English and Scientific names:

Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)

Number of individuals: 

1 near-adult male

 

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Orleans Parish

 

Specific Locality:

 

Uptown New Orleans - Leslee Reed's house

 

Date(s) when observed:

December 24th, 2004

 

 

Time(s) of day when observed:  

2:15-3:15 p.m.

Reporting observer and address:

Phillip Wallace

 

New Orleans, LA

 

 

 

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

None

Other observers reporter who idependently identified the bird(s):

Leslee Reed reported that this bird and a full adult male Bullock's had been present for a few weeks.

 

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

Light was good. Backyard was shaded.

Optical equipment: 

Zeiss 10x40 bins

 

Distance to bird(s): 

10-12 yards.

Duration of observation:

Actual viewing time approximately five minutes

 

Habitat: 

Backyard planted for hummingbirds. 

 

Behavior of bird: 

Feeding at hummingbird feeder.

 

Description:

"Northern" Oriole size. Long pointed bill with straight culmen and slightly decurved lower mandible. Bill was pale gray in color. Underparts were bright orange with some yellow undertones. Face and forehead were bright orange. Throat and lores were black. Dark line behind the eye. Back was gray with dark gray or black speckling. Crown and nape were blackish. Dark wings had extensive white, including an extensive white panel formed by the white greater coverts. All of the flight feathers had extensive white edges. The upper surface of the tail was black and the lower surface was yellowish-orange. The rump and lower back wer the same orange color as the underparts. 

 

Voice:

None.

Similar species:

The head pattern and white wing pattern eliminate Baltimore Oriole. The dark crown and nape eliminate other orange orioles.

 

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Stills from video accompany this report. 

Previous experience with this species: 

I've seen many times out west.

 

Identification aids:

At time: None

After observation: Sibley

This description is written from: 

Notes taken immediately after the observation and from the video.

 

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

 

Yes.

Reporter: 

Phillip Wallace

Date and time: 

January 6, 2005