LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Great Kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): one adult (sex undetermined…male?) in basic plumage

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Cameron____________________________________________

Specific Locality: _Rutherford Woods________________________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed: 3 May 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 1414-1418

6. Reporting observer and address: James W. Beck

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): seen by others

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): overcast

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Swarovski 10x42 EL

11. Distance to bird(s): varying; ca. 15-30m

12. Duration of observation: ca. 10 min.

13. Habitat: predominately Live Oak, Quercus virginiana with other mixed hardwoods

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): bird was lured in by digital recording. Initial response was in the form of vocalization and after a brief period, came flying in, calling from exposed dead snags. Minimal amount of playback was used as to avoid over-stressing the animal.

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): medium-sized tyrant flycatcher, bright yellow from chest to undertail coverts, white chin and throat, strong black eyestripe complimented with white eyebrow stripe; crown not viewed. Retrices and flight feather rufous. Bill black, thick and wide at base.

16. Voice: mostly single-note keer calls, but also gave full kisk-adee with aggravated tone.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Great Crested Flycatcher – head pattern/voice; Boat-billed Flycatcher – amount of rufous in retrices and flight feathers/voice; Social Flycatcher – size, bill size, voice; Piratic Flycatcher – size, breast pattern, bill size, voice.

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

19. Previous experience with this species: I have experience with this species from numerous trips to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX; Gomez Farias/Alta Cima, MX; as well in Costa Rica. Aside from this, I have seen two other kiskadees in LA; one in Plaquemines Parish (1996) and an individual I found on Talen’s Landing Rd., Cameron Parish (2008)

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

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

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:_11 May 2011_________Time:_2005______