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Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 1 Maech 2017 Pages 1-38

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Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 1 March 2017 Pages 1-38

Florida Field Naturalist 45(1):1-13, 2017.

FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF THE VARIEGATED
FLYCATCHER (Empidonomus varius) AT TWO
NORTH AMERICAN VAGRANCY SITES IN THE
CONTEXT OF FORAGING IN ITS NATIVE RANGE

Jon S. Greenlaw

10503 Mistflower Lane, Tampa, Florida 33647

Abstract. —Only two vagrant Variegated Flycatchers {Empidonomus varius), a
South American tyrannid that has an austral migrant population, are presently known
from Florida. The first occurred in June 2013 in St. Johns County, and the most recent
in October 2015 in Broward County. Little is known about most aspects of the species’
biology. Observations on foraging behavior of the species in Florida in one case added de¬
tail and some new information on the relationship of search and aerial prey captures on
foliage to the structure of a favored tree crown that appeared to complement and facili¬
tate the manner of foraging. Search and prey-capture behavior in Florida was generally
consistent with the limited information available in the literature on foraging in its na¬
tive range. The species is an aerial sallying forager, taking flying insects in open air and
stationary prey on foliage. It also consumes fleshy fruits, which may vary in importance
depending on season in South America. Similarly, one individual in Florida combined
frugivory with insectivory. The primary tactic for capturing prey on foliage and in the air,
and in taking fruit in situ, appears to be a sally-stall maneuver. Detailed descriptive and
quantitative work on variation of intraspeciflc foraging behavior is often scarce in the
avian literature, but such detail is needed to support comparative analyses that seek to
understand the evolution of foraging radiations in groups of related birds.

Variegated Flycatchers {Empidonomus varius) are austral
migrants in the southern portion of their range in South America.
The birds from this population {E. v. varius), which breed in northern
Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil, migrate as far
north as western Amazonia and northeastern South America east
to western Venezuela, and rarely Trinidad (Ridgely and Tudor 1994,
ffrench 1973), to spend the austral winter. On rare occasions migrants
mis-orient and move northward in error (in their austral spring) from
their winter range, or overshoot their usual wintering destinations (in
their austral fall), and end up in the United States or Canada in the

1

2

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

boreal fall or spring, respectively. Since 1977, six known individuals
(Maine, early November [Abbott and Finch 1978]; Ontario, October
to early November [Houle and Houle 1993, James 1991]; Tennessee,
mid-May [Nicholson and Stedman 1988]; Washington state, early
September [Denny 2009, Mlodinow and Irons 2009; Merrill and Bartels
2015]; and most recently, two in Florida [see below] in 2013 and 2015),
have occurred far north of their normal breeding or wintering ranges
in South America. Plumage coloration and pattern suggested the two
Florida birds were likely representative of the nominate, migrant
population that normally winters only on the continent of South
America in northern tropical regions. The distinguishing features of E.
V. varius present in both of the Florida individuals were dusky-hrown
feathers dorsally (in contrast, to paler brownish-gray or brownish in
E, V. rufinus) and well streaked underparts on hreast, upper abdomen,
flanks, and under tail coverts (in contrast to reduced streaking,
sometimes nearly obsolete, in rufinus) (Hilty 2003, Mobley 2004).

Empidonomus varius is the only member of its genus. Although not
surprising, little is known about the ecology and behavior of the species
in most of its broad range. The best information is a single study on
a resident population {rufinus) in northeastern Brazil (Cintra 1997).
Otherwise, bits of information mostly lacking detail appear in lists of
species that summarize data from community-level studies (e.g., Las-
Casas et al. 2012, Lasky and Keitt 2012, Malizia et al. 2005) or in
regional treatments of local avifaunas (e.g., Aleixo and Galetti 1997,
Pacheco et al. 2014). Other pieces of information come from studies
on trophic ecology and adaptive radiation of tyrannid flycatchers in
the Neotropics (Fitzpatrick 1980, 1981, 1985, Ohlson et al. 2008) and
from one brief life history account (Mobley 2004). I spent about four
hours observing the most recent vagrant occurrence of a Variegated
Flycatcher in Florida, and was struck by its apparent dedicated focus
on two trees, a flg {Ficus) and an adjoining Gumbo Limbo {Bursera
simaruba; Burseraceae). Most trees in the neighborhood were mature
Live Oaks {Quercus virginiana), which during my watches appeared to
be ignored. Other held observers noted the bird occasionally visiting the
oaks, apparently for brief periods of time. One observer, who watched
the flycatcher on multiple days during its stay, referred to the flg as its
“favorite tree” (L. Wegman, in litt. to Russ Titus, 6 November 2015).

My goals here are to (1) describe the foraging behavior that I
observed in the 2015 vagrant at a site in south-eastern Florida, (2)
characterize the apparent functional relationships between this bird
and the architecture of the large flg (apparently the native Florida and
northern neotropical strangler flg, K aurea; Moraceae) and adjoining
Gumbo Limbo, (3) add information on hawking behavior that was
important to the 2013 bird in northeastern Florida, and (4) assess the

Vakiegated Flycatcher Foraging

3

extent to which the limited observations in vagrant locations in Florida
are representative of foraging behavior reported in its native range.

Methods

My observations on foraging behavior reported here were opportimistic. Although I main¬
tained a timely field record of my observations, and photographed the bird, the fruit soiu-ce,
and the trees, I made little effort to quantify my observations given the short time that I
spent with the bird and distractions from other birders present. Observations focused on
what appeared to be self-evident patterns of behavior that were performed repeatedly dim¬
ing the time that I was present on late-afternoon, 28 October, and mid-morning, 29 October
2015.1 corresponded with three other observers (Rangel Diaz, Russ Titus, and Lee Wegman)
to evaluate the extent their general observations on the bird’s tree use corresponded or dif¬
fered from mine. I relate my observations to the little information available in the published
literature on the migratory population, as well as information on insectivory in a resident,
tropical subspecies (M. v. rufinus) (Cintra 1997). Because my observations are based on a
single individual, they are best described as anecdotal. I also illustrate (Fig. 1) and describe
one foraging observation on the 2013 individual recorded on videotape during its single-day
stopover. Here, I use the term “foraging” to refer to behaviors related to hnding, capturing,
and handling food. Moreover, I describe food capture maneuvers as specihcally as possible
to record details of behavior that may be useful to others who wish to undertake taxon com-

Figure 1. Representative tracings from video-frames of Florida’s first vagrant
of Empidonomus varius (St. Johns County, 2013; see Greenlaw 2015) performing
a complete hawking maneuver. Stages are labelled A (flight initiation from
powerline, left, and attack commencement, right); B (approach flight and
maneuver adjustment by basal tail torsion, right); C (final approach, angle of
attack increases); D (final approach, prey visible in front of head); E (braking
and semi-stall as insect captured). See text for further comments.

