Accomplishments
The Records Committee met at Archbold Biological Station on 3 June 2000. Members present and their term of expiration on the FOSRC were Reed Bowman, Secretary (2005), Glen Woolfenden (2000), Mickey Wheeler (2001), Todd Engstrom (2002), Lyn Atherton (2003), Bob Duncan (2004), and Jon Greenlaw (2006).
1. The committee considered the following reports:
99-399. Ross’s Goose. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Relative size of bill and other characteristics consistent with Ross’ Goose. Low probability of hybrid occurrence.
00-415. Rough-legged Hawk. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Report submitted with photographs and descriptions of three birds, split into three reports. Light-phase, underwing pattern consistent.
00-417. Rough-legged Hawk. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Dark-phase, immature. Underwing pattern, bill size and feathered tarsi consistent.
00-418. Rough-legged Hawk. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Dark-phase, immature. Underwing and tail pattern, bill size and feathered tarsi consistent.
99-401. Northern Lapwing. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. No other crested Vanellus species with similar plumage pattern.
99-394. South Polar Skua. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Intermediate morph distinguished from other Catharacta spp. by cold-brown plumage, lack of mottling or scaling on new mantle and scapular feathers, and short gonys. Report from New Smyrna Beach.
99-395. South Polar Skua. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Intermediate morph with very worn plumage distinguished from other Catharacta spp. by cold-brown plumage, lack of mottling or scaling on new mantle and scapular feathers, and short gonys. Report from Ft. Clinch.
00-414. South Polar Skua. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Dark morph distinguished from other Catharacta spp. by cold-brown plumage, lack of mottling or scaling on new mantle and scapular feathers, and short gonys. Report from Boynton Beach
99-400. Black-headed Gull. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. First-winter bird, brown carpal bar and black terminal tail band. White head with dark auricular patch. Relatively large red bill with black tip and wing pattern distinguishes from Bonaparte’s Gull.
00-410. Black-headed Gull. Tabled. Apparently photographs of this bird were taken. Solicit photos from Gainesville Sun newspaper or inquire of Rex Rowan.
00-406. Snowy Owl. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Immature male. Feathers appear unworn, reducing the probability of an escaped captive.
00-409. Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Accepted: vote 7-0. Specimen and photograph. Immature male. Tail pattern and tail and wing chord measurements diagnostic.
00-412. Cuban Pewee. Not Accepted: vote 0-7. Photograph. Overall appearance somewhat like Bahamian Contopus caribaeus, e.g. vested appearance and wing bars, but primary extension longer than specimens examined, bill relatively short. Crescent-shaped, broken eye ring not diagnostic and vocalization described more consistent with Contopus virens. Too many ambiguities to make positive ID.
00-405. Ash-throated Flycatcher. Removed from list of species considered by FOSRC. Not considered.
00-407. Cassin’s Kingbird. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Bill shorter than Tropical/Couch’s complex, but heavier at base than Western. White chin contrasts with relatively dark gray head and breast.
00-402. Tropical Kingbird. Tabled pending review of other purported reports. 1) specimen apparently collected by Bruce Anderson, 2) report prepared by Lee Snyder of bird seen in Pinellas Co.
00-403. Kirtland’s Warbler. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Large Dendroica warbler, bobbing its tail with broken white eye ring, grayish-brown above, yellow below, but with white undertail coverts. Streaking on crown and sides, extending to chest. Wing bars indistinct.
00-411. Bahama Yellowthroat. Not Accepted: vote 0-7. Could not eliminate Geothlypis trichas. Call and bill description not diagnostic. Florida subspecies ignota has a “rattle”-like call and a slightly larger bill.
00-408. Chesnut-collared Longspur. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph. Immature male. White-shoulder patch and dark underparts diagnostic.
00-413. Common Redpoll. Not Accepted: vote 0-7. Not enough detail in description to distinguish from Carduelis hornemanni.
00-416. Tropical Kingbird. Accepted: vote 7-0. Photograph, video, and audio recording of call. Adult in fresh plumage. Large bill, olive wash on chest above yellow breast. Vocalization consistent with Tropical.
2. The committee evaluated the following unresolved reports to determine some specific action necessary for resolution:
93-276. Allen’s Hummingbird: Tail-feathers collected were apparently lost. Without access to tail feather measurements, the previous decision of not accept stands.
97-375. Cassin’s Kingbird: Comment in previous minutes suggest photos exist. Mickey Wheeler received an answer from Bill Smith, and sent it to Reed. However, Reed doesn’t have a record of the message in his files and Mickey no longer remembers the response. Reed will re-inquire. Pending.
