Louisiana Ornithological Society’s

Louisiana Bird Records Committee

Report Form

 

  1. English and Scientific names:

 

Smith’s Longspur, Calcarius ornatus

 

  1. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

 

Flock of at least a dozen birds.

 

  1. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) (specific locality)

 

Caddo Parish – Shreveport Airport

 

  1. Date(s) when observed:

 

January 26, 2013

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

1:50 PM CST

 

  1. Reporting observer and address:

 

Jay V. Huner

428 Hickory Hill Drive

Boyce, LA 71409

 

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

 

Terry Davis, Jim Holmes, and others with Louisiana Ornithological Society’s Winter Meeting Field Trip.

 

  1. Other observers who Independently identified the bird(s):

 

It is my understanding that D. Bosler and J. Bosler visited the site on 1-27-13 and recorded the birds.

 

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

 

Overcast

 

  1. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

 

Mine – Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars in good condition.

 

  1. Distance to bird(s):

 

50-200 yards.

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

At least 15 minutes as the birds flew, landed, were approached, and flew again.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

Airport with short grass and bare ground. Dominant grass identified as Aristida.

 

  1. Behavior of bird/circumstances of observations (flying, feeding, resting; including and stress habits in identification: relate events surrounding observation):

 

The birds were flushed from the ground where they were apparently feeding. The birds remained in a rather tight flock that made wide circles around the area and eventually returned to the area where they were first flushed. They may have returned because various party participants played recordings of the song and call.

 

  1. 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):

 

These were small birds somewhat larger than Savannah Sparrows. They were basically buffy with narrow white outer tail feathers extending the length of the tail.

 

  1. Voice:

 

Birds did not sing. They gave made rattling and clicking calls/sounds as they flew about resembling closely my BirdJam vocalizations.

 

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

 

Call and white tail feather pattern. Likely other species could be Lapland Longspur and Chestnut-collared Longspur (2 present in association with the SMLS flock.)

 

  1. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached”):

 

None.

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I had recorded Smith’s Longspurs at the site the previous two winters. I have seen and heard Smith’s Longspur on breeding grounds in interior Alaska several years ago.

 

 

  1. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

 

    1. at time of observation: BirdJam
    2. after observation: Sibley’s Field Guide and National Geographic Field Guide.

 

  1. This description is written from: ___notes made during the observation (notes attached?); __notes made after the observation ; __x__ memory.

 

 

  1. Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain.

 

Yes.

 

  1. Signature of reporter __Jay V. Huner__ date 6/30/13 time 9:30 PM.