4

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

parisons of tyrannids at the species or genus level. In most cases here I follow Remsen and
Robinson’s (1990) classification of aerial foraging maneuvers by arboreal birds to attack prey,
but I depart by emplo 3 dng the term “hawk” or “hawking” to refer to the specialized form of
aerial sallying to captiu-e flying insects. The term “hawking behavior” is widely used and
imderstood in the avian foraging literatiu’e. I use it because it avoids the ambiguity arising
from an application of Remsen and Robinson’s classification system stemming from maneu¬
ver categories (e.g., sally-stall, sally-hover, sally-strike) that apply to capturing insects in the
air column and to taking arthropods found on fixed arboreal substrates (leaves, branches).
In recent practice, authors using the classification segregate information on maneuver and
substrate categories, and ignore relationships that can exist between the two aspects of tro¬
phic behavior (e.g., Gabriel and Pizo 2005, Martinez and Robinson 2016). Hawking behavior
is sufficiently specialized that it deserves its own terminology (Fitzpatrick 1980, Robinson
and Holmes 1982) in recognition of the special relationships between variation in aerial ma¬
neuver tactics that allow a flying bird to captiu-e flying insects in three-dimensional space.
More detail must be encouraged in the published literatiu-e on the foraging behavior of birds
for which far too little is known in most species.

Observations

Florida records of Variegated Flycatcher .—Only two documented
records of a Variegated Flycatcher exist for Florida. Both were verified
by the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee (Greenlaw
2015; A. Kratter, August 2016, ms. in preparation). The first was found
by Diana Doyle on 5 June 2013 along Guana River Road at the entrance
to Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve,
St. Johns County (Greenlaw 2015). The habitat used by the bird was
a semiopen area along a narrow road corridor bordered by scrub trees,
and a disturbed mosaic of parking lots, buildings, and other patches of
vegetation near water. It spent much or most of its time in intermittent,
light rain hawking fiying insects from a roadside powerline. A short video
made by Doyle captured the perched bird scanning from the wire and
performing a successful hawking maneuver (see below). The fiycatcher
was observed by several other birders. It remained for one day and was not
seen again. The second individual (Fig. 2) was discovered by Russ Titus
on 24 October 2015 in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Lauderdale, Broward
County. The vegetation consisted of an open, parklike stand of large,
mature, and smaller sub-mature Live Oaks, several scattered strangler
figs, and at least one Gumbo Limbo. Below the open canopy of trees,
ground cover was mowed turf-grass lawn around the memorial stones
and scattered, decorative shrubs. The bird remained until 31 October and
then disappeared. While it was there, it was observed daily by numerous
birders.

2013 observations .—^As noted, the 2013 bird spent nearly all its
foraging time hawking insects along the semiopen road corridor with
screening trees on each side of the road. The detailed observations on
its foraging behavior stem from two videoclips, one of which recorded a
complete hawking maneuver. To my knowledge, nobody has characterized

Vaeiegated Flycatcher Foraging

5

Figure 2. Florida’s second vagrant of E. varius (Broward County, 2015; FOSRC
accepted, August 2016) perched in typical “sit-and-wait” fashion on a branch
in a large fig (Ficus aureus) under layer of canopy foliage in semiopen upper
crown. Perches offered vistas of leaf undersurfaces, which were watched for
stationary prey. Captures were by sallies to foliage.

the movements of any passerine during a hawking maneuver based on an
analysis of a taped record. Apart from the “sit-and-wait” (Huey and Pianka
1981) scanning session (at least 25 sec) before the launch, the sallying
maneuver examined here was documented in full from its initiation on a
powerline to capture of an insect. The perched, watchful phase involved
abrupt, short rotations of the head, each alternating with a brief pause
and rapid peering in its facing direction. Mostly the bird scanned to the
front and sides to about 90°, but occasionally it turned its head to peer
over its shoulder to the rear. The entire hawking maneuver from launch
to capture lasted about two seconds, so the insect was fairly close to the
bird. The small insect was visible on the tape and appeared to be heavy¬
bodied and short-winged. Earlier, a similar type of insect flew quickly on
a parabolic course close over the perched bird’s head, but the flycatcher
appeared to ignore it or perhaps did not notice it.

As the bird leaned forward on its perch to initiate its aerial attack,
it raised both wings fully over its back (Fig. lA, left), and leaped into the
air (Fig. lA, right). Its momentum initially carried the bird below the

6

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

level of the powerline, but it quickly recovered and flew in the direction of
its prey as it adjusted its course to the insect’s changing position. Flight
adjustment was inferred from variation in rotational positions of the
spread-tail (Fig. IB) early during its approach flight. As the bird closed
on its prey, its angle of attack (body alignment relative to horizontal)
increased (Fig. 1C) slightly, and its head started to elevate. Final closing
attack (Fig. ID) shows the insect close to the bird’s head; the angle of
attack of the flycatcher at this point is more exaggerated, with its head
raised and its stereoscopic vision focused on its prey. The attack (Fig.
IE) came with a braking semi-stall maneuver, body angled upwards and
wrists held up, and wings flared and cupped forward. The flared outer
primaries exhibited strong, open wing slots during the capture. The bird
apparently captured its prey successfully (the insect was not seen again
flying past the bird), and immediately it banked and swerved right toward
trees at the roadside.

2015 observations .—Observations of the 2015 bird revealed
insectivory and frugivory. I observed hawking behavior on flying insects
by the 2015 bird on 28 October, but not the next day during my watch.
It spent time on exposed, small dead branches protruding above the live
crown of the large Gumbo Limbo where the air column was visible 360°
around the bird. Similarly, hawking also was observed by R. Diaz (in litt.,
14 December 2015) on only one of his two visits. However, evidently it
spent more time on 26 October “flycatching” in the air (L. Wegman to
R. Titus, in litt.) than I encountered later in its stopover. My fleldnotes
record estimated distances to prey of two hawking attacks, one about 3
m and a second about 10 m; both flights were flown horizontally from the
perch. Both involved a terminal “sally-stall” capture maneuver (Remsen
and Robinson 1990) similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1. In both instances,
the bird returned to the same bare branches in the Gumbo Limbo to begin
another period of watchfulness.

