Couch's Kingbird,  Tyrannus couchii

Number of accepted Couch's Kingbird records for Louisiana = 21 as of 25th Report of the LBRC  

Accepted Records

(1965-01; formerly 81-6). A recent taxonomic revision (Traylor, 1979, Auk 96: 221-223) of the Tropical Kingbird species complex has elevated the race T. melancholicus couchii to full species status; the AOU Checklist Committee has accepted Traylor's revision. The only specimen of Tropical Kingbird from Louisiana (LSUMZ 48676), that of an adult male taken 9 October 1965 near Johnsons Bayou, Cameron Parish by L. C. Binford, was identified by Drs. M. A. Traylor and W. E. Lanyon as couchii. As such, the official State List is amended to replace Tropical Kingbird with Couch's Kingbird.

One male (1986-50) from 20-21 Dec 1986, Cameron: W. side of Calcasieu Pass, 2 1/2 mi. SW of Cameron; B. Mac Myers III and Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 131099); AB41(2):293. This was the second state record and specimen.

One male (98-129) on 3 May 1998, Cameron: East Jetty Woods, 2 mi. S of Cameron; Paul E. Conover (LSUMZ 165557; Donna L. Dittmann); FN 52(3): 342, LOS News 184: 16.

One female (98-134) on 25 Jun 1998, Calcasieu: just N of Cameron Par. line on Fruge Road; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 165558; DLD) and Donna L. Dittmann; FN 52(4): 467.

One female (99-53) on 17 Jun 1999, Calcasieu: Sidney Derouen Road, ca 2 mi. W of Hwy. 101; Michael J. Stevens (LSUMZ 165559; Donna L. Dittmann), Christopher C. Witt, and Daniel G. Christian; NAB 53(4): 398. The bird was in breeding condition and, circumstantially, this represents the first breeding record of this species for Louisiana.

One adult male (99-55) on 18 Sep 1999, Cameron: Garner Ridge, 3 mi. W of Johnsons Bayou School; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 165560; DLD) and Donna L. Dittmann; NAB 54(1): 64.

One (1991-06) from 10-11 Feb 1991, St. Charles: 1.5 mi. W of Paradis; John P. Sevenair, Al and Gwen Smalley, and Robert D. Purrington (ph). The bird was originally found and photographed by Charles Frank and Bill Ayers on 26 or 27 Jan; AB45(2):285 says "in or near St. John the Baptist."

One (1993-14) on 16 Jan 1993, Calcasieu: Hwy. 108 near Vinton, approximately 7 mi. from I-10 and 8 mi. from intersection of Hwy. 27; John and Jana Whittle.

One (1993-56) on 19 Nov 1993, Vermilion: approximately 4 mi. N of the Gulf of Mexico between Pecan Island and Grand Chenier; Gay M. Gomez; AB48(1):119.

One adult male (2001-86) on 27 Dec 2001, Evangeline: 4 mi. W of Ville Platte, 1/2 mi. N of Hwy. 10, near Millers Lake; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 172713) and D. L. Dittmann (*).

Two immature females (2004-60) on 31 Oct 2004, Cameron: Garner Ridge, 3 mi. W of Johnsons Bayou School; Steven W. Cardiff prep numbers SWC 8311 (LSUMZ 177865) and SWC 8312 (LSUMZ 177866); NAB59(1):93.

One male (2006-05) from 2-29 Jan 2006, Red River: 1 mi. E of Williams, � mi. NE of intersection of Hwy. 1 and parish road 408; Paul M. Dickson, Phillip A. Wallace (ph), James L. Ingold (audio), Rosemary Seidler, Paul Miliotis, Dennis Forshee, John T. McBride, Jr., and Justin Bosler (ph); NAB60(2):245.

One (2007-79) on 27 November-3 December 2007, Bossier: Bossier City; Jeff Trahan (ph) and Terry Davis (ph). Description of call notes was definitive for Couch�s.

Photo by Jeff Trahan

One (2009-85) on 29 December 2009, Lafayette: near Ridge, Judice Park off Golden Grain Road; Michael J. Musumeche (ph), James Beck (video includes voice), and Devin Bosler (ph), Jay V. Huner (ph), [Paul E. Conover (ph only]; first discovered by Kevin Leigh and apparently present through 23 January 2010.

Photo by Paul E. Conover

One male (2011-07) on 15-22 February 2011, Rapides: east side of Messina Road (Forest Road 273) approximately one mile south of Hwy. 28 West; Steve Shively (ph), Jay V. Huner, and Devin Bosler (ph).

Photo by Steve Shively

One (2013-049) on 22 December 2013, Vermilion: Lomire Rd., approximately 7 km SSW of Kaplan; Erik I. Johnson (video and audio).

