English and Scientific names:

Say’s Phoebe

Sayornis saya

Number of individuals: 

One, appeared to be in adult plumage.

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

La Salle

Specific Locality:

Catahoula Lake Diversion Canal Structure in the Dewey Wills WMA.

Date(s) when observed:

3-12-05

Time(s) of day when observed:  

Mid-morning

Reporting observer and address:

Stephen Pagans

West Monroe, LA 

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

Joan Brown

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

Unknown, but I did hear that some birder(s) from Alexandria, LA came to see the bird.

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

Sunny, the bird was generally south of us and in full sunlight sitting on a rail.

Optical equipment: 

At that time I probably was using a pair of 7X50 binoculars.  I don’t remember what Joan had but probably 8x40 binoculars.  Both were in good condition.

Distance to bird(s): 

We stayed in my truck and were probably nor more than about 45 feet from the bird while taking pictures.

Duration of observation:

We stayed there about an hour.

Habitat: 

Parking lot. When we first arrived there, we didn't know where to expect the bird but had been told that it hung around the parking lot. 

Behavior of bird: 

There was a patch of hardwoods immediately on the west side of the parking lot about 30 yards from where we were parked.  We watched for a while and didn't see the bird.  Then I think I played the bird's song on a CD to see if it would show.  Shortly after that it was first seen on the edge of the patch of woods.  Then it came on into the parking lot and landed on a railing where we were easily able to observe it.  I don't recall much else about it as far as activity.  To the best of my recollection, occasionally, it would go back into the woods briefly and then come back out.

Description:

Keep in mind that we were told the bird was there.  So we went prepared to look for the bird and compare it to our bird identification books for a positive identification. The bird appeared to be smaller than a Mockingbird.  Its tail was black.  Its head and back and breast were grayish brown while it belly and under the tail was a salmon color.  It had a dark eye.  It had all the characteristics that we expected to find on a Say's Phoebe.  I have two slides that have good resolution and have one ready to submit.  Having the slides greatly facilitates describing the details of the bird.

Voice:

I don't recall the bird ever calling.

Similar species:

In a way a Gray Catbird would have the greatest number of matching characteristics -- a black tail, rufous undertail coverts, a
gray body (darker than the Say's Phoebe and more uniform overall) but
 the black cap for the Catbird also would be different from the Say’s Phoebe.  In some ways it sort of resembles a Northern Mockingbird too, but the Mockingbird doesn't have the salmon colored belly and undertail coverts and it also has bold wingbars.  Also, the Mockingbird does not have dark eyes.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Both Joan and I took photographs.  I will be sending a photo.

Previous experience with this species: 

That was mine and Joan's first sighting of a Say's Phoebe but since then I have seen them on a number of occasions in west Texas.

Identification aids:

Bird identification books.  Other birders told us the bird was there.

This description is written from: 

Memory and photographs.

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

 

Both Joan and I are positive.

Date and time: 

9-15-09, 9:49 pm