I saw frugivory on both days I observed the 2015 bird. Two other
informants also mentioned watching the behavior on other days. The
behavior was intermittent and lasted only long enough to snatch several
fruits one at a time from the same small crop of ripe berries on an
adventitious Virginia Creeper vine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) about 4
m high on the upper, gnarled trunk of the flg where major limbs diverged.
In each case, the flycatcher descended from higher perches in the crown,
where it spent most of its foraging time, to a perch near the fruit source.
From there it sallied about 3-4 m in a direct, horizontal flight followed by
a partial, braking stall in front of the cluster when it grabbed a fruit, and
returned to the same perch. The sally for fruit resembled a version of its
hawking maneuvers. Fruits were simply swallowed whole without any
preparation. On the two days I observed the bird, I watched it regurgitate
and drop seeds as it sat on perches. Each creeper fruit is a fleshy berry

Vaeiegated Flycatcher Foraging

7

4-6 mm in diameter usually with two to three seeds. The fig itself had few
fruits (one small cluster observed) and none of them was ripe.

Most of the bird’s foraging activity involved sally-capture maneuvers
at foliage from perches in the upper crown of a solitary fig in an open
stand of mixed-age oaks. In a couple cases, I was not sure whether the
prey substrate was a leaf or the air space near leaves. The fig was about
15 m tall (ca. 45-50 ft) and its broad, dome-like crown at least as wide.
The bird perched in a fairly erect posture (45°-50° oblique) on open,
horizontal or low-angled, upper interior branches below the semiopen,
peripheral foliage layer, and scanned leaves and twigs near and far
from its position (Fig. 2). Scan distances were judged from its attack
behavior when it launched outward sally flights. Most sallies were
outward maneuvers {n = 14) that ended (usually) with capture attacks
on or (possibly) near foliage substrates. In two well-observed cases,
the sally attacks were directed at foliage and employed a brief stall-
strike or snatch maneuver similar to those observed in the videoclip of
hawking and in plucking fruit on the wing (above). In one other well-
observed case involving a maneuver directed at foliage overhead, the
sally terminated in a brief stall-glean attack directed at the underside
of a leaf This sally was initiated steeply upwards and ended at a leaf
cluster about 0.5-0.6 m above its perch, followed by a return to the same
perch. In contrast, the outward, low-angled sallies at foliage varied from
about four to six meters in length across a portion of the upper crown-
spread. My notes on several sally maneuvers do not distinguish between
the possibility of sally-strike on the way by, sally-stall, or sally-hover
(flying in place) alternative capture attacks. In other cases, I was unable
to see the attack substrate clearly from my position on the ground. In
all outward sallies, the capture maneuvers carried the sallier away from
its launch perch in the fig to a perch in another part of the crown. The
sallying attacks were preceded by a variable “sit-and-wait” interval
accompanied by scanning. It chiefly inspected foliage around and above
its head in a series of sequential, rapid-peering scans preceded by short
head rotations laterally from front to sides, or over its shoulder (Fig. 2).
I did not witness visits to other trees in the vicinity, but, R. Diaz (in litt.)
saw the bird leave on a long excursion, and thought it visited another
fig in the cemetery. He also photographed it in a large oak perched on
an interior branch below a relatively dense, peripheral foliage layer in
a position similar to those chosen in the focal fig. L. Wegman (in litt.)
reported seeing the flycatcher in another fig to the east, and perhaps
in oaks, but it always returned to the first fig and the Gumbo Limbo.
On the last day before the bird disappeared (31 October), a report on a
birding listserv suggested the flycatcher may have been investigating
other parts of the park-like cemetery. The status of the small fruit source
in the fig just before its departure is unknown.

8

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Discussion

Foraging behavior: vagrancy sites versus native range. —Here,
I assume the behaviors of the two individuals in uncharacteristic
geographic locations in Florida remain informative about foraging in the
species. Species-typical behaviors, though flexible to a degree, are believed
to be adaptive under the view that variation in these behaviors can affect
the fitness of individuals. Increasingly, evidence supports the view that
different search and food-capture tactics practiced by birds, each associated
with a suite of morphological adaptations, allow effective exploitation of
different food-type or patch-type resources present in different structural
situations in habitats (e.g., Fitzpatrick 1980, 1985; Robinson and Holmes
1982; Schluter 1982; Moermond and Denslow 1985).

An issue arises concerning limited behavioral observations of a
few individuals in out-of-range locations as to how representative the
behaviors may be. Thus, the foraging behavior of a couple vagrant
individuals in Florida need to be placed in the context of what may be
known about this behavior in its native range. An observer can expect that
in unfamiliar habitats an arboreal bird will exhibit flexibility in its use of
unfamiliar plant species, but that it may be constrained by phylogeny and
morphology during foraging to respond to similar vegetative structural
features in similar ways and to perform similar search and prey capture
tactics.

Except for details on insectivore foraging modes in Cintra (1997;
see below), most published information is of a general nature. Remarks
on foraging often are categorical, and refer to food type or trophic guild
membership classifications offered in community or regional avifaunal
studies. Categories applied to E. varius range in one population or another
from frugivore, insects and fruits, primarily insectivore, insectivore,
to omnivore (e.g., Haverschmidt 1968, Davis 1993, Malizia et al. 2005,
Parrini and Pacheco 2011, Las-Casas et al. 2012, Laskey and Keitt 2012,
Pacheco et al. 2014). These categories are only broadly informative.
Four studies provided a general description of foraging modes or specific
elements in the diet. Ridgely and Tudor (1989) noted that E. varius eats
small fruits and sallies for insects in the air and on foliage, but they
provided no details and spoke of the species as a whole. Another source
reported that a single E. varius was observed catching swarming termites
in the air (Vasconcelos et al. 2015). Parrini and Pacheco (2011) noted that
E. varius and other species in southern Brazil ate soft fruits produced
by the tree Alchornea triplinervia (Euphorbiaceae). Migrant E. varius
commonly harvested fruits from this tree species before departure, and
from a congeneric relative on its return. Most fruit were taken on the wing
(92%, n = 2b cases), while only 2 cases involved taking fruit while perched.
These authors reported that E. varius tended to alternate fruit capture

