English and Scientific names:	Bell’s Vireo
Number of individuals:	1
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Cameron Parish
Specific Locality:	3.2 km ESE Johnson Bayou school
Date(s) when observed:	14 September 2007
Time(s) of day when observed:	11:00
Reporting observer and address:	Robert C. Dobbs
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	N/A
Other observers accompanying reporter who independently identified the bird(s):	N/A
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Mid-day sunlight; bird observed in bright sun and in shade of vegetation where it was foraging
Optical equipment:	Swarovski 8x30 binoculars
Distance to bird(s):	12 m
Duration of observation:	2 min
Habitat:	Hackberry-dominated cheniere forest
Behavior of bird:	Foraging in vine tangle in subcanopy of hackberry
Description:	Small, olive-yellowish passerine (yellowish primarily on sides, flanks); short, but thick bill; dark iris; indistinct pale area around eye with a faint and indistinct dark eyeline; single thin, white wingbar; relatively long tail (ie given body size/proportions)
Voice:	Bird was singing regularly throughout observation. Song, which I immediately recognized as Bell’s Vireo, was a series of 6-7 raspy phrases that seemed to accelerate slightly or increase in emphasis slightly toward end.
Similar species:	Distinguished from drab warbler (eg Tennessee) based on bill size/shape. Warbling and Philadelphia vireos have very characteristic and clean facial patterns and relatively short tails. Juvenile White-eyed Vireo may have the best potential for confusion, but in addition to plumage and structural (ie relative tail length) differences, the song is very distinctive (and nothing like White-eyed) and confirmed the identification
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	No
Previous experience with this species:	I am very familiar with western Bell’s Vireo, having spent extensive time working and birding in Arizona, and with eastern Bell’s Vireo, where I regularly observed breeding birds as an undergrad in northern Arkansas
Identification aids:	Sibley guide, consulted later in day of observation
This description is written from:	Field notes taken at time of observation
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes, positive of ID
Reporter:	Robert C. Dobbs
Date and time:	11:45, 19 December 2007