Photo by Robert D. Purrington
One (92-23) on 15 Feb. 1992, Jefferson Davis: Parish Road 7-7, just N of Parish Road 7-7a; Curtis A. Marantz (ph) and Mark Swan (ph). The bird vocalized only once, a "chu-zwee� or "blreet" call when it was attacked by a Loggerhead Shrike. This call was unfamiliar to the observers, and they did not believe that they could assign the bird to species based on the single call heard; no recordings were made of the call (AB 46(2):278; LOS 147).
One (98-140) on 28 Sep 1998, Cameron: [Johnsons Bayou], Hwy. 82, 3/4 mi. E of turnoff to Holleyman Sanctuary; Robby J. Bacon; NAB 53(1): 64.
One (99-28) on 9 May 1999, Gulf of Mexico: Vermilion 265A oil platform, 77 mi. S of Pecan Island, 28o 30� 45� N, 92o 27� 04� W; B. Mac Myers III (ph); NAB 53(3): 290, LOS News 187: 3.
One (99-27) from 15 Jun-7 Jul 1999, Lafourche: beach W of Fourchon Road; Phillip Wallace (ph taken 19 Jun); NAB 53(4): 398. Reportedly originally found by Nancy L. Newfield (fide Wallace).
One (1999-99) on 17 Sep 1999, Gulf of Mexico: 97 mi. S of New Orleans, South Pass 89B oil platform, 28�40'50�N, 89�23'15�W; Karl Bardon; NAB54(1):64.
One (2000-019) on 9 April 2000, Lafourche: Port Fourchon, Lumcon Rd. off Hwy. 3090;
Robert D. Purrington
(ph)
. Submitted as a Tropical Kingbird, but Members accepted to complex only.
Photo by Robert D. Purrington
One (2000-60) on 23 May 2000, Terrebonne: Isles Dernieres, East Island; Donna L. Dittmann and Steven W. Cardiff (ph).
One (00-74) on 29 Jul 2000, Vermilion: near 16634 Corporal Marceaux Road, S of W. Liberty Farm Road (south and west of Kaplan); B. Mac Myers III, Phillip Wallace, and Gwen B. Smalley (ph only); NAB 54(4): 391.
One adult (01-29) on 9-10 May 2001, Cameron: 5.5 mi. E of Sabine River on Hwy. 82; M. Mark Swan and Charles E. Lyon (ph taken 10 May).
One (2004-029) on 1 May 2004, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Woods Sanctuary;
B. Mac Myers III.
One adult (2007-005) on 20-28 January 2007, Vermilion: ca 1 mi. W Andrew, near junction of Hwy. 700 and Hwy. 699;
Devin Bosler,
Paul E. Conover, and Dave Patton
(ph only).
Originally submitted as a Couch�s Kingbird.
Paul E. Conover (ph).
One female (2008-10) on 25 April 2008, Cameron:
1.5 mi. W old mouth Mermentau River (Rutherford Beach); B. Mac Myers III (DLD 9087, ph) and
Phillip A. Wallace (ph). Upon initial examination, this specimen does not fall clearly
within one species. See p. 6 for more information on
identification.
One (2010-55) on 6 May 2010, Plaquemines:
Chaland Headlands between Bastian Island and Chaland
Pass, Steven W. Cardiff and Donna L. Dittmann (ph).
One (2010-109) on 26 September 2010, Lafourche: 30050 Hwy. 1, 1.75 mi. E Port Fourchon;
Devin Bosler
(ph). This report was submitted as a Tropical Kingbird but is accepted here only to
�complex.� Some LBRC Members were convinced that the very long bill shown in the photos did support
the identification as Tropical, but the majority accepted to complex only because this individual remained
silent throughout the observation and no other diagnostic characters could be confirmed.
One (2010-110) on 27 September 2010, Cameron: Oak Grove (Rutherford Motel Woods);
Melvin Weber
(ph).
This report was submitted as a Couch�s Kingbird but is accepted here only to �complex.�
Some LBRC Members were convinced that the relatively short, broad bill shown in the photos did
support the identification as Couch�s, but the majority accepted to complex only because this individual
remained silent throughout the observation and no other diagnostic characters could be confirmed.
One (2012-136) on 12 May 2012, Cameron: Oak Grove, Joe Rutherford Rd.;
Paul E. Conover (ph).