Vaeiegated Flycatcher Foraging

9

with insectivory, as I observed. Finally, in the only life history review of
the species, Mobley (2004) describes food and foraging as “insects, also
small fruits” and “hawks fl 3 dng insects and sallies to hover-glean items
from foliage.” I cannot confirm “hover-gleaning,” but I follow Moermond
and Denslow (1985), and Remsen and Robinson (1990), in distinguishing
a transitory stall maneuver (momentary, buttering hesitation in flight)
from flying in place for more than just a moment (true hovering). Florida
birds appeared to practice the former behavior, but another observer may
characterize the same behavior as “hovering.” One student of tropical
birds (Hilty 2003) described its foraging behavior in Colombia, where the
migratory population often winters, as “sallies to air or flutters and hovers
in front of foliage for insects and small fruit.” Overall, my observations agree
with most of what has been reported on foraging in Variegated Flycatchers.
The species appears to be a frequent aerial forager that combines taking
arthropods (mainly insects) and soft fruits in a modestly diverse diet.
Observations on the Florida vagrants, albeit tentative, suggest that it
uses similar capture tactics (sallying) to take insects on leaves and in the
air, and small, soft fruits in situ from arboreal sources (also see Parrini
and Pacheco 2011). Whether transitory stall-sallying is a frequent capture
maneuver elsewhere remains to be seen, but I suspect it is considering its
use in different contexts in Florida. If so, then the behavior may provide
some understanding of a notable primary feather notch in Empidonomus
not shared by its clade relatives {Myiodynastes, Legatus) that otherwise
have similar plumage appearances; the modification is shared with two of
its closest generic relatives in the same clade {Griseotyrannus, Tyrannus)
(Ohlson et al. 2008, Mobley 2004). The emargination or notching on the
inner webs of outermost primaries produces broad-based slots (Fig. IE)
that serve in other species to enhance lift at slow air speeds and to reduce
stall-speeds (Savile 1957)—perhaps a useful feature during sallying
capture maneuvers in the present case. Yet, as a generalist aerial forager,
Empidonomus is intermediate in other ecomorphological structures
related to foraging between Legatus, a frugivore specialist, and Tyrannus
hawking specialists (Fitzpatrick 1985:466).

A single quantitative study (Cintra 1997) of foraging behavior in a
tropical assemblage of semi-openland t 3 n*annids in Para, Brazil, included
information on foraging tactics and vertical tree use of E. varius in a
savanna habitat near Santarem. I assume that the population of E.
varius there was the resident subspecies. Four modes of insectivory were
recorded for E. varius, among which hawking was observed about 70%
of the time, while sallying to foliage, characterized as “outward hover,”
“upward hover,” and “upward strike” (terminology, Fitzpatrick 1980),
constituted <15% each to complete the relative frequency in the sample of
observations. Two of these capture modes involve “hovering;” in contrast,
birds performing upward strikes take prey from an overhead leaf by a

10

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

rapid, flying approach, and snapping or “striking” the immobile prey on
the way by without hovering (Fitzpatrick 1980, Cintra 1997). In Florida,
I did not witness an upward strike, but I did see what some observers in
the literature may call “hovering” at the target site. For both outward
hover and upward hover Cintra (1997), true hovering may be more likely
after an upward sally than after an outward sally (Fitzpatrick 1980:45).
But, Cintra described his “outward hover” as featuring a “brief hovering”
maneuver, which suggests the possibility of a fluttering stall at the end
of the sally. Remsen and Robinson (1990) remarked that many reports of
hovering captures in the literature may be examples of “sally-stalling.”
A cautionary remark is in order on Cintra’s (1997) study, which as noted
focused on a resident population of E. varius. Some people suspect that the
migrant and resident populations may represent separate species (Hilty
2003, Mobley 2004). In any event, within the range of search and capture
modes expressed in E. varius populations, one might expect variation in
frequencies of use of these modes depending on geography, season, and
resource availability among other potential factors. For example, it is
possible that hawking may be less frequent in migrant populations and
frugivory more important (Hilty 2003) than in resident populations in the
Amazonian tropics.

Behavioral relationship to habitat structure .—My observations also
implicated an apparent relationship between the foraging behavior of
the 2015 bird and the structure of the two trees where it devoted most
of its foraging effort. The apparent complementary match between
behavior and tree structure evoked the impression of a deflnite functional
connection between bird and trees. This impression, which I term “form/
function” matching to habitat structure (Ricklefs 2000), is well supported
by a body of work in the avian literature on foraging ecology concerning
the importance to foraging birds of vertical and horizontal structure
within habitats, plant species composition, foliage distribution, and
foliage arrangement on twigs (e.g., MacArthur and MacArthur 1961,
James 1971, Robinson and Holmes 1982, 1984, Whelan 1989, Parrish
1995). Such habitat-behavior relationships may be important in habitat
selection (e.g., James 1971) and are associated with ecomorphological
adaptations (such as beak size and shape) that can constrain behavior
and also promote efflciency in flnding, capturing, and processing food (e.g.,
Fitzpatrick 1985, Moermond and Howe 1988). Often sallying to arboreal
substrates depends on spotting mid-distant to distant, stationary prey
on the underside of leaves in moderately or well-lighted conditions from
relatively open perches (“open-perch searchers;” Robinson and Holmes
1982). The distribution of the foliage in the focal flg reflected the condition
of many broad-leaved forest trees that are mature, namely leaves chiefly
occur in a continuous or semi-continuous shell around the periphery of
the crown. This foliage distribution-type is described as “monolayered”, in

Vaeiegated Flycatcher Foraging

11

contrast to younger trees in which foliage can be distributed through the
crown volume from periphery to near the tree bole (multilayered) (Horn
1971). The focal fig, as in other monolayered trees, provided open, small
branches near and below the foliage layer, which were suitable perches
offering relatively unobstructed vistas of foliage near and moderately
far from its vantage. No protruding twigs were present on the outside
periphery of the canopy of the focal fig, so when it chose to hawk for flying
prey in the air column beyond or above the trees, it moved to the adjoining
Gumbo Limbo where it found several such perches. When it interrupted
its other activities to pluck a few berries, it moved lower in the fig to a
perch near the fruit source that provided open, horizontal flight access.
The direct, unhesitant sallies to fruit clusters on the vine suggested the
bird chose a cluster, perhaps even a particular berry, from its perch before it
launched its foray. In contrast to the behavior of the flycatcher, a Northern
Parula {Parula americana) entered clusters of peripheral foliage in the fig
and searched leaves and twigs from the inside by active perch-shifting,
each followed by brief scans; two prey attacks involved forward gleans
from standing positions at near foliage.

The perch-height distribution measured by Cintra (1997) in savanna
habitat in northeastern Brazil also appeared to express a relationship
between perch use and foraging behavior. The puzzle in the distribution
is the almost complete absence of perch use at the 90% level in trees
in comparison to 100% and 60-80% levels. The most parsimonious
explanation for this usage gap is that it reflected perch requirements of
hawking (tops of crown in this species) and sallying to foliage (perches
below the peripheral foliage canopy in the more open crown interior).
Cintra’s observations also describe the pattern of perch use in tree profiles
by the 2015 Florida bird during perch sallying to foliage (fig, mostly 70-
80% relative height) and hawking (Gumbo Limbo, 100%).

