LOUISIANA
REPORT FORM
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1. English and Scientific names: Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) |
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2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage
(e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): |
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3. Locality: Parish: Cameron Parish |
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Specific
Locality: Peveto Woods Sanctuary |
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4. Date(s) when observed: 30 April 2014 |
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5. Time(s) of day when observed: 5:52 and again at 6:03 PM |
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6. Reporting observer and address: Cameron Rutt, Baton
Rouge, LA 70806 |
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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified
the bird(s): Erik Johnson, Mike Harvey, John Mittermeier, Glenn
Seeholzer, Ryan Terrill, and Matt Brady |
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8. Other observers who independently identified the
bird(s): There were a host of other birds, from the sounds of it, who also
saw this bird earlier in the day. I don’t know who found it, nor do I know
the names of those other observers. |
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9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade
and to direction and amount of light): At first the bird was in rather poor
light, being mostly backlit, although its most salient features were still
apparent. When we saw it the second time, it was close and in great late-day light,
with the sun to our backs. |
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10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Swarovski
EL 8.5x42 binoculars and a Canon 60D with a 400mm f/5.6L |
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11. Distance to bird(s): As close as approximately 30
feet. |
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12. Duration of observation: In all, perhaps 45 seconds. |
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13. Habitat: Both times we observed the bird, it was in
the weedy, brushy field (with scattered trees and shrubs) that lies just
north of the entrance road to the Peveto Woods parking lot ( |
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14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying,
feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate
events surrounding observation): The bird appeared to be in a rather loose
association with a fair-sized flock (perhaps 15-20) of roving Indigo
Buntings. We were in pursuit of the bird during the first observation,
continuing to flush the buntings westward, towards the road. Ten minutes
later, the Lazuli Bunting flew in to some weedy vegetation and foraged
out-of-sight, but in the immediate vicinity of 2-3 Indigo Buntings. |
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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): Rather than simply describing the
details of the bird from the photos, I’ll let the images themselves do the
talking. I saw the bird best on my camera’s LCD screen (and later the
computer) as I was more focused on documenting the bird than watching it
myself. As soon as I saw where the bird was, I began snapping photos, thus I
was hardly able to actually appreciate the bird in the field. |
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16. Voice: I never knowingly heard the bird call. |
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17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by
your observation): All other buntings eliminated by the combination of the
bird’s vibrant sky-blue upperparts, head, and throat; strong white wingbars;
a white belly; and peachy-salmon breast, sharply delineated from the blue
throat. The most likely candidate for confusion would be an Indigo x Lazuli
hybrid, but this combination can be ruled out by the much paler, more sky
blue coloration to the head and upperparts (isolating contrasting black
lores) and the bird’s rich breast coloration. In all respects, this bird fits
a classic male Lazuli Bunting, showing no signs of intermediacy. |
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18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom?
attached?): Yes (Cameron Rutt) |
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19. Previous experience with this species: I’ve seen
Lazuli Buntings intermittently in the West (including last year in |
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20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other
birders, etc. used in identification): |
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a. at time of observation: None |
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b. after observation: Sibley and Pyle (for ageing) |
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21. This description is written from: _____ notes made
during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the
observation (date:_____); __x__memory (and photos). |
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22. Are you positive of your identification if not,
explain: Yes |
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23. Date: 1 May 2014
Time: 9:30 PM |
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1
male (possibly an ASY male, although I don’t know if I can be sure of this
without better images of the wing. The wings, however, appear rather solidly bright
blue and contrasty, with wide white wingbars. I know that some adult males
(ASY and older) can still retain extensive brown edging to the crown and back
during the summer, which this bird shows to a lesser degree).