|
English
and Scientific names: |
Great
Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus texanus)
|
|
Number
of individuals: |
2 adults (pair) in worn plumage (abraded flight
feathers and rectrices) |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
Cameron Parish |
|
Specific
Locality: |
Nunez Woods, nr. Rockefeller SWR, Grand Chenier |
|
Date(s)
when observed: |
13, 18 May 2009 |
|
Time(s)
of day when observed: |
~4:00 – 6:00 PM CDT on 5/13, 5:00 – 5:30 PM CDT on
5/18 |
|
Reporting
observer and address: |
Devin Bosler Lancaster, PA |
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
E.J. Raynor (on 18 May 2009) |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
Steve Cardiff, Donna Dittmann (first discovered
the nesting pair on 2 May 2009), m. ob. |
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Partly cloudy on 5/13 and clear sky on 5/18. Optimal late afternoon sunlight on both
days. Sun angle relatively high and
backlighting not a factor. |
|
Optical
equipment: |
Zeiss Victory FL 8x42, Nikon Fieldscope w/ 20-60x
optical zoom, Canon Powershot SD 1100 IS (equipment in good condition) |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
within ca. 10-15 meters |
|
Duration
of observation: |
Altogether, 15-20 min. (about 2.5 total hrs spent
at location) |
|
Habitat:
|
Mature, coastal chenier woodlot near old airstrip
and surrounded by freshwater and brackish marshes. Live oak-honeylocust-hackberry dominated woodlot with primarily
eastern baccharis and palmetto understory. |
|
Behavior
of bird: |
Both adults were observed in flight, at rest, and
preening. On 5/13, one adult flew in
from the S at 4:45 PM and second bird gave a series of ‘crear’ calls near
nest site. Otherwise, the birds were
very inconspicuous and inactive.
Virtually no activity seen around the nest itself. On 5/18, both adults were observed at nest
site and apparent female entered the nest.
The presumed male perched high in the canopy nearby and preened;
guarding the nest site. Again, both
adults were very silent and called infrequently when coming or going from
nest. Presumably the female was still
incubating at this point, as there was no food-carrying, etc. observed. |
|
Description: |
Very large, robust flycatcher with striking
yellow, black, rufous, and white plumage.
Brownish upperparts with extensive rufous in wings and tail. Bright, lemon yellow underparts with white
throat and sides of neck. Black crown
surrounded by white and yellowish crown patch. Broad black stripe across face bordered by pure white on either
side. Massive black bill. Dark brown irides. Blackish tarsus and feet. Nest - a large, bulky dome-shaped structure with a
side entrance built in fork of tall live oak about 35’ up from ground. Nest made of primarily Spanish moss and
twigs. |
|
Voice: |
Loud, distinctive ‘crear’. Only given sporadically on a few
occasions. |
|
Similar species: |
No similar tyrannids occurring in N.A. Social Flycatcher (SOFL) can be ruled out
by body and bill size, overall structure, and vocalizations. |
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
Yes, digiscoped photos by Devin Bosler. Yes, attached. |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
Very familiar with GKIS from Panama, TX, and two previous
encounters in LA. One individual at
private pond in Quail Ridge Subdivision, Slidell (St. Tammany Parish) on 1
Feb 2007. Second individual off S.
Talen’s Landing Road, ca. 6 mi. S of LA-14 (Klondike) in extreme ne. Cameron
Parish on 15 Nov 2008. |
|
Identification
aids: |
National Geographic Complete Birds of N.A.
(Alderfer et al. 2005). |
|
This
description is written from: |
notes made during the observation, notes made
after the observation, memory. |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Yes, very positive. |
|
Reporter:
|
Devin
Bosler
|
|
Date
and time: |
20 June 2009 9:30
PM EDT |