In summary, descriptions of foraging behavior of E. varius in South
America encompass the behavior observed in Florida. The species is a
semi-openland, sit-and-wait forager that specializes in sallying attacks on
prey in open air and on foliage, and on taking small fruit. It was notable
that the focal tree one individual used most often over a period of several
days appeared to match the distance-search behavior of perch-to-foliage
sallying to an overhead, umbrella-like foliage distribution above a network
of open branches, which the bird used to locate potential prey. In contrast,
hawking positions were from open peripheral perches at the top of an
adjoining tree that permitted full view of the air column.

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to Robert C. Dobbs for constructive comments that improved the manu¬
script. I thank Rangel Diaz, Russ Titus, and Lee Wegman for kindly answering my questions
and providing observational information on the Fort Lauderdale bird. I am grateful to Diana

12

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Doyle for access to her videotape of hawking behavior by the St. Johns County bird, which
she submitted to the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee. The videotape files
are available in state Records Committee archives at the Florida Museum of Natural His¬
tory, Gainesville.

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Davis, S. E. 1993. Seasonal status, relative abimdance, and behavior of the birds of Concep¬
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Denny, M. 2009. Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius) in southeastern Washington
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EERENCH, R. 1973. A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago. Livingston Publishing Com¬
pany, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

Fitzpatrick, J. W. 1980. Foraging behavior of neotropical t 3 n’ant flycatchers. Condor 82:43-
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Fitzpatrick, J. W. 1985. Form, Foraging Behavior, and Adaptive Radiation in the Tyranni-
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Gabriel, V. de A., and M. A. Pizo. 2005. Foraging behavior of t 3 n'ant flycatchers (Aves: lyran-
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Hilty, S. L. 2003. Birds of Venezuela, 2nd ed. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New
Jersey.

Horn, H. S. 1971. The Adaptive Geometry of Trees. Princeton University Press, Princeton,
New Jersey.

Houle, D., and J. Houle. 1993. First record of Variegated Flycatcher for Canada. Birders’
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Huey, R. B., and E. R. Pianka. 1981. Ecological consequences of foraging mode. Ecology
62:991-999.

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Florida Field Naturalist 45(1):14-17, 2017.

DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR OF OSPREYS (Pandion haliaetus)

AT NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL NEST SITES

CiERRA Braga

Email: cbraga2012@my.fit.edu

Ospreys {Pandion haliaetus) are found nearly worldwide and are common year-round
in Florida (Bierregaard et al. 2016, Solensky 2004). Osprey nests in natural substrates
(trees) and on artificial substrates (poles) can be found throughout Florida, primarily
around sources of water because this raptor’s diet is almost exclusively composed of fish
(Bierregaard et al. 2016). Ospreys use artificial nest sites such as channel markers, utility
poles, and platforms as a supplement to or replacement for natural nest sites, which may
no longer be available due to alterations in their environment, such as deforestation due
to commercial development (Castellanos & Ortega-Rubio 1995, Bierregaard et al. 2016).
Nests in trees often have more cover due to branches, but artificial nest substrates have
no cover and this can allow the nest to be more susceptible to intruders.

Nest predation can be reduced by nest defense behaviors by adults (Montgomerie &
Weatherhead 1988). Ospreys conduct nest defense behaviors not only to avoid predation,
but also other birds who may take over the nest for their own (Bierregaard et al. 2016).
Predation pressures that Ospreys are face include raccoons {Procyon lotor) and other
birds such as eagles that steal their eggs or kill the nestlings (Ortega-Jimenez et al.,
2011). Although Ospreys are one of the most-studied North American raptors, little is
known about Osprey nest defense (Bierregaard et al. 2016). Signs of territorial defense
in Ospreys include: sitting upright in the nest to show that they are alert, shaking wings,
warning vocalizations, and aerial chases of the intruder (Bretagnolle & Thibault 1993,
Bierregaard et al. 2016).

In this study, I used observations at nests to address the following question: Is there
a difference in the types and frequencies of nest defense behaviors exhibited by Ospreys
nesting in natural substrates and nesting on artificial substrates? I hypothesize that
Ospreys nesting on artificial substrates will spend significantly more time defending their
nests by comparing nest defense behaviors over a period of 1 h than Ospreys nesting in
trees because there is more cover at and proximate to nests in trees due to surrounding
branches. Meanwhile, nests on poles tend to lack cover and can be more easily accessed
by intruders, such as predators. I also wished to quantify the most commonly displayed
defensive behavior performed by Ospreys at both artificial and natural nest sites.

Methods

During the months of January-May 2014, I conducted observations at five Osprey
nests on poles and at five nests in trees near the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County,
Florida (Fig. 1, Table 1). The nests were randomly selected for this study, and their
coordinates were determined by Google Earth. Nests were observed for 1 h total each.
Each behavior was recorded after 1 min of observation during the hour in order to
get a representation of nest defense behavior for a time budget. The behaviors were
categorized into two types: nest defense and other behaviors.

Ospreys would Vocalize when another bird (typically another Osprey) was observed
fiying above the nest. Aerial Chases occurred when another Osprey landed on the nest or
came near it, and one or both of the residents forced it away on the wing. I recorded Wing
Shaking when an Osprey would shake its wings as a threatening gesture (Bretagnolle
and Thibault 1993). Vigilance was defined as standing on the edge of the nest in an

14

Notes

15

Figure 1. Osprey nest sites on the Indian River Lagoon, Brevard County, Florida,
January - May 2014. The squares show the nests on artificial substrates, and
the stars show the nests on natural substrates.

alert posture. As in Bretagnolle and Thibault (1993), Ospreys sitting in the nest were
considered to be resting; while a more vertical posture of the bird (standing on the edge
of the nest) was considered to be Vigilant.

Due to the small sample of time collected for the behaviors, the nest defense behaviors
analyzed were grouped into three types: CallingAVing Shaking, Aerial Chases, and Edge.

Table 1. Osprey nest sites on the Indian River Lagoon, Brevard County, Florida,
January - May 2104.

