LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

1. English and Scientific names: Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)

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

3. Locality: Parish: _St Tammany___________________________________________

Specific Locality: _Money Hill Golf Estates east of Abita Springs ______________________________________________

4. Date(s) when observed: 3/4/2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed: 9:42 am

6. Reporting observer and address:

Mary Mehaffey,

Folsom, LA 70437

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): none

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Janine Robin at about 11:30 am same day

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): bird perched out in open in sunlight

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 8 x 42 binoculars in excellent condition

11. Distance to bird(s): 30 feet

12. Duration of observation: 1 minute

13. Habitat: scrub and brush about 3 ft tall

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): bird started “mewing” when I was playing Bachman’s Sparrow song. When I played Green-tailed Towhee song, it flew up to the top of a small 5’ tree and perched for about 1 minute; repeated the mewing call of the Green-tailed Towhee often

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): grey bird with rufous crown, white throat with dark lateral stripes, greenish-yellow wings and tail

16. Voice: “mewing” call

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): gray catbird is larger than Green-tailed Towhee and is all grey except black cap. This bird had greenish wings and tail and a rufous crown

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Mary Mehaffey previously emailed to Paul Conover

19. Previous experience with this species: seen in Arizona, Colorado, Texas and in Louisiana this winter in Acadia, Plaquemines, and Tangipahoa Parishes

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

a. at time of observation: Sibley’s Guide to Eastern Birds

b. after observation: Sibley’s Guide to Birds

21. This description is written from: __x___ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);__x___notes made after the observation (date: 3/5/2012_____); _____memory.

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

23. Date:_3/8/2012_________Time:_11:15______