LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

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

3. Locality: Parish: Jefferson

Specific Locality: Lafitte Woods, LSU tract, Grand Isle, LA

4. Date(s) when observed: 21 Dec 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 3:00pm

6. Reporting observer and address: Erik I. Johnson, Lafayette, LA 70508

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): none, but Tommy Harold, Chris Brantley, and Michael Hilferty were birding with me.

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): none known.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): sunny; mid-afternoon light over left shoulder as I faced north toward the bird

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 10 x 42 Swarovski EL binoculars

11. Distance to bird(s): 75 ft.

12. Duration of observation: 20 seconds

13. Habitat: coastal live oak forest

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

I quickly saw shapeless movement fly into the top of a live oak and watched the bird as it perched there motionless for about 20 seconds, trying to get others in my party to find the bird through the dense foliage. The bird then flew off to the east, below the canopy as an Accipiter quickly flew past. The flight was strong, direct, and not undulating.

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):

All yellow head and underparts (female-type) with dull olive-yellow wings and two whitish wing bars; pale bill that seemed substantially smaller than a Summer Tanager bill. I never actually saw the tail of the bird as it was obscured by vegetation.

16. Voice: not heard

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): From other tanagers by whitish wing bars. From orioles by heavy bill, more elongated than a cardinal or bunting, but much thicker than an oriole.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): No.

19. Previous experience with this species: Seen a couple of times now in Louisiana.

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

a. at time of observation: Sibley Guide to North American Birds

b. after observation: none

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);__X__notes made after the observation (date: 22 Dec 2011); __X__memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes.

23. Date: 25 Dec 2011 Time: 8:55am