Records Committee

Secretary’s Report

Submitted by Jon S. Greenlaw

Board of Directors Meeting, 11 March 2005

Synopsis

The FOSRC met for its biannual meeting in Gainesville at the FLMNH. We reviewed 12 reports, 5 of which included photographs, 1 was accompanied by excellent fieldnotes and a sketch, and 6 were specimens. The Committee examined an additional 2 specimens that were previously unreviewed, and resolved a tabled report from the August 2004 meeting. The total number of reports and specimens reviewed concerned 7 seabirds, 5 passerines, a goose, a dove, and a hummingbird. Of the 15 reports and additional specimens, 14 were accepted (13 unanimously), and one was not accepted. Three species were added to the Florida Bird List: Cackling Goose, Broad-billed Hummingbird, and Bicknell’s Thrush.

Meeting Accomplishments

The Records Committee of the Florida Ornithological Society met at the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, on 15 January 2005. Members present and their term of expiration on the FOSRC were Reed Bowman (2005), Jon Greenlaw (Secretary, 2006), Fred Lohrer (2007), Mickey Wheeler (2008), Todd Engstrom (2009), Sally Jue (2010), and Andy Kratter (2011).

1. Meeting convened at 10:00, chaired by Jon S. Greenlaw, who is the new Committee Secretary. We expressed appreciation for Reed Bowman’s excellent leadership. He will continue to provide advice and oversight in the coming year.

2. Minutes of the August 2005 meeting at Archbold Biological Station were reviewed and approved as previously modified before the meeting.

3. 04-547 BICKNELL’S THRUSH, Catharus bicknelli, bird 1 of two in-hand identifications, this one mist-netted on 8 May 2002 on Key Largo, Monroe Co., FL. The bird was photographed, described, and measured. Certain wing measurements, and tail length, can provide diagnostic information for identification, although for each measurement there is an overlap with Gray-cheeked Thrush, C. minimus. We used selected critical measurements, overlaps, and 95% confidence limits from Lane and Jaramillo (2000), Lowther et al. (2001), Ouellet (1993), Pyle (1997), and Rimmer et al. (2001) to evaluate these reports. Plumage details provide only supplemental, non-diagnostic information, so photographs per se were corroborative only. Wing chord and differences between certain primary lengths (wing shape) were in the unique portions of measurement ranges for Bicknell’s Thrush, tail length (assuming a male, which has a longer tail on average than female) overlapped with very small Gray-cheeked Thrushes, but was in the middle of the range for Bicknell’s Thrush. Plumage and softpart colors were consistent with Bicknell’s Thrush. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED. New addition to the Florida List.

4. 04-548 BICKNELL’S THRUSH, Catharus bicknelli, bird 2 of two in-hand identifications, this one mist-netted on 11 May 2002 on Key Largo, Monroe Co., FL. See information on criteria for identification in 04-547 above. In this case, wing chord, P8-6 difference, and tail length were consistent with those of male Bicknell’s Thrushes with a small overlap with the smallest Gray-cheeked Thrushes. All measurements fell comfortably within 95% confidence limits of Bicknell’s Thrushes, but outside the 95% limits for Gray-cheeked Thrushes. Soft part and plumage colors were consistent with those suggested for Bicknell’s Thrush. VOTE: 6 accept, 1 not accept.  (Photographs) ACCEPTED.

5. 04-549 BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, Cynanthus latirostris, male photographed at a feeder on 17 September 2004, Pensacola, Escambia Co., FL. The photograph and description provided all the information needed to identify the bird. The bird was a red-billed, blue-throated, green-bodied hummingbird, with white undertail coverts (visible on photo) and a dark, notched tail (description). These characters eliminate any other North or Middle American, or Caribbean hummingbird. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED. New addition to the Florida List.