Nest site

Substrate type

Latitude

Longitude

Grills

Artificial

28°12'40.09"N

80°39'51.73"W

Chilly Spoons

Artificial

28°11'29.29"N

80°40'13.70"W

Captain Katanna’s

Artificial

28°10'38.21"N

80°38'56.43"W

Post Rd/us 1, 7 Eleven

Artificial

28°10'20.40"N

80°38'51.66"W

Crab House 1

Artificial

28° 7'26.45"N

80°37'48.25"W

Elm Dr US 1, 1

Natural

28°10'30.35"N

80°38'51.36"W

Elm Dr US 1, 2

Natural

28°10'29.11"N

80°38'51.14"W

Elm Dr US 1, 3

Natural

28°10'25.85"N

80°38'48.87"W

Church

Natural

28°10'47.64"N

80°40'22.63"W

Suntree

Natural

28°13'26.59"N

80°40'40.53"W

16

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

CallingAVing were the vocalizations and wing-shaking behaviors; these were combined
because they tended to occur simultaneously. Edge referred to the vigilance of the
Osprey as it would stand on the edge of the nest. Other behaviors included eating, flying,
cleaning, and sitting in the nest without showing signs of aggression. Statistical analyses
were conducted in RStudio (RStudio Team 2015). Shapiro-Wilk test and variances were
unequal (Bartlett test of homogeneity of variance), and I used a Wilcoxon signed rank
test to test for differences in the nest-defense behavior categories between the artiflcial-
and natural-nest substrates.

Results

There was no difference in the total territorial defense behaviors between natural
and artiflcial nests (Fig. 2). However, I did And a difference in the total amount of time
spent on nest-defense behaviors and other behaviors regardless of nest type (W = 0, P
< 0.01). There was no difference in the amount of time spent on CallingAVing Shaking
and Edge (Fig. 2), or between Aerial Chase and Edge (Fig. 2), but there was a signiflcant
difference between the CallingAVing Shaking and Eerial Chase (Fig. 2).

Discussion

Although I expected that Ospreys nesting on poles would spend signiflcantly more
time on nest defense than Ospreys nesting in trees, the data do not support this

Ethogram of Nest Defense Between

Nest Types

1

Behavior Categories

■ Natural Nests

■ Artifical Nests

Figure 2. Ethogram of the behaviors observed at artificial and natural nest
substrates, Indian River Lagoon, Brevard County, Florida, January - 2014.

Notes

17

hypothesis. Similar to results of Castellanos and Ortega-Ruhio’s (1995) study, artificial
and natural nest substrates did not differ much in the display of nest defense behaviors.
I did find a difference between the total time spent on nest defense and other behaviors
for each nest type (artificial and natural substrate). My results showed that nest defense
does not make up the majority of the Osprey’s time, at least in this study area during
this time. The location of artificial nest structures and their distance from one another
may have an influence on Osprey nest defense behavior. However, the lack of a difference
for nest defense behaviors between nest types indicates that Ospreys are tolerant of
not just different environments, but urbanization as well as indicated by Bierregaard
et al. (2016). Whether or not the nest was on an artificial or in a natural substrate
did not negatively affect the Osprey by having the Osprey exert more energy in nest
defense behaviors. Nest-defense behaviors are used by Ospreys to prevent intruders
from entering their nests to take them over to prey on the contents (Bierregaard et al.
2002). More studies on the predation and interaction of Ospreys with intruders would
be necessary in order to address if there is a difference in the rate of predation and
intrusion between artificial and natural nest substrates, but based off this study and
others (Castellanos & Ortega-Rubio 1995, Bierregaard et al. 2016) that have not shown
a noticeable difference for nest defense behaviors between nest types, it could be that the
act of intruding upon a nest and the predation of the nest is an act of opportunity and not
necessarily a common occurrence.

Acknowledgments

This study was performed for an undergraduate research course at the Florida

Institute of Technology. Special thanks to Dr. Christin Pruett and an anonymous referee

for their constructive suggestions, which greatly improved the manuscript.

Literature Cited

Bierregaard, R. O., A. F. Poole, M. S. Martell, P. Pyle, and M. A. Patten. 2016. Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus), The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cor¬
nell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America: <https://birdsna.
org/Species-Account/bna/species/osprey>.

Bretagnolle, V., and J. C. Thibault. 1993. Communicative behavior in breeding Os¬
preys {Pandion haliaetus): Description and relationship of signals to life history. Auk
110:736-751.

Castellanos, A., and A. Ortega-Rubio. 1995. Artificial nesting sites and Ospreys at Ojo
de Liebre and Guerrero Negro Lagoons, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Journal of Field
Ornithology 66:117-127.

Montgomerie, R. D., and P. J. Weatherhead. 1988. Risks and rewards of nest defence by
parent birds. Quarterly Review of Biology 63:167-187.

Ortega-Jimenez, V. M., S. Arriaga-Ramirez, and S. Alvarez-Borrego. 2011. Parental in¬
fanticide by Osprey {Pandion haliaetus) during nest defense. Journal of Raptor Re¬
search 45:93-95.

RStudio Team (2015). RStudio: Integrated Development for R. RStudio, Inc., Boston,
Massachusetts <http://www.rstudio.com/>.

SoLENSKY, M. J. 2004. Partial migration and wintering use of Florida by Ospreys. Journal
of Raptor Research 38:55-61.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(l):18-20, 2017.

FIRST NORTH AMERICAN REPORT OF AN AMERICAN KESTREL {Falco
sparverius) ROOSTING IN A MONK PARAKEET (Myiopsitta monachus) NEST

Joshua M. Diamond

Florida International University, Southeast Environmental Research Center,

Miami, Florida 33199

Email: jdiam009@fiu.edu

The Monk Parakeet {Myiopsitta monachus) is Florida’s most common and conspicuous
parrot; particularly widespread in urban and suburban environments (Pranty et al.
2006). In parts of Florida such as Broward County, they may outnumber all other parrots
combined (Pranty and Epps 2002). It is the only parrot that does not nest in natural tree
cavities, instead building large stick nests with many internal chambers, often compared
to an apartment building (Goodfellow 2011). A survey of over 1000 Monk Parakeet nests
in Florida found 50% were built on manmade structures, 39% on exotic trees, and 9%
on native trees (Pranty 2009). Each cavity is unconnected, and empty chambers are
sometimes occupied by other species. In this way, the Monk Parakeet creates a nest
web, transforming resources for secondary cavity-nesters, similar to woodpeckers.
These secondary nesters include perching birds like the White Monjita (Xolmis irupero),
Screaming Cowbird {Molothrus rufoaxillaris), baywings (Agelaioides spp.), Guira
Cuckoo {Guira guira), and Rock Dove {Columba livia), ducks such as Brazilian Teal
{Amazonetta brasiliensis), and falcons such as the American Kestrel {Falco sparverius)
and Spot-winged Falconet {Spizapteryx circumcincta) (Port and Brewer 2004, Nores
2009, Goodfellow 2011). The American Kestrel’s range extends into South America,
where it overlaps with the native range of Monk Parakeets. The American Kestrel is a
widespread breeding resident in South America, except for the rainforests of the Amazon
region. The Monk Parakeet’s native range is more restricted, occurring primarily south
of the Amazon. In Argentina, where both species are native, American Kestrels are
periodically observed usurping Monk Parakeet nest cavities (de Lucca 1992).I began
observing a group of Monk Parakeet nests in Miami, Florida at the start of February
2016. All birds were nesting on light towers surrounding an athletic complex at Florida
International University. I found large stick nests on eight out of 12 towers surrounding
the complex, each with one or two separate stick nests. On 8 February 8 I observed an
American Kestrel, perching above the nests atop the towers. This kestrel was observed
minutes later atop a different tower. The following day, I returned before dusk to observe
parakeets returning to roost. I observed the kestrel fly to a tower with two unconnected
parakeet nest piles, each with one visible cavity entrance. It briefly entered the lower
nest, exiting about one minute later, and subsequently entered the upper nest, which
it did not exit before sundown. Both nests on this tower were unusually quiet while
the kestrel was present. The American Kestrel was observed in the same area for the
next seven weeks, primarily perched and foraging. This bird’s favorite perch was netting
at the edge of the baseball field, from which it foraged on the wing for flying insects.
On another dusk survey on 16 March, the kestrel again was observed returning to and
roosting in the same nest.