97-377. Sage Thrasher: Suitable photos do not exist. Report withdrawn by Bob Duncan.
95-337. White-tipped Dove: Jon Greenlaw prepared a matrix comparing field marks of several different subspecies of Leptotila verreauxi and Leptotila species. Also compiled specimens of several species and/or subspecies that shared some similar field characteristics with report. Based on vinaceous breast and rusty flanks, report consistent with L. v. fulviventris, the southeastern and Yucatan subspecies. Accepted: vote 7-0.
3. The committee evaluated the following taxonomic revisions:
Sharp-tailed Sparrow: Recently split into Saltmarsh and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow. After review of Florida specimens of both species the FOSRC voted 7-0 to add Ammodramus nelsoni (Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow) to the list of verified species. The committee retained Ammodramus caudacutus (Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow) on the list.
Gray-cheeked Thrush: Recently split into Gray-cheeked and Bicknell’s Thrush. Reviewed Florida specimens of both species in the Archbold Biological Station collection and careful consideration of published accounts of taxonomic differences. One specimen had wing-chord length consistent with Bicknell’s Thrush, but other measurements consistent with Gray-cheeked Thrush. Plumage characteristics of specimen not consistent with published account of differences. Based only on examination of these specimens the FOSRC concluded that the status of Catharus bicknelli (Bicknell’s Thrush) in Florida is ambiguous and verification on the state list awaits further research. The committee retained Catharus minimus (Gray-cheeked Thrush) on the list.
Rufous-sided Towhee: Recently split again into Eastern and Spotted Towhee. After review of the only Florida specimen of Spotted Towhee (TTRS 2955, female collected by Henry M. Stevenson, near St. Theresa, Franklin Co., Dec. 14, 1967), the FOSRC voted 7-0 to add Pipilo maculatus (Spotted Towhee) to the list of verified species. The committee retained Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Eastern Towhee) on the list.
Northern Oriole: Recently split again into Baltimore and Bullock’s Oriole. Reviewed only two Florida specimens of Bullock’s Oriole (UMRC 1437, 3 mi E of Princeton, Dade Co, 24 Dec. 1956; TTRS # 2443, Dog Island, Franklin Co. 17 Oct. 1964) and recently published description of differences in female and immature birds of the two species. Both specimens lacked dark transocular line contrasting with pale supercilium. Upper wing patch did not appear “serrated” nor was the leading edge of the greater coverts white. Based only on examination of these specimens the FOSRC concluded that the status of Icterus bullocki (Bullock’s Oriole) in Florida is ambiguous and verification on the state list awaits further research. Other records of Bullock’s Oriole exist and must be examined by the committee. The committee retained Icterus galbula (Baltimore Oriole) on the list.
4. The committee voted 7-0 to evaluate a published account of Thick-billed Murre in Florida (FFN 26:129-130). Logged as FOSRC 00-419. Accepted: vote 6 in favor, 1 abstain (GEW).
5. The committee considered the following unlogged report:
a. Yellow-nosed Albatross: Photograph. Unambiguous. Yellow ridge on top and red tip of bill visible. Seen spring 2000 approximately 30 miles west of Tarpon Springs in the Gulf of Mexico. Glen will provide details for a full documentation form. Logged as FOSRC 00-420. Accepted: vote 7-0.
6. The committee reviewed the list of species to be considered by the FOSRC. By unanimous assent the following changes were made:
Species deleted from the list
Bicknell’s Thrush
Species added to the list
Rough-legged Hawk
Northern Lapwing
White-tipped Dove
Snowy Owl
Tropical Kingbird
Changes to the list
Long-billed Murrelet (Brachyramphus perdix) replaces Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
Black-headed Gull replaces Common Black-headed Gull
7. During the meeting, the FOSRC reviewed a draft of the 13th Annual Report of the FOSRC covering the years 1996 through present, including revisions recently published in the 42nd supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds (Auk 117:847-858). The report included a complete list of the 480 species that currently occur (updated through July 26, 2000) on the official state list of the birds of Florida as compiled by the
FOSRC. The report was submitted to the Florida Field Naturalist and should be published soon.
8. As of the Fall 2000 FOS meeting, Glen Woolfenden’s term on the FOSRC expires. The committee thanks Glen for his contributions. Bowman suggested Fred Lohrer as Glen’s replacement. Fred is a knowledgeable ornithologist, and a long-standing and active member of FOS. The committee discussed other possible candidates, then unanimously agreed to recommend Fred Lohrer to President Jim Cox.
Respectfully Submitted,
Reed Bowman
Secretary FOSRC