REPORT FORM
1. English and Scientific names: Yellow-green Vireo, Vireo
flavoviridis
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2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): 1 |
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3. Locality: Cameron Parish |
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Specific Locality: Peveto Woods Sanctuary |
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4. Date(s) when observed: 10/11/2014 |
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5. Time(s) of day when observed: from about 8:30-8:40 |
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6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette, LA |
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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Jay Huner also saw the bird, but I don’t know how well; Dave Patton, ditto. |
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8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
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9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Morning sunlight, leaf shade |
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10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, good condition; Nikon D50 w/300 mm lens |
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11. Distance to bird(s): probably 15-20 yards at closest |
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12. Duration of observation: not much, bird was staying out of sight most of the time. I had a few open glimpses of different parts of the bird as it foraged in leaves, probably adding up to a minute of views before I got a look at the face. |
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13. Habitat: chenier woods, seen in oaks and hackberry |
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14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation: The bird was foraging in a small flock of migrants, very close to a White-eyed Vireo, moving quickly through oak clumps; it then began moving quickly through the trees. It flew into the woods and I relocated it about a hundred yards away a couple of minutes later. I managed a couple of pictures and it flew off again. I never saw it again. On the initial sighting, I was studying a flock with Jay Huner. There was a White-eyed Vireo and another bird working up through an oak tree above us. I saw the second bird and noticed that the flanks and undertail coverts were bright yellow and what I could see of the upperparts were a yellowish-green. After a few glimpses at different parts of the bird, I could see that the yellow of the underparts continued up the flanks, jutted out in a point or trapezoid onto the breast, and continued up as a wash on the sides of the throat. I waited to see the face of the bird, to see if it was a “Red-eyed” type as I expected, and when it turned its head, I could see that it had a washed out semblance of a Red-eyed’s face pattern. At that point I switched to the camera and snapped a few pictures of the leaves it was in. I called Dave over, but the bird flew. We split up, I walked down the trail about 100 yards and saw a bird working a hackberry like a Red-eye. I watched it long enough to see that it was broadly washed with on the sides with yellow from the the head to the tail, and started taking pictures until it flew.
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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 “Red-eyed” type vireo with a rich yellow wash beneath and a weak face pattern, yellow-green upperparts. Larger than the White-eyed Vireo it was foraging with; in terms of size, not much different (in flight size) from a pewee that bailed from the tree with it. Upperparts weren’t seen well, just from side view. My impression was that the upperparts were more yellowish-green than a Red-eyed Vireo, but there were no direct comparisons. No wingbars. The yellow of the underparts was rich and clear, and contrasted with the white of the central underparts. The yellow formed a V beginning at the undertail and continuing broadly forward along the flanks (extending centrally to at least the feathering of the legs, from reference to photo); the yellow widened at the breast, forming a V or trapezoid pattern onto the breast (a vest), then continued up to the sides of the throat. The yellow surrounded a round bright white patch between the legs from the vent to the lower breast. The face wasn’t studied well, because I was waiting to see it for confirmation of identification, and as soon as I was able to confirm it, I switched to camera. I did see that it was a weak facsimile of a Red-eyed Vireo face, with less contrast and demarcation between the cap and the sides of the face due to the dinginess of the face. In fact, I had to study the face well to make sure I was seeing that pattern. I also noted and mentioned to the others at the time that the cheek was yellowish. The bill struck me as longer than a Red-eye, and the tail as well, making the bird appear rangy, but there was no direct comparison, so that’s strictly subjective. |
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16. Voice: n/a |
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17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Philadelphia Vireo and yellow-tinged Warbling Vireo smaller, with different face pattern and smaller bills. I’ve seen many Red-eyed Vireos in fall with very yellow undertail coverts with the yellow extending up the flanks, but nowhere near as broadly or extensively as this bird. The head pattern of Red-eyed is also much stronger, with the gray cap set off from the whitish auriculars by a dark line. This bird had a weak suggestion of that pattern, but the dingy color of the face reduced the contrast. In short, Red-eyed has a suite of back, crown, and underparts colors that together are very distinctive and diagnostic, while this bird was really nothing like that. |
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18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): a couple of poor quality photos, one showing the rear underparts, two showing the breast and face. The photos are washed out, and are corrected for exposure. The photo of the rear underparts shows the color well, while the others show the extent of yellow, but not its vividness. |
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19. Previous experience with this species: Only in LA, where I’ve seen a small number. |
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20. This description is written from mental notes during observation, a sketch of the underpart pattern made shortly after the sighting, and reference to photos. |
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21. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes. |
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22. Date: 10/12/2014 |
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