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English and Scientific names: |
Bell's Vireo, Vireo bellii
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Number of individuals: |
1 individual |
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Locality: LOUISIANA: |
Cameron Parish |
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Specific Locality: |
ca. 2.5 mi. east of Rutherford Beach |
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Date(s) when observed: |
31 August 2005 |
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Time(s) of day when
observed: |
ca. 11:00 am |
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Reporting observer and address: |
Robert C. Dobbs |
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Light
conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount
of light): |
bright sunlight, with some
shade of Acacia |
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Optical equipment: |
Swarovski 8x30 SLC
binocs |
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Distance to
bird(s): |
10 m |
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Duration of
observation: |
20-30 sec |
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Habitat: |
Acacia/hackberry scrub on beach side of hackberry-dominated chenier. |
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Behavior of bird: |
Observed bird perched (briefly) and foraging in Acacia, with mixed-species flock of other transients. I did not see the bird long enough to get a feel for the bird's habits. |
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Description: |
General size of small warbler, with deep Vireo-like bill; proportionately long tail for a warbler/vireo-sized bird--this feature was not exagerated, but was immediately apparent; also immediately noticeable was a cleanly-defined single, thin white wingbar; head grayish with inconspicuous but noticeable dark eye-line, and pale area around the eye (no bold eye-ring); little pale in lores--not very noticeable (certainly no spectacled look); flanks and vent yellowish; throat, breast, and belly whitish. |
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Voice: |
Bird did not vocalize |
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Similar
species: |
Juvenile White-eyed Vireo the only candidate for confusion. My bird's relatively long tail was distinctive and immediately apparent, and gave the bird a unique overall shape and gestalt that was very different from White-eyed Vireo at any age. I find confusing juvenile White-eyed Vireos to be more chunky (in part due to shorter tail), and quite messy in appearance. Wingbars of juv. White-eyes may be incomplete, but are generally relatively thick, and the facial pattern of juv. White-eyes, while often pale (not yellow) and poorly defined, are typically reminiscent of adult's pattern. The bird I report here was fairly slim (not chunky), and the wingbar was clean-looking. The eye-line, while inconspicuous (faint), was relatively cleanly defined. |
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Photographs
or tape recordings obtained? |
Unable to obtain photographic evidence |
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Previous
experience with this species: |
I'm very familiar with western race of Bell's Vireo, much less with eastern birds. Shape of bird/relative tail length (not plumage) immediately reminded me of western Bell's Vireo. I'm familiar with the tail flicking of western birds, but do not recall similar behavior in eastern birds (book says they bob tails?). I could have easily missed tail flicking/bobbing behavior given the brevity of my observation. |
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Identification aids: |
No ID aids at time of observation after observation: Sibley Guide to Birds |
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This description is written from: |
Notes taken at time of observation--see attachment |
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Are
you positive of your identification? If not, explain: |
If not, explain: = 95% sure of id, based primarily on the bird's shape/relative tail length, and that other field marks (e.g., thin wingbar, head pattern) are consistent with Bell's Vireo, but recognizing that juvenile White-eyed Vireos are often problematic. |
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Reporter: |
Robert C. Dobbs
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Date and time: |
20 September 2005, 09:00 am |