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: Johnsons Bayou

4. Date(s) when observed: October 20, 2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed: about 8:30

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):

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Morning sunlight; I was walking with the sun in my favor.

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

11. Distance to bird(s): about 30 feet

12. Duration of observation: about 15 seconds of observation over a 15 minute period, with only a few open glimpses.

13. Habitat: Bird was found in a multi-acre woodlot with a base of mature Live Oaks and a smattering of other tree species mixed in and dense ground cover throughout. The towhee was on an edge of the woodlot with dense rose and greenbrier thickets, as well as shorter oaks with tangled dead limbs decaying beneath them.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation: I was walking up slowly on a group of buntings that were flushing a few at a time into treetops. I noticed a somewhat chunky Cardinal-sized bird moving furtively through the interior of a huge rose thicket about 10-15 feet tall. I first noticed the bird when it was about 3 feet off the ground, and watched it stop and start as it moved slowly behind the veil of rose branches over a period of about a minute. I had a feeling it would prove to be a Green-tailed Towhee, and as soon as I saw the face pattern through a tangle, I started snapping photos. I got a couple of photos where the bird was visible, then it flew about 50 feet away. I got back to the buntings. About 5 minutes later I saw a towhee-sized bird fly deep into a Live Oak group, and I watched where it was hidden for about 5 minutes until it popped up and gave me a good look. The bird foraged on the ground in several locations that were hidden from me, visible only as it hopped or made shirt flights between feeding spots.

I looked again for the bird in the spot later that morning and early the next day with no success.

15. Description: A chunky sparrow built like a large Zonotrichia. Pale grayish color overall, and a light greenish tint above. Rusty reddish cap, a white spot above the lores, and a white patch on the chin, throat, and submoustachial area which was divided by dark gray malar stripes. Given the amount of viewing time, that is as detailed as I can get my description.

16. Voice:

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): The combination of features eliminates all other species that I can think of.

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

19. Previous experience with this species: Prior to the winter of 201-2012, my experience with this species was limited to sightings out west. Last winter I saw several, some of which gave great looks at overall pattern, as well as a good idea of general behavior.

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

21. Date: 10/21/2012