LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis)

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

1 Age and sex unknown

3. Parish: Jefferson

Specific Locality: northern end of Landry Lane, Grand Isle

4. Date(s) when observed: 15 May 2014 (the prior Gray Kingbird on Grand Isle was last reported to eBird on 30 April 2014, thus this is almost certainly a different individual).

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 12:00 PM. We returned to the area later in the evening but were unable to relocate the kingbird.

6. Reporting observer and address: Cameron Rutt, Baton Rouge, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Matt Brady, Mike Harvey, John Mittermeier, and Glenn Seeholzer

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): None

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Conditions were good. The harsh midday sun didn’t create good photographic opportunities, but allowed us to see the bird’s features well.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Swarovski EL 8.5x42 binoculars

11. Distance to bird(s): As close as approximately 30 feet.

12. Duration of observation: 5 minutes or more

13. Habitat: The bird favored more successional habitat at the more forested habitat at edge of the residential neighborhood, where it gave way to sparse trees, brush, and surrounding fields. It seemed to prefer the exposed, prominent perches of powerlines as well as the outer crown of oaks in a nearby hedgerow.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): The bird was almost exclusively seen perching, sallying for insects, or in short flights where it relocated to another perch.

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species; body bulk, shape, proportions; bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species, or for species that are known to hybridize frequently, stress features that help eliminate possible hybrids): Rather than simply describing the details of the bird from the photos, I’ll let the images speak for themselves.

16. Voice: Not heard vocalizing.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Eliminated from all other possible Tyrannus by the combination of the bird’s long, heavy bill; dark mask; pale gray upperparts including crown and nape; and clean white underparts.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Yes. The attached photo was taken by John Mittermeier.

19. Previous experience with this species: I’ve seen and handled Gray Kingbirds primarily on various islands in the Caribbean, but have also encountered the species in Florida with one extralimital occurrence in Pennsylvania.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation: None

b. after observation: None

21. This description is written from:

	notes made during the observation.	Are notes attached?
	notes made after the observation.	At what date?
X	Memory
X	study of images

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

23. Date: 17 June 2014

Time: 4:00 PM