LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

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

Presumably same bird seen on two separate days, unknown age and sex

3. Locality: Parish: ________Cameron_______________________________

Specific Locality: _________Johnson’s Bayou________________________

4. Date(s) when observed:

4/25/13 and 5/1/13

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

Seen at roughly 1pm on 4/25/13 and roughly 11am on 5/1/13

6. Reporting observer and address:

Will Lewis

Hattiesburg, MS 39402

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

Todd Jones

Breanne Cooney

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

I saw it on 4/25 when sun was nearly directly overhead, not shaded, very good light, the weather was sunny

Todd saw a silhouette of the bird flying overhead on 5/1

Breanne saw it on 5/1 when weather was partly sunny, bird not shaded and with good light

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

I used Eagle Optics 8x42 Rangers in good condition

Todd only saw the bird with his eyes

Breanne saw the bird with 10x50 binoculars (I believe Leupold) in good condition

11. Distance to bird(s):

The bird flew about 3 m over the top of my head and landed on the top of a tree 5m up and ~10m away from me. Breanne initially saw it 10m away in a Live Oak before it flew 50m away out to another perch on a snag in a large marshy opening.

12. Duration of observation:

I saw the bird for ~3 minutes on 4/25

Breanne saw the bird for 15 minutes on 5/1

13. Habitat:

Scrubby coastal chenier surrounded by marsh. When I saw it on 4/25 it flew in from the north and landed on the top of a tree on the edge of an opening in the chenier. When Breanne saw it on 5/1 it was in a live oak on the edge of an open marsh and later flew out to perch on a snag in the marsh.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

When I saw the bird on 4/25 it flew over my head, calling, and then landed at the top of the tree. It seemed to be scanning the open area that it was perched near before flying off to the west. When Breanne saw the bird on 5/1 it was initially in a Live Oak but then made a sally flight 50m to a snag in a large marshy opening.

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):

When I saw the bird the first thing that I noticed was the bright yellow belly and the red-brown wings and tail as it flew over me. When it perched on the tree and I got a look at the bird I immediately knew what it was from pictures in bird guides. It was a large and chunky-looking bird, larger and heavier-bodied than kingbirds. It also had a very distinctive face, with white throat (contrasting sharply with the yellow belly) and supercilium offset by a black mask and crown. The bird had a black bill, eye, and legs. A very unmistakable bird.

Breanne identified the bird due to its “sight sound and flight, study shape and bill, bold white eyebrow and throat on a black head, yellow underparts with reddish wings.”

16. Voice:

When it flew over me on 4/25 it gave several loud “WONK” calls. I am very familiar with the vocalizations of the birds of that area (having spent two springs banding at the site) and it was unlike anything I had ever heard there before.

On 5/1, Breanne heard the bird give a one-syllable “kiss” call while in flight as she was watching it. Both Todd and I heard it giving distinctive “kisk-a-ree” calls.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

A very unmistakable bird in voice, shape, and plumage. Separated from Western Kingbird by larger and chunkier body, brighter yellow underparts, reddish wings and tail, bill shape, calls, and bold head pattern.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):

None

19. Previous experience with this species:

I am not familiar with this species; however I immediately knew what it was upon seeing it. I am very familiar with the birds of that area, and when I first heard it calling right before it flew over me I knew that it was not a bird that I had heard around before. Breanne and Todd are both very familiar with this species (from spending time in Central America where they were common) and immediately recognized the bird as a Great Kiskadee.

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

a. at time of observation:

None

b. after observation:

We were all confident in our independent ID of the bird before consulting any bird guides or asking others for input. I have a Sibley guide, but I did not need to consult it as I already was 100% sure that the bird was a Great Kiskadee.

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); ___X_memory.

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

Yes

23. Date:__6/26/13__Time:__9:30__