English and Scientific names:

Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii

Number of individuals: 

1 male adult

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Cameron

Specific Locality:

peveto woods sanctuary; seen two places east of parking lot; in flight near parking lot; and perched west of lot, along entrance road

Date(s) when observed:

7 April 2009

Time(s) of day when observed:  

several times mid- to late morning

Reporting observer and address:

B. Mac. Myers III
Eunice, LA 70535

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

none

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

A visiting birder from SD was driving in the road and flushed the bird the last time I saw it. I told him about the bird, and he told me later that he had a brief look at it; don't recall his name.

I believe one(?) of the Boslers saw the bird that same day?? Donna Bordelon reported one or two adult Bullock\'s males a few days before. P. Conover photographed an adult Bullock\'s nearby a few days later.

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

good, looking north for first two sightings, west-northwest for the flyby and the final sighting

Optical equipment: 

10x42 Eagle optics, very good confition

Distance to bird(s): 

first flew from very near, maybe 30 ft.; perched looks at 30-35 yards, flyby quite close, and final perched view at maybe 80 yds.

Duration of observation:

first two observations at most 10 seconds; flyby just that; last observation about 1.5 min.

Habitat: 

Coastal chenier. Originally on the ground with Orchard Orioles in vetch and nightshade ground cover. Other observations in trees, type not noted likely live oak or sugarberry

Behavior of bird: 

A bunch of Orchard Orioles flew from ground cover, and then a bright orange oriole did. They mostly flew into nearby trees, and I looked at the orange one expecting Baltimore. Was shocked to see adult Bullock’s. Then I recalled that Donna Bordelon had reported one or two a few days before. Otherwise nothing remarkable about behavior, except that it was skittish and did not allow me to photo it.

Description:

An obvious orange oriole of the Balt./Bullock\'s type. Crown, nape and back were black. Bold white patch covering all or almost all of upper wing coverts; secondaries edged brightly with white. Tail orange with black tip and center. Narrow but rather long orange superciliary. Black line from bill base through eye to rear crown/nape. Otherwise the face was orange. Fairly narrow black beard down from chin through central throat and upper breast. Remainder of underparts orange.

Voice:

not heard

Similar species:

The combination of field marks noted eliminates all other orioles. There was nothing to suggest hybridism.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

no

Previous experience with this species: 

Tons of Baltimores, fair amount of experience with this species, many out west and some in LA

Identification aids:

none at the time. Later checked Sibley, Nat. Geo Complete, and Jaramillo's new world blackbirds

This description is written from: 

brief note made at the time

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

 

yes

Date and time: 

16 Feb. 2010 2:25