LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):  1

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)  Jefferson Davis

Specific Locality: Intersection of Clifton and Eugene Roads. Bird was on N side of intersection.

4. Date(s) when observed: December 23, 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: about 4:30 a.m.

6. Reporting observer and address:

Paul Conover

Lafayette, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):  Overcast, pale evening light. Sufficient.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon 20-60 scope, point and shoot camera, Sony Handycam for videoscoping

11. Distance to bird(s): about 100 yards

12. Duration of observation:  15-20 minutes 

13. Habitat: In back corner of pasture fenced with pipe. Bird was in area cluttered with scrap pipe structures laid on ground.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation:  Bird was seen as it made a short sally. I located it on the fence line, and it continued to preen and flycatch in the same spot over duration of sighting.

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 long-tailed phoebe, pale grayish on the back and wing coverts, with darker brownish flight feathers. Tail blackish, cap contrasting darker than nape and mantle. Chin and throat pale gray, grading into pale pinkish on breast, deeper pinkish red on undertail. Legs black, bill black. Flight feathers edged contrastingly paler, wing bar created by paler edgings of greater coverts.

This bird seemed overall paler than the bird I observed a mile away on 12/10 (corner of Clifton and Bell), especially on the breast. That may be a figment of the low light, but I think I could see color accurately through the scope. Given the high number of SAPH present this winter, the 1 mile of distance between sightings, and the fact that the first bird was observed at first light and the second at last light, I think it’s most prudent to consider the two sightings to be different birds resident in different locations. I’ll check back at the two sites if time allows.

16. Voice: None noted 

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

Eastern Phoebe colored differently, female and young male Vermilion Flycatcher not as long-tailed, with different color pattern.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Photos, attached.

19. Previous experience with this species: Seen twice before this season alone. Much experience out west, including scores seen summer 2011 throughout SW USA.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

21. This description is written from: memory and photos  

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes.

23. Date: 12/24/2011