One adult, post-breeding female (2012-099) on 30 September 2012, Cameron: approximately 8 mi. E of Cameron; Paul
E. Conover (LSUMZ) and Donna L. Dittmann (DLD 10727; ph, p. 16). This bird has exceptionally worn wings and primary 5
is damaged. Bill/wing ratio keys out as a Tropical but probably best to accept at this time as Couch�s/Tropical until genetic identity can be confirmed.
One (2012-146) on 14 October 2012, Jefferson: Grand Isle, Ludwig Ln. near pumping station;
Phillip A. Wallace (ph).
One (2012-158) on 22 October 2012, Cameron: 0.3 mi. E Sabine Pass bridge on N side Hwy. 82;
Rebecca L. Crofton (ph). Submitted as a Couch�s Kingbird, but Members accepted to complex only.
One (2014-086) on 22 April 2014, Cameron: Mae�s Beach Rd.;
Billy Jones
(ph) and
Paul E. Conover
(ph).
Reportedly found by Jonathan L. Dunn earlier in the day.
One adult (2013-034) on 12 May 2013, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Hwy. 82 near mile marker 18 and entrance to Peveto
Woods Sanctuary;
Dan O�Malley
(ph),
Phillip A. Wallace
(ph), and
Paul E. Conover
(ph [only]).
Two interacting individuals (2013-079) on 18 May 2013, Cameron: Lighthouse Rd., ca 10 mi. W Johnsons Bayou;
Paul E. Conover
(ph).
One (2015-032) on 26 April 2015, Cameron: Earl Rd., ca 3 mi. E Cameron;
Dave Patton (ph).
One (2015-033) on 1 May 2015, Cameron: Willow Island, 7 mi. E Cameron;
Dave Patton (ph).
Conceivably the same individual as for (2015-032, ca 1 � mi. between sites and found six days earlier along Earl Rd.),
but treated as a separate occurrence.
One (2015-062) on 26 November 2015, Jefferson: levee across from Jefferson Park, River Rd. N29.955676o,
W90.165250o;
Erik I. Johnson (ph).
One (2016-001) on 2 January and presumably the same individual on 13 March 2016, Orleans:
New Orleans, Eastover, Lake Forest Blvd. at I-510 Service Road;
Janine Robin (ph) and
David P. Muth
(ph). Reportedly found by Joelle Finley and Ken Harris on the New Orleans CBC. Submitted as a Tropical
and apparently heard by some observers giving diagnostic Tropical vocalizations. However, there were
no first-hand descriptions of voice and the report is accepted here only to �complex.�
One (2016-010) on 11-23 January 2016, Calcasieu: Rossignol Rd. east of Fontenot Rd.;
Melvin Weber (ph) and
Danny Dobbs
(ph only).
This record was originally submitted as a Couch�s, but all Members agreed that
documentation did not support a specific identification and it was accepted only to complex.
One (2017-048) on 25 October 2017, Lafourche: Fourchon Beach near access road by Hwy. 3090;
Natalie Waters (ph).
One (2017-002) on 2 September 2017, Lafayette: Lafayette, Southside Regional Park (East Regional
Library Park), 221 La Neuville Rd;
Patricia Rosel (ph) and Scott France (ph).
One (2017-097) on 23 December 2017, Orleans: New Orleans, South Point Levee; Robert D. Purrington (ph).
One immature (2019-008) on 28 January 2019, Jefferson Davis: North Adams St. and Pecan Orchard Rd.,
N30.26098 o, W92.82161 o;
Ken Oeser (ph)
. Originally submitted as a Couch�s, because this bird was not
heard and photos were inadequate to determine species identification, all Members accepted this individual as
"complex."
One second year (2019-054) on 27 April 2019, Cameron: Sabine NWR, Wetland Walkway on Hwy. 27 about 7
mi. N Holly Beach; Donna L. Dittmann (ph) and Steven W. Cardiff. Reportedly originally found by other
observers previous day. This silent individual was still submitted as an outright Tropical based on perceived long bill.
But, following a third circulation, four Members would accept only as complex.
One (2019-017) on 23 May 2019, Jefferson: Grand Isle, Grand Isle State Park; Mitchell Foret (ph).
Although submitted as a Couch’s based on observer’s interpretation of vocalizations, five Members would only accept
to complex.
One (2019-039) on 5 October 2019, Calcasieu: Sulphur, 1601 Anita Street; Vicki Sensat (ph).
One (2019-067) on 12 October 2019, Jefferson Davis: Illinois Plant Road in the vicinity of Oil and Gas facility
just before entering refuge; Andrew From (ph). This record was submitted as a Couch's Kingbird and, although
voice was described, all but two Members believed the description and photographs did not rise to the
necessary threshold to accept as species, forcing it to be accepted as complex only. There’s a possibility that this was
the same bird subsequently reported by others about a mile away inside the refuge (see Couch's Kingbird record 2020-013).
