LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Spotted Towhee

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

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)  Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:  Woods on 2400 block of Trosclair Road, about 9 miles E of Cameron; same woodlot but came in from the opposite side of woods from the female reported separately.

4. Date(s) when observed: December 23, 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 10:30 a.m.

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):  Cloudy, but bird was below eye level against backdrop of vegetation.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s

11. Distance to bird(s): down to about 20 yards

12. Duration of observation:  Maybe 10 minutes, but limited viewing. 

13. Habitat: Woodlot with dense undergrowth.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation:  Male bird responded to Spotted Towhee call I played to draw out the female Spotted I had seen a few moments before. It came out in open, but ducked back into brush when I turned the camera on it. It worked the perimeter of the area, staying largely concealed but calling constantly. A female Spotted and at least one calling male Eastern were also present. It was hard to keep track of how many towhees of which species and sex were present.

This towhee stayed in the area after the other towhees stopped calling and dropped out of sight.

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):

A male “Rufous-sided”-type towhee. Hood and mantle black as in Eastern. Breast white, sides rufous. Dark bill. Wings distinctly spangled with white or whitish markings on tips of wing coverts and on mantle. The exact markings were impossible to see given the looks I had.

16. Voice: Raspy, plaintive call that for lack of better description I’d say was cat-like.

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

Eastern Towhee with white mark at base of primaries, sometimes with white markings above on tertials, etc., but not so densely and distinctly marked on coverts or mantle.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):  None; I couldn’t manage one.

19. Previous experience with this species:  Yes, most recently I saw quite a few this summer out west.

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: 12/24/2011