English and Scientific names:

Shiny Cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis

Number of individuals: 

one, adult male

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Grant

Specific Locality:

Kateland Plantation Road - approximately 0.25 miles east of intersection of Kateland Plantation Road and LA 8 between Boyce and Colfax. Pass old Kateland Plantation cotton gin building, now site for solid waste disposal, and turn sharp right (south). Bird was in wet, newly plowed field.

Date(s) when observed:

23 December 2006

Time(s) of day when observed:  

First seen at 12:15 PM CST in newly plowed field.

Reporting observer and address:

Jay V. Huner

Boyce, Louisiana

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):

Just past noon. No clouds. Blue sky. Bright winter day.

Optical equipment: 

10x40 Zeiss binoculars

Distance to bird(s): 

First seen about 20 feet from edge of road. Stopped to watch and it then moved away from the road to about 50 feet away before flying 100 yards to top of utility pole when frightened by Peregrine Falcon stooping on Killdeer in next field.

Duration of observation:

Roughly 5 minutes in field and 2 minutes on utility pole.

Habitat: 

Recently plowed, wet agricultural field.

Behavior of bird: 

The bird was feeding in the field. It was the only "blackbird" present with several nearby American Pipits and Killdeer. I was able to view the bird carefully and consult two field guides - Sibley's and Stokes' eastern bird guide.

Description:

Now, it is really "hard" to separate what "should be seen" from what was seen because after viewing the bird for a couple of minutes, I first checked Stokes' eastern bird guide and then "found" the bird in Sibley's guide.

I was driving slowly looking for longspurs and larks in the field. The blackbird STOOD out, adjacent to my truck. I was struck by the shiny purple color and the blackish wings. My first thought was Rusty Blackbird but the eyes were dark. My second thought was Brewer's Blackbird but that was ruled out very quickly with my consultation of the two field guides. I then thought immature male Red-winged Blackbird. But, I could find no indication whatsoever of a red "shoulder" patch. The bird's eyes were dark. The bill was sharp, not stout like those of Brown-headed and Bronzed Cowbirds. Size was similar to that of Red-winged Blackbird with nearby pipits and Killdeer for comparison. Head shape was consistent with Sibley's description - look at bird, look at Sibley's portrait, several times. Now, it did seem that the face, looking head on - on the utility pole - seemed to be grayish with color extending on the throat with a rounded "bib" onto the breast.

Voice:

Silent.

Similar species:

See comments above. A possible similar species might be Common Grackle. However, size, eyes, and bill were wrong for Common Grackle. The shiny purple body color just "leapt out" at me against the contrasting "red dirt" ag field.
When the falcon "spooked" the bird, I saw it fly and there was no indication whatsoever of color on the shoulders.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

None.

Previous experience with this species: 

None.

Identification aids:

at time of observation:

Stokes' Eastern Birds field guide and Sibley's field guide.
after observation:

Kaufman's "Birds of North American".

This description is written from: 

Notes taken at time of observation and some recall - memory.

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

 

I have read about Shiny Cowbirds and studied them in field guides before. I never even considered the possibility of finding the species in central Louisiana in the winter. But, the bird had to be a Shiny Cowbird or an immature male Red-winged Blackbird with absolutely no shoulder color. I have, however, never seen a Red-winged Blackbird with a basic body color of shiny purple! Regardless of what the Bird Records Committee decides on this report, I'm putting the bird on my life list.

Reporter: 

Jay V. Huner

Date and time: 

23 December 2006, 5:32 PM