One (2020-016) on 12 January 2020, Terrebonne: Theriot, Lower Bayou Dularge; Wendy Wilson Billiot (ph).
One (2020-029) on 17-18 May 2020, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Woods Sanctuary; Jacoby Bernard
(ph), Maria Bellue (ph only), Heather Amuny (ph only), and Dale Hamilton.
One (2020-035) on 18 October 2020, Lafourche: Golden Meadow, 27982-27998 Hwy. 1; April Gamble (ph) and Samantha Nguyen (ph; https://ebird.org/checklist/S75058604). This record was submitted as a Tropical but only two
Members supported that identification.
One (2020-043) on 6 October 2020, St. Mary: near Intracoastal Canal bridge south of Weeks Island; Michael J.
Musumeche (ph; https://ebird.org/checklist/S74506833).
One (2020-047) on 19 October 2020, Rapides: Alexandria, LSU-Alexandria campus; Logan Firmin (ph; https://
ebird.org/checklist/S75116461).
One (2020-079) on 8 December 2020, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, just E Baton Rouge Audubon Society’s Peveto Woods
Sanctuary at 129 Breaker Drive; David Booth (ph: https://ebird.org/checklist/S77228218). This record was submitted as
a Tropical but a majority of Members would only accept as Tropical/Couch’s.
One (2021-071) on 24 October 2021, Calcasieu: south side of Addison Loop; Kirsten Livingston (ph).
One (2021-085) on 4 December 2021, Plaquemines: Diamond; Jon Wise (ph). Submitted as a Couch’s, but
Members accepted this record to complex only.
One (83-19) near Bains, West
Feliciana Parish, on 3 June 1983.
One (85-14) on 7 Sep. 1985, Jefferson: Grand Isle. Descriptions and photographs were not adequate to
identify this individual to this complex.
One (87-23) on 10 Apr. 1987, Lafourche: Fourchon Road between Leeville and Grand Isle. The main
argument against this record was that Western Kingbird (T. verticalis) was not adequately eliminated by
the description. Bill size, body size, and tail notch are very subjective characters. The throat-chest
coloration was inadequately described. Some spring Western Kingbirds may have such worn outer
rectrices that the white outer web is reduced or completely absent. Additionally, the bird was not heard,
the description was written two weeks after the observation and was apparently based on memory, and
no photographs were obtained.
One (1996-85) on 11 May 1996, DeSoto: 2 mi. W of Keatchie. This individual was apparently observed by numerous
observers and reportedly photographed, yet only one report was received and it was not accompanied by photos. The single
report was not detailed enough to identify this individual even to �complex.� The Committee would be happy to re-review this record if additional documentation is produced.
One (2016-020) on 28 July 2016, Lafourche: S end Hwy. 3090 at entrance to Fourchon Beach.
This report involved a very brief observation of a fly-by without aid of binoculars and from within a car.
Members realized that the experienced observer (an LBRC Member) probably got this one correct, but
they also believed that the difficult circumstances prohibited certainty about the identification, even to
�complex.�
One (2019-025) on 27 April 2019, Beauregard: DeRidder, Hampton Street. All but one Member believed that
the description did not sufficiently eliminate Western Kingbird.
One (2020-045) on 14 October 2020, Lafayette: Lafayette, 700 Cajundome Blvd. Only one Member believed the
description was adequate to accept to complex; all other Members believed insufficient diagnostic characters were provided to
support identification to this complex.
Photo by Dave Patton
Photo by Devin Bosler
Photo by Melvin Weber
Photo by Paul E. Conover
Photo by Phillip A. Wallace
Photo by Rebecca L. Crofton
Photo by Billy Jones
Photo by Dan O'Malley
Photo by Paul E. Conover
Photo by Dave Patton
Photo by Dave Patton
Photo by Janine Robin
Photo by Danny Dobbs
Photo by Natalie Waters
Photo by Patricia Rosel/Scott France
Photo by Robert D. Purrington
Photo by Ken Oeser
Photo by Donna L. Dittmann
Photo by Vicki Sensat
Photo by Andrew From
Photo by Wendy Wilson Billiot
Photo by Maria Bellue 
Photo by Michael J.
Musumeche
Photo by Logan Firmin
Photo by Kirsten Livingston
Photo by Jon WiseUnaccepted 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).
