LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
REPORT FORM
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1. English and Scientific names: Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis |
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2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage
(e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): |
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One, female. |
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3. Parish: Cameron |
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Specific Locality: Peveto Woods BRAS Sanctuary |
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4. Date(s) when observed:
4/28/2011 |
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5. Time(s) of day when observed: mid-morning throughout the afternoon. While Danny Dobbs reported one from a
different perch at Peveto later that day, the present bird reportedly was
still on the same perch until dusk—thus, there were 2 separate Lesser
Nighthawk reports from Peveto for 4/28.
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6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette |
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7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified
the bird(s): Rosemary Seidler |
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8. Other observers who independently identified the
bird(s): A lot of other birder were present, and
this bird was settled in tightly, so many people were able to see and
photograph it. |
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9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade
and to direction and amount of light): Sunny day, but the bird was perched in
shade or mottled light every time I checked on it. |
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10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon d50 with 300mm lens. |
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11. Distance to bird(s): Perhaps 20-30 yards |
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12. Duration of observation: Off and on during about a 5 or 6 hour
period |
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13. Habitat: Tucked
away on a fairly horizontal live oak branch in a clump of trees that are the remnant of a chenier, right along the
coast. |
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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): Sleeping or resting, relying on its cryptic
coloration and stillness to avoid detection.
At one point, it stood up and walked a few inches to keep in the
shade, then went back to rest. |
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15. Description: A small, fairly blocky goatsucker with a white ‘nighthawk mark’ at the bend of the wing. Wings held with crossed tips at about a 20 degree angle above tail; end of wingtips about even with tip of tail. Color overall a mottled and
speckled gray and brown. A sort of
‘mantle V’ of manila-buff scapulars stood out against the darker mottled
mantle. On wings, parallel rows of
buff spots against the somewhat worn medium-dark brown of the folded
primaries. With binoculars, three of
these rows of buff primary spots were visible peeping out from the under the
distal edge of the wing coverts. Primaries
worn, abraded around edges. Undertail
coverts and vent buffy, with mascara-fine darker brown bracket-shaped bars
broadly and evenly spaced. This
pattern continued up onto the belly and breast, with the barring becoming
closer and denser. Tail barred broadly
and evenly with buffy brown and medium dark brown. |
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16. Voice: Silent |
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17. Similar species:
Other nighthawks, but Common and Antillean can be eliminated by the
barred buffy spotting of the primaries.
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18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):
Photos by me, and at least a half-dozen others. |
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19. Previous experience with this species: Fairly long-term experience, getting deeper
with an increase in sightings over the past few years. |
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20. Identification aids: |
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a. at time of observation: |
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b. after observation: |
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21. This description is written from: notes committed to
memory while watching the bird. |
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22. Are you positive of your identification? Yes. |
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23. Date: 04/30/2011
Time: 8:55 p.m. |
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