English and Scientific names:

Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus

Number of individuals: 

1 adult female

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

DeSoto Parish

 

Specific Locality:

home of Velda Nielson near Mansfield

Date(s) when observed:

February 14, 2004

Time(s) of day when observed:  

4 pm

 

Reporting observer and address:

Rosemary Seidler

Shreveport, LA

 

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

Vicki LeFevers

 

 

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): 

Velda Nielson, Jim Ingold

 

 

Light conditions:

in full sun

 

Optical equipment: 

Swarowski scope and 10x bins

 

Distance to bird(s): 

30 feet

 

Duration of observation:

on and off for between 5 and 10 minutes

Habitat: 

Open area formerly (and surrounded by(  heavily wooded area. Recovering after a fire a 2 years ago.

 

Behavior of bird: 

Bird had been observed all day feeding on holly berries.  Velda put a branch near s stump to lure the bird in closer.  She replaced the holly branch frequently for 2 days. 

 

Description: 

    Similar in size and behavior to a mocking bird.   Very streaked breast.  It appeared following a cold front that brought with it strong winds from the west.

 

 

Voice:

Did not vocalize

 

Similar species:

Immature Mocking Bird.  Bird did not appear to behave like an immature bird.  Jim Ingold later trapped and banded it and confirmed it to be a female Sage Thrasher.

 

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

photo attached.  Jim Ingold will also submit his.

 

 

Previous experience: 

Seen in Cameron 2(?) years ago and in the west.

 

Identification aids: 

at time of observation:

Seen in Cameron 2(?) years ago and in the west. 

Notes made during the observation? 

yes

 

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

 

Yes

 

Reporter: 

Rosemary Seidler

 

Date and time: 

2/14/2004

 

Permission to display report and accompanying documentation?  

yes