LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya

2. Number of individuals:  1

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)  Jefferson Davis

Specific Locality: NE quad of LaMotte X Cormier Village Road, about 4 miles NNE of Lacassine

4. Date(s) when observed: 12/31/2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed: mid-afternoon

6. Reporting observer and address:

Paul Conover

Lafayette, LA

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):  Cloudy, good light

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, variety of cameras

11. Distance to bird(s): 200 yards at outset, down to a few yards

12. Duration of observation:  15 minutes 

13. Habitat: Large complex of farming and industry, broad open land, some cattle present.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation:  The location looked good for Say’s Phoebe so I scanned and found one, as well as 2 Vermilion Flycatchers. It was distant but I played a call and it came closer.

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):

A darkish, medium-sized agile flycatcher, very buoyant in flight, very alert.

Grayish brown above, darker cap (crown and auriculars). Wing coverts and secondaries edged pale gray, creating a noticeable but not especially distinct lower wingbar, very indistinct upper wingbar. Tail dark brown or blackish, as flight feathers of wings. Rectrices seem pointed in photos, and wing coverts worn, so perhaps a first year bird.

Throat and upper breast ashy gray-brown. Remainder on underparts pale rusty-orange.

Legs, bill, eyes dark.

16. Voice: 

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

Bird was seen well enough that no confusion was possible. However, there were also 2 Vermilions there, a red male and a dull female. This bird differed from them in more elongate body shape, and solidly gray-rusty underparts.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Photos, attached.

19. Previous experience with this species:  In Louisiana alone, I’ve found about a half-dozen and seen about a half-dozen others in the past year or so as numbers seem to be exploding.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

21. This description is written from: memory, photos  

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes.

23. Date: 12/31/2012