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English and Scientific names: |
Shiny Cowbird
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Number of individuals: |
Adult male and female |
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Locality: LOUISIANA: |
Lafourche |
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Specific Locality: |
Grand Isle: two blocks east of the water tower--at the house which accumulates doves and blackbirds, with the "welcome birder's" sign |
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Date(s) when observed: |
May 20, 2007 |
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Time(s) of day when
observed: |
about 3:30 PM |
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Reporting observer and address: |
Dick Prentki Anchorage, AK |
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Other observers accompanying reporter who
also identified the bird(s): |
none |
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Other
observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
none |
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Light
conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount
of light): |
Viewed through car
window with sun behind me, full sunlight on birds |
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Optical equipment: |
Bausch & Lomb
Discoverer 7x24 |
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Distance to
bird(s): |
About 20 feet |
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Duration of
observation: |
About 1-2 minutes for
male, about 2-3 additional minutes for female after male left. |
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Habitat: |
In town driveway in grass yard with some landscaping. |
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Behavior of bird: |
Foraging on driveway. Looked at the male first until he got nervious and flew away. Then looked at female who stayed. |
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Description: |
Adult pair, together. Blackbird size. Flat sloping head like bronzed cowbird, medium length tail, black legs. Relatively long for blackbird) pointed bill, slightly downcurved. Bill about appeared to be about 3/4 head length. Dark eye both birds. Male: Dominant marking was the glossy jet black of head and front, with dull but dark wings. (did not get good look at back). Female: Warm brown on back, slightly lighter breast, no marking on breast. Only obvious mark was wide lighter brown eyebrow starting at eye level. There is a little rust color on the back part of the wing. |
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Voice: |
Not observed |
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Similar
species: |
No other male blackbird shows the glossy black head and front with dull black contrasting wings. |
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Photographs
or tape recordings obtained? |
Bill not as conical as brownheaded cowbird, also longer and more pointed than for brownheaded cowbird. Bill of observed bird appeared to be about 3/4 head length (as in Thayer CD photo, longer than shown in Sibley, much longer than brown-headed cowbird.). Female brownheaded cowbird doesn't show touch of rust on wing and usually shows streaking on breast. Only bronzed cowbird and shiny cowbird share the very flat head found on observed birds. Bronzed cowbirds seen at this location 2 hours earlier had obvious red eyes under similar viewing conditions and male bronzed cowbird did not have the glossy black pattern of the observed male bird. Female bronzed cowbird is much darker than the obseved female bird. Male Brewer's and Rusty Blackbirds have light eyes,plus differnt glossy pattern and rounder heads. |
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Previous
experience with this species: |
Very little, seen once in Trinidad, 22 years ago. Significant experience with other blackbird species in US. |
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Identification aids: |
Sibley Field Guide to Eastern North American; Thayers CD GBNA |
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This description is written from: |
written from notes transcribed from microrecorder recording made while observing subject birds |
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Are
you positive of your identification? If not, explain: |
Yes |
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Reporter: |
Dick Prentki
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Date and time: |
May 25, 2007 12:40 AM |