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 individual of unknown sex and age. Details of plumage were not evident due to poor lighting and brevity of the sighting.

3. Locality: Parish: Cameron____________________________________________

Specific Locality: East end of Nunez Rd off of Montie Rd, approximately 8 miles east of Grand Chenier on Hwy 82. (29 44' 24.96" N; 92 50' 37.74" W)

4. Date(s) when observed:

01/31/2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

Approximately 11:40 to 11:45 AM

6. Reporting observer and address:

Walker Wilson

Zachary, LA 70791

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

Julia Battle and Jim Jeansone

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

None

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

The bird was high and east of me, so it was pretty backlit by strong light. There was no cloud cover.

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

Swarovski SLC 10x42

11. Distance to bird(s):

About 20 yards

12. Duration of observation:

About 5 minutes from when I first heard it to when I last heard it. We actually saw it for 45 seconds to a minute.

13. Habitat:

The bird was working from east to west along a chenier ridge with mature live oaks. It came from a portion of the ridge with few trees and continues into an area with complete canopy coverage.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

The bird was fairly vocal, issuing an ascending “Keee” note every minute or so. When we saw it, it was perched on a dead limb on the top of a mature live oak. It sat there for at least 45 seconds before flying to the east. When it flew, it did not land until it was out of sight.

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):

It was a roughly robin-sized bird with a large straight bill that was slightly hooked at the end. It was a chunky/massive bird with a big head relative to its body size. The crown and wide eye line was black with a white superciliary, chin and throat. The eyes were dark and blended in with the eye line. The back looked grayish-brown with the wings and tail a more reddish-brown. The breast and belly was bright yellow. I did not get a good view of the vent. The legs and feet were dark – possibly black, though it was backlit.

16. Voice:

The only vocalizations I heard it make were an ascending “Keee” or maybe a “Keer”. The emphasis was on the beginning of the note.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

The head and bill were too massive for other flycatchers in Louisiana, and the bold black-and-white head pattern is distinctive. The yellow on the belly seemed brighter than any Myarchus flycatcher, and the reddish-brown on the wings and tail seemed brighter (especially in flight when the light passed through the feathers.

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

I photographed it, but there were no recordings of vocalizations. I will attach photos.

19. Previous experience with this species:

I have seen and heard them on multiple occasions in south Texas, southeast Arizona, the Cordoba province in Argentina and in southwest Louisiana.

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

a. at time of observation:

None

b. after observation:

I showed coworkers pictures of it from the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America to compare with my photos.

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); _X_memory. I also used the photos I took of the bird.

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

Yes

23. Date:_02/04/2013_Time:_12:51 PM_