English and Scientific names:

Bell’s Vireo

Number of individuals: 

1

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Cameron Parish

Specific Locality:

Peveto Woods

Date(s) when observed:

15 September 2007

Time(s) of day when observed:  

15:30

Reporting observer and address:

Robert C. Dobbs

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

Danny Dobbs

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

None

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

Shade of vegetation in bright afternoon sunlight

Optical equipment: 

Swarovski 8x30 binoculars

Distance to bird(s): 

10 m

Duration of observation:

2 min

Habitat: 

Hackberry/live oak-dominated remnant cheniere forest patch

Behavior of bird: 

Foraging in outer vegetation of honey locust tree

Description:

Virtually identical to a singing Bell’s Vireo that I observed the previous day, approximately 6 km to the west. Small, grayish olive passerine with yellowish sides, flanks; short, but thick bill; dark iris; indistinct pale area around eye with a faint and indistinct dark eyeline; single thin, white wingbar; the bird’s relatively long tail (ie given body size/proportions) was noteable

Voice:

Bird did not vocalize

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 look drab and messy, and therefore indistinctive, but lacks Bell’s Vireo’s characteristic, albeit subtle facial pattern. Most importantly, this bird’s relatively long tail was evident.

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: 

12:00, 19 December 2007