REPORT FORM
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1. English and
Scientific names: Great Kiskadee |
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2. Number of
individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): 1
(or 2?) |
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3. Locality:
LOUISIANA: Cameron |
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Specific Locality: Lighthouse
Woods, west of Johnsons Bayou. |
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4. Date(s) when
observed: 04/22/2014 |
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5. Time(s) of day
when observed: mid-day |
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6. Reporting
observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette |
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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified
the bird(s): Dan Lane, Mac Myers,
Michael Plauche, Van Remsen. |
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8. Other observers who independently identified the
bird(s): |
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9. Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Good sunlight |
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10. Optical
equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss
10s, Nikon D50 w/300mm lens |
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11. Distance to
bird(s): Not terribly close except
on flyover and flyby. Perched probably from about 50 yards. |
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12. Duration of
observation: off and on for about
2-3 minutes, sometimes of flying bird in distance. The bird was present for a long period of
time. |
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13. Habitat: Spoil bank woodlots and levees in the
middle of a landscape of marsh and the open water of a ship channel |
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14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): I was scanning a well-vegetated levee looking for perched migrants and saw a yellow and rufous flash flying along the levee across my binocular field (at which point corresponding dialogue from Land and Plauche made me realize they were on the same bird). It approached and dropped into a blackberry thicket. It apparently fed for a short while, then jumped out and flew to a perch. It flushed again and we lost sight of it. Later a/the Kiskadee flew directly over me heading over open marsh. When we arrived at Lighthouse Woods, a calling Kiskadee greeted us. Later we watched it fly into a distant, isolated woodlot on the banks of the Sabine. |
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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, bulky yellow, brown, and rufous kingfisher-like kingbird with black-and-white striped head and large black bill. Standard Kiskadee, with reddish-brown back and brighter rufous primaries, and tail. Underparts bright yellow except for clear white chin and throat. Some darker specks on chin. Head with broad black crown stripe, bold white supercilia, broad black “blindfold” and huge black bill. Eyes dark, legs dark. |
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16. Voice: I heard it call several times, a loud,
far-carrying call. I don’t recall if it was a full call. |
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17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Other similar species eliminated by call. |
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18. Photographs or
tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Decent flight photos, poor perched
shots. |
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19. Previous
experience with this species: Pretty wide, including in Louisiana. |
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20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other
birders, etc. used in identification): |
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a. at time of observation: |
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b. after observation: |
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21. This
description is written from: memory |
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22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes 23. 04/23/2014 |
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