IBRC #8-B-12

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Northern Mockingbird
HOW MANY: 1 (Adult), possibly 2.

REPORTER: Robert Miller 1418 N. 6th St Boise, Idaho 83702
REPORTER EMAIL: wolf21m@dekramerart.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: Jan 2 -Heidi Ware - discovered/had best observation/ID -Jay Carlisle Jan 14 -Karyn deKramer (karyn@dekramerart.com)

DATE REPORT PREPARED: Jan 15
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: Jan 2, Jan 14

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Cattle drive Road off hwy 51 near Bruneau. Half mile down road on left hand side over hitch bank. Located in same tree on Jan 2 and Jan 14.
HABITAT: Russian Olive scrub over warm spring ditch bank.
CONDITIONS: Jan 2 - bird observed by Heidi for period of 1-2 minutes. I only had fleeting glimpses. Jan 14 - bird observed for about 5 minutes and still present when I left. Both days were clear and sunny. High quality binoculars from a distance of about 5 meters. Photos taken. http://wolf21m.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-not-as-rare-as-dark-morph.html

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, later the same day
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Audubon Birds on Android Smartphone. Sibley guides to birds of Western North America. www.whatbird.com

DESCRIPTION: The bird was perched above eye level. The long tail was the first indicator followed by the eye line and bill shape. The field guide was later used to identify the individual as an adult from plumage coloration.
BEHAVIOR: The bird was not moving around very much although it did provide three different views. It was reacting to my presence although did not flush.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? Heidi originally identified the bird. The identification became clear for me with the combination of the long tail, bill shape, eye line, and general coloration.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): Little experience. Only my second observation of this species although I have seen and photographed their tropical relative on a number of occasions.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I have been birding for five to ten years. As a field biologist studying raptors, much of my experience is extensive, however,songbird identification is not my area of focus so I consider myself intermediate in experience and skill for the sake of this species.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo (see link above for photos)