English and Scientific names:	Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa)
Number of individuals:	One apparent worn adult
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Lafourche Parish
Specific Locality:	30050 LA Hwy. 1, ca. 1.75 mi. E of Port Fourchon (LA-3090)
Date(s) when observed:	26 September 2010
Time(s) of day when observed:	~1:40 – 2:15 PM, 5:00 – 6:15 PM CDT
Reporting observer and address:	Devin Bosler Lancaster, PA 17601
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Mason Cline
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)	Justin Hite (originally discovered bird at ~10 AM)
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Mostly clear sky with optimal midday sunlight. Sun angle high and backlighting not a factor.
Optical equipment:	Zeiss Victory FL 8x42, Kowa TSN 881 Angled 88mm scope w/ 20-60x optical zoom, Canon Powershot SD1100 IS digital camera (all equipment in excellent condition).
Distance to bird(s):	within ca. 20 meters
Duration of observation:	~ 1h 45 min.
Habitat:	Rural residential, open salt marsh, scrubby baccharis-mangrove thickets, and patches of open, shallow saltwater lagoons.
Behavior of bird:	Actively fly-catching (primarily on Orthoptera) and resting on utility lines, mangroves, etc. Silent throughout encounter. Observed in flight during forays in pursuit of prey.
Description:	Large, yellow-bellied kingbird with olive-gray upperparts and gray head. Dingy gray-olive mantle blending with grayer nape and crown. Whitish throat, olive-yellow breast blending to bright, lemon yellow belly and undertail coverts. Darker mask on face. Dark brown wings and tail. Tail not strongly notched. Proportionately long, heavy black bill. Dark brown irides. Black tarsi and feet. Orange-red, semi-concealed central crown patch, notched (emarginated) outer primaries, worn wing coverts and flight feathers (remiges and rectrices), and truncate rectrices indicative of worn adult.
Voice:	Silent but displayed mild interest (alarmed and alert posture) to Tropical Kingbird playback, and no response to Couch’s Kingbird playback.
Similar species:	Very similar to Couch’s Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii) and only safely separated in field by voice. However, several plumage, structural, and behavioral characteristics exhibited on/by this particular individual strongly suggest Tropical Kingbird (TRKI). Most notably, the proportionately long, heavy bill (not within the range for shorter, compact-billed COKI). Furthermore, the overall plumage coloration seems a better fit for TRKI. Colder, dull olive-gray mantle (brighter and more yellow on COKI) and more extensive olive wash on breast. In addition, the wing formula (assessed on partially spread wing) appeared to favor TRKI. P5 is noticeably longer than P10 in flight. Though no audible vocal response was heard, despite my repeated playback/squeaking/pishing attempts, the bird did display mild interest to TRKI playback (alarmed and alert posture plus foraging sallies) and showed no interest in COKI playback. Apparently, TRKI are reported to be much less vocal than COKI on average and even less responsive to playback, etc. Thus, another minor but supportive case for TRKI. Although patterns of vagrancy are similar for both species (summer/fall post-breeding dispersal- with peak occurring Sep-Oct- northward and eastward along Gulf coast), Couch’s Kingbird very rarely occurs in se. LA whereas all three accepted state records of Tropical Kingbird have occurred in se. LA (and the first state record was collected within several miles of this particular individual’s location). Just some extra relevant information to ponder and consider.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Yes, digiscoped by Devin Bosler. Yes, attached.
Previous experience with this species:	Very familiar with Tropical/Couch’s complex from many trips to Lower Rio Grande Valley of s. TX (where breeding ranges overlap). Also, further experience with Tropical from breeding pair at Cottonwood CG, Big Bend NP (Brewster Co.), TX and Panama.
Identification aids:	National Geographic Complete Birds of N.A. (Alderfer et al. 2005).
This description is written from:	notes made during the observation, notes made after the observation, memory.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes, very positive.
Date and time:	10 October 2010 11:30 PM CDT