LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

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

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): 1 individual, appeared to be adult plumage

3. Locality: Parish: Calcasieu

Specific Locality: Hidden Ponds RV Park, 1201 Ravia Rd., Sulphur, LA and adjacent neighborhood

4. Date(s) when observed: February 4, 2013 and February 5, 2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed: Observed around 4:00 PM on 2/4 and around 9:00 AM on 2/5

6. Reporting observer and address: Joseph Zygala, South Salem, NY 10590

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

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): Overcast on afternoon of 2/4/2013, partly sunny on morning of 2/5/2013, bird sometimes in shade of trees, sometimes sitting on wires

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 7x42 binoculars in good condition

11. Distance to bird(s): Varied from 30’ to 100’

12. Duration of observation: Audible duration of observation about 15 minutes, off and on, visual duration about 2 minutes (2/4/2013). Heard calling bird for about 10 minutes on 2/5/2013.

13. Habitat: RV park with scattered trees, surrounding suburban neighborhood with fairly abundant trees and overhead utility lines

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): The bird was calling frequently. When we first arrived at the RV park, we exited our vehicle in order to walk our small dogs. Almost as soon as I exited the vehicle, I heard a vocalization that tickled my memory. It was just the first part of the call – “kis-ka”, repeated several times over a 5 to 10 minute period, with pauses of 45 to 75 seconds between calls. I remarked to my traveling companion that I knew what that sound was, but could not yet put my finger on it. Finally, after having walked the dogs, I got out my binoculars and continued to walk around the RV park. Finally, the bird gave several full-throated “kis-ka-dee” calls. Ah-hah! I then saw the bird fly from a tree in the RV park into the surrounding neighborhood. The lighting was not the best, so on this glimpse, I did not get a good ID, except that the bird flew from where the call came from. I then went out into the surrounding neighborhood to look for the bird. It flew several times from tree to tree, but eventually flew onto a utility wire, where I finally got a good look at the bird. It also called at the same time I saw it on the wire.

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): The bird was of medium size, roughly the size of American Robin, but bulkier looking with a large head. It had a bright yellow belly, rufous wings and a striped black-and-white head, with a stout bill.

16. Voice: Calls heard were a partial call (kis-ka), as well as the full call (kis-ka-dee)

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Western Kingbird would not have a striped head and would not be a bright yellow on the belly. There were not other species to eliminate, especially given the very vocal nature of this bird.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): None

19. Previous experience with this species: I have seen and heard this bird dozens of times on multiple trips to the neotropics: Trinidad in 1987 and 1990, Costa Rica in 1989 and 1990, Guyana in 1990 and 1992, Venezuela in 1991 and 1993, as well as the lower Rio Grande valley in 2005.

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

a. at time of observation: None

b. after observation: The Sibley Guide to Birds, mainly to check range, as I thought at the time it was somewhat extralimital. I also contacted Dan Purrington via e-mail (his was the only name I recognized on the LA bird list on birding.aba.com). He replied that there was record every year or so, usually from southwest LA. He offered to forward the sighting to LABIRD and to Steve Cardiff at LSU, but I never saw it posted on LABIRD.

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: Absolutely positive

23. Date:__________Time:_______

(Received 1/25/14)