English and Scientific names:

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Number of individuals: 

1 apparently in adult plumage.

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Catahoula

Specific Locality:

Delta Plantation farms, southwestern Catahoula Parish. About 1.5 mile southeast of where Dewey W. Wills WMA. Road comes to a gate on the LaSalle/Catahoula Parish line. 

Date(s) when observed:

December 19, 2009

Time(s) of day when observed:  

Late morning to mid-day; approximately 11:30 am.

Reporting observer and address:

Jonathan Clark,

Jena LA 

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

Roger Breedlove

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

no

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Sunny, good light. Perched in the open so the bird was well-lit

Optical equipment: 

10x42 binoculars. Binoculars in good condition, lenses clear.

Distance to bird(s): 

Approximately 50 feet, give or take a few feet.

Duration of observation:

30 seconds to a minute.

Habitat: 

The bird was spotted perched on a piece of farm equipment near a storage building. The surrounding area is agricultural land; open, sparse cover. There was a line of small trees or bushes nearby.

Behavior of bird: 

2009 Catahoula Christmas Bird Count. A Say's Phoebe (presumably the same individual) had been seen here the previous winter during the CBC. Mr. Breedlove knew where to look and after about a minute at the location he spotted it and pointed it out to me.

Description:

The bird was perched in the open with no obstructions between us and the bird. Similar in size to an Eastern, perched with a somewhat slumped posture. Medium-sized flycatcher, at least the size of an Eastern Phoebe. Maybe a bit slimmer-looking than Eastern. Too large and not light enough on breast area to be a Vermilion Flycatcher. Head and back dusty gray-brown. Wings and tail darker than other parts of upper parts. Throat and breast lighter grayish-brownish fading into orangish on the belly, flanks, and undertail coverts. Head NOT noticeably darker than back as it would be on an Eastern Phoebe. Bill appeared to be dark in color. Eyes dark.

Voice:

No vocalizing.

Similar species:

Color pattern the most noticeable distinction between this bird and an Eastern Phoebe. General shape and proportions not quite the same (larger head perhaps?).

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

No

Previous experience with this species: 

This was my first encounter with this species, though I’ve familiarized myself with the bird from field guides. Mr. Breedlove has seen Say's Phoebes on multiple occasions and he was in no doubt either. 

Identification aids:

No field guide used during the observation, though afterward I went to Sibley's and Golden Guide to study the illustrations and read up on the species just to be thorough. Mr. Breedlove, as stated above, was present and knowledgeable about the species, talked about what we saw

This description is written from: 

Memory and short notes made in the field.

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

Yes

Date and time: 

3/4/10. 9:54 am