Rare Bird Report 74-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Purple Martin
HOW MANY: 1 female

REPORTER: Darren Clark 114 Elm Avenue Rexburg, ID 83440 208 356-0026
REPORTER EMAIL: clarkd@byui.edu
OTHER OBSERVERS: Cliff Weisse found the bird the day before I saw it

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 10/02/2009               DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 6/30/2007
LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: South Fork of the Snake River about 8 miles upsream of Heise Hot Springs. I think it's in Bonneville County
HABITAT: River with riverbottom forrests on both sides
CONDITIONS: I watched the bird for about 3 minutes before it flew out of sight. It was clear and the bird light was to the side and slightly behind the bird. I saw the bird from as close as 60 feet away, but often further. I was using Nikon 8x32 venturer binoculars. There was no wind to speak of and viewing conditions were excellent.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, later the same d
ay DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, later the same day
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Sibley (the big one)

DESCRIPTION: The bird was obviously a swallow, although it could have been confused with a Starling. It was flying over the water much like swallows do and was coming low to the water presumably feeding off of insects. The bird was quite a bit larger (maybe slightly smaller than a starling) than surrounding Tree Swallows. The tail was slightly forked, but fairly short. From the front the bird had an ashy gray chest and belly and had a dark gray head. The undertail coverts appeared gray like the belly and the tail on both sides of the undertail coverts were dark blue/black (color was somewhat difficult to determine). When the bird turned it appeared to be entirely bluish/black on the back.
BEHAVIOR: The bird was acting like a swallow. It was flying low over the water and picking at insects It would also soar above the water in circles. It's flight was a bit more deliberate than swallows though and appeared heavier in the air. I wouldn't say it was associating with other swallows, but it wasn't avoiding them either. They both all seemed to be taking advantage of a hatch of insects.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? Cliff had called me and told me about the bird, so I knew what I was looking for. When I saw a slightly larger swallow with a more deliberate flight that was gray underneath and black on the back I thought that was the bird. When I saw the shape and pattern of the tail I was convinced.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Starling was considered based on the silhouette, but eliminated when I paid more attention to plumage details (dark bill) and style of flight, which was more buoyant and graceful than a starling. Tree Swallows are smaller and are bright underneath. This bird was obviously bigger than other swallow species.
EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I don't see them much anymore. I did live in Louisiana for four years and saw several individuals daily in the summers.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: 17+ years experience birding. I would consider myself to be an above average birder.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: None