LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

	1. English and Scientific names: Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
	2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):
	One apparent male
	3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) ______Union____________________________
	Specific Locality: __Meridian Church, west of Marion, La, N 32 degrees 53’ 46.76” and W 92 degrees 20’ 37.32”_______________________
	4. Date(s) when observed: 1/11/2012
	5. Time(s) of day when observed: 11:00 AM
	6. Reporting observer and address: Steve Pagans, 128 Honeysuckle Drive, West Monroe, LA 71291
	7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): None
	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): Weather was overcast but bird was on the edge of opening.
	10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition 8x binoculars and Canon 5D Mark II camera with 400/5.6 lens
	11. Distance to bird(s): 50 feet
	12. Duration of observation: Several minutes
	13. Habitat: brush, briars, vines
	14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): After my playing of a Green-tailed Towhee song/call, I heard the Spotted Towhee vocalize what sounded somewhat like a growl. I thought it might be a Spotted Towhee, so I switched the song/call on my Birdjam to a Spotted Towhee. Very quickly the Spotted Towhee came to the edge of the cover and sat there while I took pictures of it. It continued to respond to the Birdjam recording by growling. I did not notice if it did any other vocalizations.
	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): I saw what compared favorably to an Eastern Towhee in size and color except for excessive white spotting on its wing and back. It had the dark head coloration of a male.
	16. Voice: Growling
	17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Eastern Towhee but the Eastern Towhee does not have the excessive white spots on its wing and back that was seen on the subject bird.
	18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Multiple photographs by Stephen L. Pagans
	19. Previous experience with this species: I have seen one other Spotted Towhee in Louisiana and one or more in west Texas.
	20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):
	a. at time of observation: None
	b. after observation: several bird identification books.
	21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); __X___memory.
	22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes
	23. Signature of reporter: _______Stephen L. Pagans______Date:_1/12/12__Time:3:00 pm__
	24. May the LBRC have permission to display this report or portions of this report on its webite? ___X____Yes______________
	If yes, may we include your name with the report? ____x____Yes_______
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