LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
REPORT FORM
This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.
|
1. English and Scientific names: Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) |
|
2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage
(e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): |
|
1, 1st cycle
|
|
3. Locality: Parish: Lafourche |
|
Specific Locality: Fourchon Beach, about 3/4 mi E of Belle Pass. 29.094778 N, -90.214652 W |
|
4. Date(s) when observed: |
|
7 March 2013
|
|
5. Time(s) of day when observed: |
|
10:20 am |
|
6. Reporting observer and address: |
|
Erik I. Johnson, Lafayette, LA 70508
|
|
7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified
the bird(s): |
|
None
|
|
8. Other observers who independently identified the
bird(s): |
|
Photographed by Dave Patton on 28 Nov. Seen a few days prior by Don Norman (sight only I believe). Seen again by Don Norman (sight only) 6 March 2013.
|
|
9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade
and to direction and amount of light): |
|
Walking along beach, bird was seen to northwest |
|
10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 10 x 42 Swarovski EL binoculars, 20-60x Vortex 77mm(?) scope. Nikon D100 with Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ED
lens. |
|
|
|
11. Distance to bird(s): Measured using Google Earth (yes, it was fairly far). About ¼ mile when I first saw it perched on
top of low mangrove in a mangrove swamp.
As I moved to the dune ridge, the bird flushed, flew north, and landed
on taller trees at the about 4/10 mi away. |
|
|
|
12. Duration of observation: |
|
10 minutes. I went back with Dan O’Malley and Tori Bachelor around 1pm and did not relocate the bird.
|
|
13. Habitat: Mangrove swamp and saltmarsh |
|
|
|
14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation
(flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification;
relate events surrounding observation): |
|
Perched at very top of mangrove shrub. It was low, below the horizon, such that there was mangrove and other vegetation behind the bird. As I approached the top of the foredune on the front beach, the bird flushed, flying low (just above and below horizon), and landed on taller trees, now with the sky behind the bird. |
|
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): |
|
A large Buteo, approximately Red-tailed Hawk sized, but size was difficult to judge given the distance and lack of other reference birds immediately nearby. When perched, the pale tan head, nape, and throat stood out against the dark green mangrove vegetation behind it. It was hard to make out whether there were markings/streaks present in the head and chest. With the scope, I could see the solid black lower chest/belly, extending to the feet, which was blacker than the back and folded wings. The undertail coverts and primary projection was obscured by vegetation. The back seemed uniformly dark brown, without obvious white markings. In flight, I could only really see the bird from above, as it banked. The tail was distinctly white at the base (about 1/3-1/2 of the basal part of the tail) contrasting against a brown rump. This white seems slightly exaggerated in the attached photos compared to what I felt I saw (this is probably expected as white will bleach over in fuzzy photos). The distal part (1/2-2/3) of the tail was brown. The back and wings were uniformly dark brown, with slightly paler markings in the primaries. The wings appeared long and perhaps a bit slender relative to a Red-tailed Hawk (which was also seen in the area – an adult and a juvenile in similar light). I did not see the underside of the wings or the tail from below, nor did I ever see the tarsi.
|
|
16. Voice: |
|
Not heard.
|
|
17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by
your observation): |
|
Red-tailed Hawk without such dramatic contrast between paler tan head and especially nape and broad solid black belly. Belly band not really a band, but instead solid black from base of chest to legs. The tail was brown towards the tip (about ½-2/3 brown), it had a white base (but not the rump as in Harrier) from above. Immature Swainson’s Hawk would have a mostly brown tail with at most a thin white line at the base and would not be as solidly black in the belly contrasting so distinctly from the head. Ferruginous Hawk in any plumage would not either. To be fair, I’m not sure I had a good enough look to eliminate a hybrid, but it seems very likely this is the same bird that has been present since at least late November. Don Norman had also reported seeing a Rough-legged Hawk at close range the previous day (March 6) in this area.
|
|
18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): |
|
Yes, EIJ, but very poor and heavily cropped. Unfortunately no useful shots of the bird perched given the distance and heat distortion.
|
|
19. Previous experience with this species: |
|
Seen several times in Massachusetts and Oregon, never in Louisiana, and it has been a few years since seeing them (I got familiar with them in the early 2000s, but moved to LA in 2003 and have only seen this species sporadically in the last 10 years).
|
|
20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other
birders, etc. used in identification): |
|
|
|
a. at time of observation: Audubon Guide app |
|
|
|
b. after observation: Sibley, Clark and Witt 2006 (Wilson
J. of Orn) |
|
|
|
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: To be honest, I don’t think this record alone would pass
muster. Given that a RL Hawk had been
seen several times in November and again by Don Norman on 6 March (he also
saw the bird in at least November) in this very spot is suggestive this is
the same individual over-wintering. I
am certain this bird was at least 50% Rough-legged Hawk, but could not rule
out a hybrid or back-cross given my views. |
|
|
|
23. Date: 14 March 2013 Time: 11:45pm |
|
|
|
24. May the LBRC have permission to display this report or
|
|
If yes, may we include your name with the report? Yes |
|
|
