LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

One, male

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) ____Ouachita________________________________

Specific Locality: ___N 32 degrees 28’ 23.7” and W 92 degrees 24’ 54.7”______________________

4. Date(s) when observed: 2-5-2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed: Morning

6. Reporting observer and address:

Steve Pagans,

West Monroe, La 71291

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): Good sunlight. Towhee was in partial shade but well lit.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition 8x binoculars and 400 mm camera lens on Canon 5D Mark II.

11. Distance to bird(s): 50-60’

12. Duration of observation: 3-5 minutes

13. Habitat: Hardwood brush, briars and vines

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): I initially got the bird to respond to some pishing. Once I saw that it was a Spotted Towhee, I started playing its song/call. Bird was responding to a playback of its song from my Birdjam. It was mainly sitting in one location while I took pictures.

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): It basically looked like a male Eastern Towhee except that it had numerous small white spots on its wings.

16. Voice: the call of a Spotted Towhee. It was fairly continuous and somewhat like a growl.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Eastern Towhee but had many small white spots on it.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Photographs by Stephen L. Pagans.

19. Previous experience with this species: Seen in Texas and once in Louisiana.

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

I had looked at the pictures of a Spotted Towhee numerous times before, so I knew what they looked like.

a. at time of observation: nothing

b. after observation: nothing

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); ___X__memory.

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

23. Date:2/23/12___Time:_3:23 PM_