LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

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

2. Number of individuals:  1

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)  Calcasieu

Specific Locality: On NW quadrant of intersection of Highway 14 and Harris Road, ca. 2 miles W of Bell City (same location as a 2/22/12 sighting)

4. Date(s) when observed: 12/23/12

5. Time(s) of day when observed: mid-morning

6. Reporting observer and address:

Paul Conover

Lafayette, LA

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

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):  Cloudy but good viewing light.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon D50 w/ 300mm lens

11. Distance to bird(s): 40 yards

12. Duration of observation:  15 minutes 

13. Habitat: Ranch with fields subdivided by barbed wire fences. Large expanse of open land.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation:  Bird was spotted in flight; it then landed on a barbed wire fence and we took a few photos. The bird relocated to a far distant fence. I played a call and it came in closer.

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 medium-sized, slender flycatcher the color of dry earth that habitually perched out in the open. Posture upright to about 45 degrees.

Color above medium gray-brown with slightly darker crown. Weak wingbar formed by paler edging on greater coverts. Bird looked especially attenuated at rear due to combination of dark brownish or blackish tail, dark secondaries, and long dark primaries. This individual showed contrast between the tertials and rest of the flight feathers of the wings. The tertials were noticeably paler.

Underparts pale grayish, becoming pale peach or rusty from the belly through the undertail coverts. Tail flashed at times in flight and landing.

Bill, legs dark. Eyes dark.

Direct flight easy, graceful, unrushed. Hovering and fluttering flights to flycatch.

16. Voice: 

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

Eastern Phoebe more bicolored dark and light, slightly smaller, pumps tail compulsively. Vermilion Flycatcher female and young male smaller, drabber and less richly colored, with white throat and light streaking below.

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

19. Previous experience with this species:  I’ve seen many out west, and with this bird becoming—it would seem—more regular in Louisiana, I have a lot of recent local experience with them.

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, photos  

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

23. Date: 12/23/2012