English and Scientific names:

Bell's Vireo

Number of individuals: 

1, unknown

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Orleans

Specific Locality:

Little Woods; woodlot near intersection of Paris Rd. and Haynes Blvd.

30 04' 28.08
89 56' 38.05

Date(s) when observed:

12-26-09 (New Orleans CBC); 1-2-2010; 2-7-2010

Time(s) of day when observed:  

12/26 about 1600 h.
1-2-2010 1100 h
2-7-2010 0830 h.
all times approx.

Reporting observer and address:

David P. Muth
New Orleans, La.

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

 

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

 

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

light was good for all three observations as bird was low--eye level and below, with no backlighting

Optical equipment: 

Eagle Optic Platinum Binoculars 10x40.

Distance to bird(s): 

less than 20 feet

Duration of observation:

probably 5+ minutes all told, but most of that fiddling with cameras or Ipod.

Habitat: 

low scrub--rubus, phragmites, mixed forbs among scattered live oaks in urban woodlot adjacent to Bayou Sauvage NWR marsh.

Behavior of bird: 

Foraging low, often near ground, disappearing into thickets and tangles and skulking, then popping out briefly, fairly active; on 1-2-10 it briefly flew up into eye-level branches of live oak in response to a BEVI recording played on an IPOD.

Description:

A small somewhat rotund bird with short blunt vireo bill (dark upper mandible); greenish yellow tones above, yellower flanks, whitish below, top of head grayer than back. One white wingbar (tips of greater coverts). There was a fairly prominent white eye-ring, and a hint of a spectacle--pale supralorals.

Voice:

not heard

Similar species:

White-eyed Vireo has yellow spectacles, two prominent wingbars, is more brightly colored, larger and heavier looking and more bull-necked.

 

Similar dull greenish warblers eliminated by bill, overall shape and various plumage combinations--i.e. white eyering and single wingbar.

 

The individual did appear to respond briefly to BEVI recording, for whatever that is worth.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

one digital photo obtained, attached

Previous experience with this species: 

Perhaps fewer than ten in Louisiana, occasionally seen out west.

Identification aids:

usual field guides

This description is written from: 

memory and notes made on 3x5 card for CBC

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

yes

Date and time: 

March 4, 2010.