LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage: 3 birds. One appeared to be a worn bird with notched outer primary tips, thus adult. 2 appeared to be young birds and were seen begging.

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: Cameron Parish;

East Jetty Woods

4. Date(s) when observed: August 14, 2011 (3 birds); August 20, 2011 (1 bird)

5. Time(s) of day when observed: early morning on 8/14; late afternoon on 8/20

6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Gary Broussard (discovered birds on 8/19), Dave Patton

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): several others

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): good sun at all times

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon 20-60 Fieldscope III ED, Nikon D200 w/300 mm lens

11. Distance to bird(s): 30-100 yds; mostly about 40-50 yds.

12. Duration of observation: 1-2 hours.

13. Habitat: open pastureland with scattered small islands of live oaks, treelines of first growth trees, and nearby marsh.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation: 3 birds seen together almost throughout. All flew several hundred yards together from first location to second. At that location, all landed on barbed wire fence lines or on nearby live oak. Flycatching behavior noted as expected. Also, at one point, two younger birds flew up to adult bird and began to beg with open mouths and fluttering wings. Some calling noted, especially young birds.

15. Description:

(Description of one young bird seen best)

Crown, nape, and anterior of mantle gray shading into a greenish gray at about level of shoulders. . Uppertail coverts blackish, edged with rust. Sheathed feather coming in on back.

White chin and throat with grayish was on the sides of the throat. Yellow breast and belly with a grayish wash across the yellow of the upper breast. Undertail coverts paler lemon yellow.

Tuft of yellowish feathers at the dorsal base of the bill. Blackish mask with eyeline as upper border, mask darker anteriorly, fades into neck in back. Black lores.

Wing coverts blackish and evenly edged with white except for brownish or buff edges near bend of wing; flight feathers and greater and median coverts contrasting with greenish gray of lesser coverts. Scapulars and tertials edged whitish. Bend of wing yellow.

Notched tail, with even graduation of rectrix length from shortest central pair down; notch of tail in relaxed position forming almost a right angle. Rectrices edged brownish. Rectrices look juvenal.

Eyes dark. Mouth lining appeared red. Legs grayish or blackish.

Adult bird appeared roughly similar, however, with less vivid coloration on mantle due to wear. Adult bird had notched outer primaries, visible when wings hung relaxed at sides.

16. Voice: Young birds gave repeated, insistent peeping calls. At least one bird (the adult?) gave a rapid-fire twitter burst.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): No visual differences eliminated Couch’s, although the bill on the adult seemed large. The trilled call seemed entirely consistent with Tropical call. While it has been pointed out that Couch’s can trill, the absence of any other Couch’s type calls and the similarity between calls we recorded and the calls of Tropical seem to be the best match.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? Photos, and/or video and audio of calling birds obtained and accompany this report as well as the reports of other two observers.

19. Previous experience with this species: A little in south Texas and AZ, and one visit to Tropical location in SELA the previous winter.

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

b. after observation: listened to all recordings of “Tropical” kingbirds available to me.

21. This description is largely transcribed from notes made during the observation, as well as a perusal of photos.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: I believe the calls identify the birds as Tropicals.

23. Date: 10/21/2011