English and Scientific names:

Gray Kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis

 

Number of individuals: 

2

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Cameron

Specific Locality:

in open beachfront pasture about 1 mile E of Rutherford Beach community 

Date(s) when observed:

05/15/04

 

Time(s) of day when observed:  

midday

 

 

Reporting observer and address:

 

Paul Conover

Lafayette, LA

 

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

The birds were found on 05/09/04 by David Muth, Mac Myers, and Phillip Wallace.

 

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

Good light, bright but not to the detriment of determining colors, etc.

Optical equipment: 

Zeiss 10X’s, Kowa 20-60 scope. 

Distance to bird(s): 

as close as 10 yards

Duration of observation:

2 hrs. 

Habitat: 

Open pasture, fairly tall grass interspersed with cactus, acacias. The birds were perching on dead stalks and also on the barbed wire fence that ran through the pasture.

Behavior of bird: 

Mostly just perched, but every few minutes they would launch out after prey [dragonflies], and then return to perches. I was able to pull up next to them without spooking them when they would perch next to the road.

      Eastern Kingbirds were migrating through, and foraging alongside Grays with no apparent conflict. I did see a male Red-winged Blackbird attack a Gray.

Description:

Kingbirds similar in size and shape to nearby Eastern Kingbirds, appearing a little thicker-bodied, longer-tailed, and heavier-billed. White below with a pale grayish vest, and a pale yellowish wash on the vent and undertail, gray above, with blackish auriculars forming a mask. Flight feathers and wing coverts a shade paler than auriculars, with whitish fringe. Tail same color as wings. Uppertail coverts a shade paler than tail, fringed gray. Bill large, black. Legs black.

Voice:

Silent, surprising considering the Eastern Kingbirds were very vocal and in large numbers nearby.

Similar species:

None that I’m aware of among North American kingbirds. These seemed typical for Gray Kingbird.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Photos, included.

Previous experience with this species: 

I saw them fairly often when I lived in Florida.

 

Notes made from memory?   

Yes, and from photos

 

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

 

Yes

 

 

Reporter: 

Paul Conover      

Date and time: 

06/ 04/2004