Photo by Erik I. Johnson

One (2014-096) from 4 November 2014-13 January 2015, Caddo: Shreveport, C. Bickham Dickson Park; Emily Holcomb (ph), Terry Davis (audio), Charles E. Lyon (ph), Jeff Trahan (ph), Jay V. Huner, and Jeff Pollack (ph only).

Photo by Jeff Trahan

One (2015-008) on 3-13 January 2015, Vermilion: Lomire Rd., 7.1 mi. SSW Kaplan; Erik I. Johnson (ph , video), Michael J. Musumeche (ph), Mary Mehaffey (ph), and Oscar Johnson (ph only). This may be the same individual (2013-049) returning for its second winter to same locality.

Photo by Oscar Johnson

Two, possibly a pair (2016-012) on 16-17 February 2016; Cameron: Coastal Club Lodge, 10.1 mi. SSW Bell City; Erik I. Johnson (ph).

Photo by Erik I. Johnson

One (2016-036) on 2-5 (eBird extends to 6) November 2016, Lafayette: Lafayette, 700 Cajundome Blvd., USGSNOAA complex; Robert C. Dobbs (ph, audio) and Dave Patton (ph, audio).
Additional material: Erik Enbody eBird Checklist.

Photo by Robert C. Dobbs

One (2016-043) from 2 December 2016-4 March 2017, St. Tammany: Mandeville, Fontainebleau State Park; Janine Robin (ph, video), (Robin Report 2), J. V. Remsen (ph, video), Christopher G. Brantley (ph), Jay V. Huner (ph), and Oscar Johnson (ph). End date based on last eBird report that included a photograph.

Video by J. V. Remsen

One (2019-046) on 26 October 2019, Vermilion: Campbell Road, 3 mi. S Wright; Paul E. Conover (ph, video with audio).

Photo by Paul E. Conover

One (2019-062) on 1 and 15 December 2019; and likely the same individual 24 February 2020, Calcasieu: Sulphur, Choupique Road; Vicki Sensat (ph) and Joan Garvey (ph). See also Couch’s Kingbird LBRC 2020-025 which may pertain to the same individual. Previously accepted as Tropical/Couch’s (23rd Report of the LBRC), but the record was reevaluated with additional documentation and elevated to species. [Received after review: Kathy Rhodes]

Photo by Joan Garvey

One (2019-063) on 17 December 2019, Vermilion: approx. 8 mi. W of N. terminus of Doc Road, N29.860419o, W92.393928o; Michael A. Seymour (ph).

One (2020-013) on 4 and 8 January 2020, Cameron: Lacassine NWR, Pool Unit, near work sheds; Bill Wood (ph) and Michael J. Musumeche (ph). There is a possibility that this was the same bird initially reported about a mile away at the refuge entrance (see Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird record 2019-067).

Photo by Michael J. Musumeche

One (2020-014) on 4 January 2020, Natchitoches: Smith Island Rd. (Parish Road 435), 0.75 mi. S Powhatan, N31.881306o, W93.188042o; Hubert Hervey and Matt Courtman (ph).

One (2020-086) from 18 December 2020-30 January 2021, Cameron: Hwy. 717 x Weekly Rd. (Klondike area); Robert C. Dobbs (ph, audio 1, audio 2; https://ebird.org/checklist/S77653241, https://ebird.org/checklist/S78641062), Devin Bosler (ph), and David P. Muth (ph; https://ebird.org/checklist/S78511652). Additional photos/audio in eBird to 30 January (https:// ebird.org/checklist/S80114147).

Photo by Robert C. Dobbs

One (2021-025) on 19-20 February 2021, St. Charles: CC Rd., near Bonnet Carre Spillway; James W. Beck (ph, audio; https://ebird.org/checklist/S81993423), Linda Kingsland (ph only), Joan Garvey (ph), and William H. Matthews (ph, audio; https://ebird.org/checklist/S82045207).

Photo by Joan Garvey

(2022-002) on 4-20 February 2022, St. Mary: Berwick; LeeAnn Hepler (ph, audio). Last photodocumented report in eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S103495756.

Photo by LeeAnn Hepler

Unaccepted Records

Pair (1971-01; formerly 83-15) at Holly Beach, Cameron Parish, 8 May 1971. Louisiana records of this species will come under intense scrutiny following the addition of the very similar Tropical Kingbird (see above) to the state list. Contributors should be aware, however, that the Committee is willing to review records as unresolved identifications in the case of look-alike pairs such as this (e. g., the Committee will review records submitted as Tropical, Couch's, or Tropical/Couch's).