|
English
and Scientific names: |
Mangrove
Cuckoo
Coccyzus Minor
|
|
Number
of individuals: |
one |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
St Bernard |
|
Specific
Locality: |
Near Borgnemouth Park, Meraux. |
|
Date(s)
when observed: |
December 23 and 24, 2006. |
|
Time(s)
of day when observed: |
From about 12:15 PM to about 4:15 PM Dec 23 and from about 8:00was AM to about 9:15 AM Dec 24. |
|
Reporting
observer and address: |
Glenn R. Ousset Chalmette, La |
|
Other observers accompanying
reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
Other observers accompanying reporter who also <i>identified</i> the bird(s): = David Muth, Phillip Wallace, Dan Purrington, Tom Coulson, Jennifer Coulson, Christie Riehl, Nancy Newfield, Ed Wallace,Dave Patton, and probably others of the numerous observers present on each day. |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
Unknown. |
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Clear, bright sunlight, bird in and out of direct sunlight. |
|
Optical
equipment: |
10x42 binoculars, good condition. |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
from about 15 ft to about 120 ft. |
|
Duration
of observation: |
Bird was in sight most of the time reported in #5. |
|
Habitat:
|
hardwood woods strips with open understory bordered by extensive weedy, brushy area. Drainage canal betrween strips. |
|
Behavior
of bird: |
When first seen, bird was on the ground at the edge of the open understory and flushed to a perch about 2 ft off the ground in a bush about 20 ft away. The bird was mostly seen about 3 to 15 ft off the ground in bushes, trees, and vine tangles where it hunted by looking from its perch. It remained in a position from less than a minute to about 10 minutes before moving, usually a short distance, to another position. The bird often perched in the open, sometimes near observers. On Dec 24, it was not seen until it readily responded to a recorded Mangrove Cuckoo call by moving to a high perch. A little later, it gave 3 or 4 calls over several minutes without prompting. |
|
Description: |
About size and shape of Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Top of head, back, wings and tail plain brown. Eyes dark. Upper mandible dark. Lower mandible yellow. Distinct solid black mask through eyes. Entire underside orange buffy, including patch on side behind folded wing. White ovals on underside of tail. Video shows apparent white cheeks. In one segment, from one angle,the upperside of the tail appears black, contrasting with back. But as the bird moves, the color is apparently brown again. |
|
Voice: |
Gave 3 or 4 calls following playing of recorded call. |
|
Similar species: |
Yellow-billed Cucloo by lack of chestnut and orange buffy
underside. |
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
Digital video tape and several digital still pictures taken. |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
One observed in Costa Rica about ten years ago. |
|
Identification
aids: |
None. |
|
This
description is written from: |
Description composed at time of observation. Looked at Sibley and National Geographic guides and video after composing description. |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
yes |
|
Reporter:
|
Glenn R. Ousset
|
|
Date
and time: |
January 5, 2007 11:10 AM |