6. 04-550 ZENAIDA DOVE, Zenaida aurita, an adult observed closely at Bill Baggs Cape Florida S.P., Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade Co., FL, on 14 October 2004. One observer provided a detailed report on the bird, accompanied by a copy of fieldnotes, and a field sketch that was later rendered into a colored drawing “for clarity.” White-tipped secondaries in this species are diagnostic. All other characters were consistent with the identification. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

7. 04-551 HARRIS’S SPARROW, Zonotrichia querula, a first winter bird photographed at Hontoon Island S.P., Volusia Co., FL, on 25 November 2004. Descriptive information on the documentation form was skimpy, but the color photograph was excellent, and diagnostic. The bird was a large sparrow belonging to the crowned sparrow group (Zonotrichia), with a pink bill, white underparts patterned black on the chest, sides, and flanks, black crown, and soft brown side of head and neck. White wingbars and longish tail also were evident. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

8. 04-542 LONG-BILLED MURRELET, Brachyramphus perdix, a specimen sexed as a non-breeding female (during preparation), obtained in the Ft. Lauderdale area, Broward Co., 22 December 2003, and taken to a rehabilitation center where it died. The specimen (UF 44170) was a small, plump alcid, very short tailed, with a white scapular patch, narrow white eye crescents, blackish above, white below, and a longish black bill. Bill shape discounted Least Auklet (Aethia pusilla). Long bill, face pattern (black just below eyes), and lack of white semi-collar discounted other Brachyramphus alcids, which also have some white on the scapulars. Absence of a bursa and slightly enlarged ovary and oviduct suggested that it probably was an adult bird. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

9. 04-553 MANX SHEARWATER, Puffinus puffinus, a specimen taken south of Lake Worth Public Beach, Palm Beach Co., FL, 21-22 November 1997. The specimen is UF 39973 (photographs published in Kratter et al. [2002]). White undertail coverts (unlike Audubon’s Shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri), medium size larger than Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis), and diffuse transition between dark crown/hindneck and white of face and foreneck together are diagnostic of this species. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED

10. 04-554 MANX SHEARWATER, Puffinus puffinus, a specimen taken in the vicinity of Ft. Lauderdale/Boca Raton, Broward/Palm Beach counties., FL, in December 1999. The specimen is a hatch-year female (sexed and aged during preparation), UF 40551. Again, this is a medium-sized shearwater, blackish above, white below, with white undertail coverts, larger and longer billed than Audubon’s or Little shearwaters. The white undertail coverts are unique to Manx Shearwater among small black and white shearwaters. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

11. 04-555 RAZORBILL, Alca torda, a specimen obtained initially as a weakened bird on 30 March 2003 at Satellite Beach, Melbourne area, Brevard Co., FL. The specimen is UF 43059, an adult male (sexed and aged during preparation). A large alcid, black above, white below including undertail coverts, and a distinctive, diagnostic large, deep black bill bearing a vertical, white arcing line. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

12. 04-556 RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD, Phaethon aethereus, a specimen found sick at Patrick Airforce Base, Brevard Co., FL, 2 October 1999. This adult female (sexed, aged during preparation) is UF 40996 (photographs published in Kratter et al. [ 2002]). The bird has tail streamers, large reddish bill, black barred back, black mask extending behind the eye, and black primary coverts, together diagnostic of Red-billed Tropicbird. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

13. 04-557 THICK-BILLED VIREO, Vireo crassirostris, a single bird photographed on 2-3 October 2004, and observed by multiple observers thereafter, on Boot Key, Florida Keys, Monroe Co., FL. We examined an excellent series of digital photographs of this bird taken by three different observers, and listened to a tape recording of its call. One of these observers submitted a documentation report as well. The bird is clearly in the white-eyed vireo group, with a relatively heavy bill, a dark eye, pale, dingy yellow underparts, white wingbars, a yellow loral-supraloral patch slightly separated from a very pale yellow spot at the upper rear corner of the eye, and a narrow subocular (whitish) arc. The dark eye, uniform pale yellow underparts to undertail area, and relatively heavy bill distinguish it from White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus). We discounted Mangrove Vireo (Vireo pallens) after examining a specimen of that species in the FLMNH. Mangrove Vireos have a somewhat thinner bill and concolor greenish upperparts. The bill of the Keys bird was heavy, and the olive-greenish forecrown contrasted with grayer hindcrown and nape. The scold call was well-recorded and diagnostic, quite different from that of the White-eyed Vireo, and that described in the Mangrove Vireo. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

14. 04-558 ATLANTIC PUFFIN, Fratercula arctica, a hatch-year specimen found at St. Augustine Beach, St. Johns Co., FL, on 23 December 2004, as a weakened bird that died two days later at a rehabilitation center in the area. We downloaded a photograph of the bird alive published on 23 December by the St. Augustine Record (newspaper, in which it was mistakenly identified as a Dovekie [Alle alle]). We examined the specimen UF 44357, which has the distinctive puffin-like bill. The specimen was separated from Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata), which has no known Atlantic records, by smaller size, and by less-deep bill with less-arching culmen. Chin and throat were pale gray, in contrast to darker, dusky tones in the Horned Puffin. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

15. 05-559 LONG-BILLED MURRELET, Brachyramphus perdix,a specimen taken 28 November 1994, 3 miles west of St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., FL. This specimen was not on our agenda, but it had not been evaluated previously. As in 04-542 above, the black of head extending just below the eye, white eye-crescents, white scapulars, and absence of white wrapping up toward the nape were diagnostic of this species. VOTE; 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED.