I considered the possibility that this kestrel belonged to the rare subspecies
Southeastern American Kestrel {Falco sparverius paulus). Most kestrels found in Florida
are wintering migrants, members of the nominate race {F. s. sparverius) (Bohall-Wood
and Collopy 1986). The Southeastern American Kestrel has been declining for decades.

18

Notes

19

and is listed as a threatened species by the State of Florida (Florida Natural Areas
Inventory 2001). F. s. paulus was extirpated from Miami-Dade County around 1940, and
from the 1940’s through the 1980’s, declined 82% in north-central Florida (Hoffman and
Collopy 1988). If this were the rare subspecies, it would be the first nest in the region in
decades. The kestrel was last seen 1 April, and I cannot assume it was the threatened
subspecies. This is the first account of an American Kestrel using a Monk Parakeet nest
in North America. While the American Kestrel was present. Monk Parakeets maintained
a presence at the nest, but recorded activity was low, with no nest building observed.
Following the kestrel’s departure, nest activity appears to have resumed a normal pace.
The Monk Parakeets were never seen attempting to chase away the kestrel, although I
repeatedly observed parakeets at several nests chase away European Starlings (Sturnus
vulgaris).

As Monk Parakeets have established populations north of Florida, this creates an
interesting opportunity for American Kestrels. Monk Parakeets are urban adapted birds,
thriving in human-dominated landscapes. Kestrels often forage in urban and suburban
areas, but could be limited by a shortage of nest sites. Evidence suggests American
Kestrels may be more flexible experimenting with unfamiliar nest and roost substrates.
Kestrels lay pigmented eggs, while most cavity-nesting birds lay white eggs, suggesting
they may have only recently adapted to cavity nests (Richards 1970). They are willing
to explore novel roosts, as 85% of wintering birds in Louisiana and 68% of wintering
birds in Pennsylvania used man-made substrates (Ardia 2001, Doody 1994). The Monk
Parakeet nests represent a novel resource in urban North America, providing nests and
roosts for kestrels, or other secondary-cavity nesters.

Acknowledgments

This is contribution number 802 from the Southeast Environmental Research Center
at Florida International University. I am grateful to John Parrish for many constructive
suggestions that improved the manuscript.

Literature Cited

Ardia, D. R. 2001. Winter roosting behavior of American Kestrels. Journal of Raptor
Research 35:58-61.

Bohall-Wood, P., and M. W. Collopy. 1986. Abundance and habitat selection of two
American Kestrel subspecies in North-Central Florida. Auk 103:557-563.

Doody, J. S. 1994. Winter roost-site use by female American Kestrels (Falco sparverius)
in Louisiana. Journal of Raptor Research 28:9-12.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 2001. Southeastern American Kestrel, Falco sparveri¬
us paulus.

Goodfellow, P. 2011. Avian Architecture: How Birds Design, Engineer, and Build. Princ¬
eton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Hoffman, M. L., and M. W. Collopy. 1988. Historical status of the American Kestrel
{Falco sparverius paulus) in Florida. Wilson Bulletin 100:91-107.

DE Lucca, E. R. 1992. Nidificacion del halconcito Colorado {Falco sparverius) en nidos de
cotorra {Myiopsitta monachus). Hornero 13:238-240.

McComb, W. C., S. a. Bonney, R. M. Sheffield, and N. D. Cost. 1986. Snag Resources
in Florida: Are They Sufficient for Average Populations of Primary Cavity-Nesters?
Wildlife Society Bulletin 14:40-48.

Miller, K. E. 2010. Nest-site limitation of secondary cavity-nesting birds in even-age
southern pine forests. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 122:126-134.

Nores, M. 2009. Use of active Monk Parakeet nests by Common Pigeons and response by
the host. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121:812-815.

20

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Port, J. L., and G. L. Brewer. 2004. Use of Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) nests
by Speckled Teal {Anas flavirostris) in eastern Argentina. Ornitologia Neotropical
15:209-218.

Pranty, B. 2009. Nesting substrates of monk parakeets {Myiopsitta monachus) in Flori¬
da. Florida Field Naturalist 37:51-57.

Pranty, B., and S. A. Epps. 2002. Distribution, population status, and documentation of
exotic parrots in Broward County, Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 30:111-150.

Pranty, B., K. A. Radamaker, and G. Kennedy. 2006. Birds of Florida. Lone Pine Publish¬
ing, Auburn, Washington.

Richards, G. L. 1970. American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, exhibits relic nest building
behavior. Condor 72:476.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(l):21-23, 2017.

‘SHADOW-BOXING’ BY A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD {Mimus polyglottos)

Corey T. Callaghan

Florida Atlantic University, Environmental Science Program, 777 Glades Road,

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Email: callaghan.corey.t@gmail.com

The Northern Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos) is a widespread, abundant species
throughout North America, Mexico, and the Bahamas (Farnsworth et al. 2011). In Florida,
it is a fairly common to very common resident (Greenlaw et al. 2014). They are urban
adapters (Hanauer et al. 2010) that are more abundant in urban than non-urban habitats
(Stracey and Robinson 2012), and this prevalence in urban landscapes has made Northern
Mockingbirds a common subject of scientific studies (Farnsworth et al. 2011).

