MacGillivray's Warbler,  Geothlypis tolmiei

Number of accepted MacGillivray's Warbler records for Louisiana = 19 as of 25th Report of the LBRC (2022)

Accepted Records

One first basic male (by plumage; 1959-04) on 15 November 1959, Plaquemines: ˝ mi. SE Buras; S. A. Gauthreaux (LSUMZ 23158) and Burt Monroe, Jr. (*).

One male (83-25) at Hackberry Ridge, west of Johnsons Bayou, Cameron Parish, on 30 April 1983 (Melvin Weber). This is another second state record, the first since 1959.

One (1985-64) on 15 Sep 1985, Cameron: Garner Ridge, 3 mi. W of Johnsons Bayou School; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 126898) and Donna L. Dittmann; AB40(1):129.

One (1985-97) from 26 Dec 1985-25 Jan 1986, Plaquemines: Venice; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 127072) and Donna L. Dittmann. Found during Venice CBC by Don Norman and David P. Muth; AB40(2):292.

The preceding two records were the third and fourth for Louisiana, and the second and third specimens, respectively.

One adult female (86-60) on 29 Apr. 1986, Cameron: HMBS; Douglas R. Willick, Brian E. Daniels.

One in female-type plumage (1987-09; formerly 89-95) on 20 Sep. 1987, Cameron: East Jetty Woods; Steven W. Cardiff (AB 42(1):90).

One (1990-30) on 5 May 1990, Cameron: approximately 5 mi. E of Cameron; Donna L. Dittmann and Steven W. Cardiff; AB44(3):443.

One adult male (93-22) on 23 Feb. 1993, Plaquemines: near Fort Jackson; Peter H. Yaukey and David P. Muth (AB 47(2):268). This is the seventh record for Louisiana.

One (2007-69) on 15 December 2007, Cameron: West Jetty; Paul E. Conover (ph). B. Mac Myers III was also involved in the discovery.

Photo by Paul E. Conover

One adult female (2010-21) on 24-27 April 2010, Cameron: Peveto Beach Woods, BRAS Sanctuary; Phillip A. Wallace, Rosemary Seidler (ph), Thomas A. Finnie (ph), Jennifer Alexander (ph only), Gay Gomez (ph only), Dave Patton (ph only), and B. Mac Myers III.

Photo by Dave Patton

One adult female (2012-041) on 9 December 2012, Plaquemines: E. bank Mississippi River, Perez Rd. X Hwy. 39; Phillip A. Wallace (ph), Robert D. Purrington, and David P. Muth (ph only).

Photo by Phillip A. Wallace

One second-year male (2014-055) netted and banded on 29 April 2014, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou; Will Lewis (ph).

Photo by Will Lewis

One immature (2011-030) on 6 February 2011, Plaquemines: Triumph, Morrell’s Woods near pumping station off Hwy. 23; Phillip A. Wallace (ph). Reportedly found by David P. Muth.

Photo by Phillip A. Wallace

One (2018-028) on 9-20 March and present to 16 April 2018, Orleans: New Orleans, City Park, Couturie Forest; James W. Beck (ph), Janine Robin, J. V. Remsen (ph only), James F. (Jim) Holmes Jr. (audio at: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S43886305) , Devin Bosler , and Justin Bosler (ph).

Photo by James W. Beck

One adult male (2019-076) on 1 March 2019, Orleans: New Orleans, City Park, Couturie Forest; Joan Garvey (ph). Presumably, this was LBRC 2018-028 (22nd Report of the LBRC) returning for a second winter. Photo-documented to 26 March: https://eBird.org/view/checklist/S54275851.

Photo by Joan Garvey

One female or immature male (2019-038) on 25 September 2019, East Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, Richfield Riversilt; Oscar Johnson (ph). Reportedly found by J. V. Remsen previous day. Still present and photographed on 26 September (see https://eBird.org/view/checklist/S60208037).

Photo by Oscar Johnson

One immature (2020-001) on 8-21 February 2020, East Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, Mississippi River levee just S of I-10 bridge, N309.4336851 o, W91.1914218o; Oscar Johnson (ph, audio, and Erik I Johnson (ph). Last photographed 27 February (see https://eBird.org/view/checklist/S65221061).

Photo by Oscar Johnson

One (2021-070) on 18-19 October, and 29 October 2021, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Woods Sanctuary; Daniel F. Lane (ph, and audio: https://ebird.org/checklist/S96432288. See also eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S96408043.

Photo by Daniel F. Lane

One adult male (2022-012) on 3 April 2022, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Woods Sanctuary; David Booth (ph). Observed by many; many photographs on eBird. Reportedly found on 2 April by James Smithers/Katie Barnes: https:// ebird.org/species/macwar/US-LA-023; https://ebird.org/species/macwar/US-LA-023: https://ebird.org/species/macwar/ US-LA-023 This long-staying spring individual would represent a very early spring occurrence or may have wintered at this site (see LBRC 2021-070).

Unaccepted Records

One adult (1986-07; formerly 87-5) on 20 Dec. 1986 (SACBC), Cameron: Cameron, west side Hwy. 27 ferry landing at Natomes Road (Cardiff & Dittmann 1987, p. 561, 1039). The brief description did not eliminate Mourning Warbler. The species should be deleted from the Sabine CBC or it should be amended to reduce this species to "Oporornis sp.".

One male in alternate plumage (1996-37) on 27 Apr 1996, Cameron: Peveto Beach Woods. This is an interesting case in which the observer indicates that he "re-identified" a bird seen and identified as a Mourning Warbler (O. philadelphia) by others earlier the same day. With such a potential for controversy, the observer should have taken the opportunity to provide a more thorough analysis of the bird's appearance. Instead, the identification is based on the presence of "white [eye] crescents clearly seen," but unfortunately, there is no further elaboration about the white crescents and their size, shape, or boldness, etc. Although the observer may have been correct, the Committee deemed that not enough detail was available.

One (1999-86) on 25 Aug 1999, Gulf of Mexico: 138 mi. S of Cameron, Garden Banks 189A oil platform, 27o46'43˛N, 93o18'34˛W. This record involved a ten minute, relatively close range observation, but photographs were not obtained. And, despite the relatively leisurely observation, the description is fairly rudimentary and the observer does not note age or sex. This is surprising because the observer was experienced with western species, including MacGillivray’s Warbler. Unfortunately, the observer may have relied too much on how much his “experience” would count towards acceptance. Committee members were not inclined to fill-in missing details, and were not convinced that the description ruled out the much more likely Mourning Warbler. The record received a unanimous non-accept vote after two circulations.

One adult female (1999-100) on 5 September 1999, Gulf of Mexico: 122 mi. S Morgan City, Green Canyon 18A oil platform, N 27.943611o, W 91.029167o. The description was quite brief, and the discussion of eliminating similar species (especially other Geothlypis or Oporornis) focused only on the white eye crescents and that the bird hopped. Additionally, the bird was silent, and the observer was relatively inexperienced with similar species. Confronted with this combination of issues, a majority of Members chose not to accept the report.

One female (2013-073) on 12 April 2013, Cameron: Peveto Woods Sanctuary. The observer’s description was suggestive of this species, and there are a few accepted Louisiana spring occurrences. But, the brief description and lack of hard-evidence to support what would establish a new early date for the state ultimately convinced all Members to not accept the report.

One (2021-079) on 29 October 2021, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Woods Sanctuary. Bird was not well seen, and the identification was in part based on an assumption that it was a continuing bird found earlier in the fall.

One female (2022-013) on 6 May 2022, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Woods Sanctuary; (ph). All Members agreed that the photo showed a female Mourning Warbler.