, and undergrowth of vines and dry, dead stalks of last year’s annual growth.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation: I noticed activity at this area, and stopped to size it up. After a while I played a screech owl tape, and got excellent response. A few White-throated Sparrows were present and moving down low, as were a couple of Common Yellowthroats. I stopped the tape to listen, but didn’t hear any strange calls, but did note movement behind the first few walls of growth that seemed promising. I focused through the layers and saw this bird, and when it jumped to a less concealed position, got my camera, set it on manual focus, and focused through the vegetation. Photos are blurry and poor, but diagnostic.

15. Description: Basically, from what little I saw, a standard-issue adult Green-tailed Towhee. A pale grayish sparrow-like bird with darker gray breast, and warm green highlights to flight feathers. Head with pale gray side of face and greenish wash on rear of face, rusty cap, and darker front of face with white chin/throat patch reminiscent of White-throated Sparrow, and white supraloral stripe. I concentrated more on getting photos than getting a detailed look.

16. Voice: It began to call after I played a single GTTO song. It gave the complaining growl call repeatedly every few seconds, and I was able to track its movements even though I couldn’t see it.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): None.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Yes

19. Previous experience with this species: Enough

20. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes.

21. Date: 2/6/2012