LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

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

2. Number of individuals:  1

3. Locality: Calcasieu Parish

Specific Locality: about 2 miles E of Holmwood, on Nick Martone Road about ¼ mile N of Hwy 14.

4. Date(s) when observed: 01/27/2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed: midday

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):  Not great light but sufficient.

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

11. Distance to bird(s): probably at closest perhaps 50 yards

12. Duration of observation:  20 minutes off and on 

13. Habitat:  Farm and pasture mix with plenty of fences and nearby treelines.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation:  Bird was flying ahead of me a hundred yards or so, and I thought I recognized the flight as a Say’s, so I followed it. It landed on a fencepost and I snapped some photos. It then flew to some nearby trees where it associated with 2 Eastern Bluebirds, flying to other trees as they did so.

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):

An earth-toned flycatcher a little larger and stouter than an Eastern Phoebe. Medium pale grayish-brown mantle, slightly darker brownish crown, dark bill and eye. Tail dark brownish or blackish contrasting with body, flight feathers of wings slightly darker than mantle, with one weakly defined wingbar evident from the viewing distance. Underparts pale grayish from chin to breast, pale buffy-orange on belly and vent.

Flight buoyant, more like a kingbird than an Eastern Phoebe, with hovering interspersed with direct flight.

16. Voice: Not heard.

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

This bird was clearly a flycatcher by build and behavior. No other flycatcher matches the rosy-bellied, dark-tailed, dusty-backed look of Say’s Phoebe.

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

19. Previous experience with this species:  Pretty extensive out west. In the past 2 winters I’ve found a half-dozen or so.

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.  

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

23. Date: 01/28/2012