English and Scientific names:

Lazuli Bunting                Passerina amoena

Number of individuals: 

two (2). One adult male basic plumage; the other sub-adult male

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Iberia

Specific Locality:

See address in #6 below.

Date(s) when observed:

January 8-9, 2007

Time(s) of day when observed:  

Sub-adult only on evening of 8/Jan.  Adult sightings evening of 8/Jan and throughout day of 9/Jan/2007

Reporting observer and address:

Michael Musumeche
1621 Southwood Dr.
New Iberia, LA 70560

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

none

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

none

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

excellent, from rear of reporter

Optical equipment: 

Zeiss 10x42

Distance to bird(s): 

~10 meters

Duration of observation:

Total ~15 minutes

Habitat: 

Backyard garden area with shrubs and trees.

Behavior of bird: 

Both birds were actively feeding in two ground feeders.

Description:

Sub-adult - bluish tail, two strong white wingbars, overall brownish coloration with patches of blue on nape and sides of neck. Disturbing fieldmark on this bird is a small blue patch on the flanks and what appears to be slight streaking on breast.

Adult - brownish crown, nape and rest of dorsal side, face, throat, and lower neck bluish, two buffy wingbars, fore one stronger than rear one, blue tail, orangish breast, buffy lower belly.

Voice:

none noted

Similar species:

similar in size and shape of Indigo Bunting; color pattern different.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

yes by Michael Musumeche

Previous experience with this species: 

much in western US

Identification aids:

none

This description is written from: 

memory

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

yes for adult male
questionable for sub-adult; see explaination in #15 above

Reporter: 

Michael Musumeche

Date and time: 

9/Jan/2007  7:15 pm