16. 05-560 CACKLING GOOSE, Branta hutchinsii, a specimen (TTRS 50) taken 24 December 1956 at St. Marks NWR, Wakulla Co., FL, gave the Committee an opportunity to review the taxonomic status of the Canada Goose (B. canadensis) versus Cackling Goose in Florida, relative to the recent split of the latter from the former single-species Canada Goose concept (Banks et al. 2004). We used information on identification of the two species from a website (Wilson 2004), and on measurements of B. c. parvipes (Lesser Canada Goose, the smallest populations in the current Canada Goose complex) and B. h. hutchinsii (Richardson’s Cackling Goose, the most likely form in the Eastern U.S.) in Palmer (1976). Both hutchinsii and parvipes co-occur in the Hudson Bay region, where they may interbreed. The specimen was very small: wing chord, 355 mm, exposed culmen, 36 mm (stubby, triangular bill), and body mass (label), 1702 g (bird was described as “very fat”). These measurements fall on the smaller end of the respective ranges for the Richardson’s Cackling Goose, and far outside the ranges of these measurements for the Lesser Canada Goose (parvipes). So measurements of the specimen were fully consistent with Cackling Goose, and excluded the smallest populations in the Canada Goose complex as now viewed. VOTE: 7 accept, 0 not accept. ACCEPTED. New addition to the Florida List.

17. 04-541 BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT, Volatinia jacarina, an issue tabled in the August 2004 meeting, pending review of bill size variation in Volatinia and examination of specimens in the FLMNH. The bird in question was observed on St. George Island, Franklin Co., FL, on 27 April 2004. The evidence included descriptions of plumage and behavior, and a series of photographs. The very distinct icterid-like bill, robust legs, and walking gait on the ground are inconsistent with Blue-black Grassquit, but are consistent with a smaller icterid, perhaps a first-year Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)with worn, retained juvenile flight feathers. VOTE: 0 accept, 7 not accept. NOT ACCEPTED.

18. NEW BUSINESS: There were no subcommittee reports. Reed Bowman reported on completion of his project to enter the FOSRC catalog into a computer database. The data, entered into PARADOX, but readily exportable to other database formats, will provide easy access to information in the catalog. Queries and reports can be run quickly. He passed out a summary from the database that showed the number of reports that the Committee has reviewed over the years for each species on the Review List (current and past). This database will make it easier to keep our Review List up to date, and to provide information to the birding community on the number of previously accepted reports on any species.

19. Meeting adjourned at 16:10.

Literature Cited

Banks, R. C., C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. Rising, and D. F. Stotz. 2003. Forty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 121(3): 985-995.

Kratter, A. W., T. Webber, T. Taylor, and D. W. Steadman. 2002. New specimen-based records of Florida birds. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 43: 111-161.

Lane, D., and A. Jaramillo. 2000. Identification of Hylocichla/Catharus thrushes Part 111. Gray-cheeked and Bicknell’s thrushes. Birding 32:318-331.

Lowther, P. E., C. C. Rimmer, B. Kessell, S. L. Johnson, and W. G. Ellison. 2001. Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus. The Birds of North America No. 591: 1-20.

Ouellet, H. 1993. Bicknell’s Thrush: taxonomic status and distribution. Wilson Bulletin 105(4): 545-572.

Palmer, R. S., ed. 1976. Handbook of North American birds, vol. 2. Waterfowl (part 1). Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut.

Pyle, P. 1997. Identification guide to North American birds. Part 1. Columbidae to Ploceidae. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, California.

Rimmer, C. C., K. P. McFarland, W. G. Ellison, and J. E. Goetz. 2001. Bicknell’s Thrush Catharus bicknelli. The Birds of North America No. 592: 1-28.

Wilson, A. 2004. Identification and range of subspecies within the Canada and Cackling goose complex (Branta canadensis & B. hutchinsii). http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon

Jon S. Greenlaw

Secretary, FOSRC

23 February 2005