At the Banyan Bay Apartment Complex, Coconut Creek, Broward County, between
April 2015 and December 2015, I frequently observed a Northern Mockingbird that
consistently perched on and ‘attacked’ mirrors and windshields of various cars. Around
12 November 2015, I noticed that the mockingbird had only one foot (Fig. la), at
which point I was increasingly intrigued by this individual’s behavior. Following this
observation, I watched this bird more intently (nearly daily) from 12 November 2015
until 1 December 2015. This bird was very tame, allowing close approach (~2-3 m) by
humans, dogs, and moving cars. Throughout this time frame, I never observed the bird
outside of a 0.08 ha area within the complex. It continuously perched on multiple cars,
spending more time perching on cars than any other object. It would sometimes fiy into a
Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba) tree to eat berries. At times, it would stay perched on
a car, continuously, for up to 30 minutes. The interesting behavior, however, was when
it would attack the mirrors and windshields of cars. This behavior varied in both vigor
and duration, from short (~2 s) to long (~7 s) bouts in front of the mirror. The bird would
swoop down to the mirror, hovering and wing-fiashing. Sometimes, hovering and wing-
fiashing was accompanied by the bird thrusting its feet towards its refiection (Fig. Ic),
and other times pecking at its refiection (Fig. lb). At other times, the bird would simply
sit on the windshield and continuously wing-fiash and peck at its refiection.

The behavior described above is defined as ‘shadow-boxing’, which refers to a bird
that fights its own image refiected in mirrors (Ritter and Benson 1934). The term was
first used in the avian literature, as far as I can tell, by Dickey (1916). This behavior has
been reported in a number of species around the world, both in captivity and the wild,
as reviewed by Roerig (2013); he reports four accounts of Northern Mockingbird shadow-
boxing, none of which provide the sorts of details I present here. Interestingly, despite
the lack of scientific references, an internet search for ‘mockingbird attacking mi rror’
yields a multitude of images and videos of this behavior.

Wing-fiashing of Northern Mockingbirds is a well-known and studied behavior
(Selander and Hunter 1960, Mueller and Mueller 1971) and it is generally thought that
wing-fiashing is used in territorial and predator defense (Dhondt and Kemink 2008).
Given the intensity and forcefulness of the shadow-boxing behavior, I hypothesize this
behavior is linked to territorial defense, as in the case of the California Towhee {Melozone
crissalis; Dickey 1916, Ritter and Benson 1934). However, unlike the other reports, this
behavior is likely not tied to nesting, given the time of year and no observation of a mate.
In Florida, breeding can extend from late February until mid-late August (Farnsworth
et al. 2011), an unusually long nesting season.

21

22

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Figure 1. a) Northern Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos), missing a foot, perched
on a car mirror at Banyan Bay Apartment Complex, Coconut Creek, Broward
County, Florida, b-d) The ‘shadow-boxing’ behavior of the mockingbird,
attacking its reflection in the mirror; showing wing-flashing, pecking, and feet
thrusting at its reflection.

Given the increasing human population and thereby urbanization, opportunities
for these types of behaviors will continue to increase. This note highlights the need for
further study of such behaviors to investigate their prevalence and any potential effects
they may have on the individual birds partaking in such behaviors.

Acknowledgments

I thank D. Harshbarger, J. Chastant, an anonymous referee for comments that
helped to improve this paper.

Literature Cited

Dhondt, a. a., and K. M. Keminck. 2008. Wing-flashing in northern mockingbirds: Anti¬
predator defense? Journal of Ethology 26:361-365.

Dickey, D. R. 1916. The shadow-boxing of Pipilo. Condor 18:93-99.

Farnsworth, G., G. A. Londono, J. Ungvari Martin, K. C. Derrickson and R. Breitwisch.
2011. Northern Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos), The Birds of North America Online
(P. G. Rodewald, Ed.j.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds
of North America Online: <http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/007 doi:10.2173/
bna.7>.

Greenlaw, J. S., B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and Woolfenden Florida
Bird Species: An Annotated List. Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication
No. 8, Gainesville.

Notes

23

Hanauer, R. E., C. M. Stracey, and S. K. Robinson. 2010. Why has an urban adapter,
the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), declined in Florida? Florida Field
Naturalist 28:135-189.

Mueller, H. C., and N. S. Mueller. 1971. Flashes of white in the wings of other species
elicit territorial behavior in a Mockingbird. Wilson Bulletin 83:442-443.

Ritter, W. E., and S. B. Benson. 1934. “Is the Poor Bird Demented?” Another Case of
“Shadow Boxing.” Auk 51:169-179.

Roerig, J. 2013. Shadow boxing by birds—a literature study and new data from southern
Africa. Ornithological Observations 4:39-68.

Selander, R. K., and D. K. Hunter. 1960. On the functions of wing-flashing in Mocking¬
birds. Wilson Bulletin 72:340-345.

Stracey, C. M., and S. K. Robinson. 2012. Are urban habitats ecological traps for a native
songbird? Season-long productivity, apparent survival, and site fldelity in urban and
rural habitats. Journal of Avian Biology 43:50-60.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(l):24-25, 2017.

FIRST DOCUMENTATION OF A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
(Elanoides forficatus) PREYING ON AN INFANT SQUIRREL

David L. Sherer and Matthew Fuirst

Avian Ecology Program, Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida 33960

Email: dlsherer@gmail.com
Email: mfuirst@gmail.com

Swallow-tailed Kites (Elanoides forficatus; hereafter kites) commonly breed in
southern Florida and are annual migrants through the state each spring (Meyer 1995).
Kites detect prey by soaring low over wetlands, grasslands, shrublands and forests and
consume a variety of small vertebrate and invertebrate prey including frogs, lizards,
nestling birds, snakes and insects (Robertson 1988, Meyer 1995). Breeding males
provision nesting females and/or nestlings predominantly with vertebrate prey (97%),
of which 67% are frogs and reptiles and 30% birds (Meyer et al. 2004), but outside the
breeding season, kites consume insects almost exclusively (Lee and Clark 1993). There
are few published records containing observations of kites preying on small mammals,
although Meyer (1995) noted infrequent predation of bats and Robertson (1988) stated
that kites may capture “rodents (rarely?).”

On 7 March 2016, at approximately 1215 EST, we observed a kite maneuvering
through the pine-dominated tree canopy in the plaza at Archbold Biological Station
in Highlands County, Florida. The kite initially flew in from the east and circled low
over the canopy for about two minutes. The kite made one unsuccessful attack on an
unidentified prey item, then exited the canopy before attacking a second time. The kite
then flew from the pines carrying a small animal in its talons. Once clear of the pine
canopy, we observed that the prey item was an infant eastern gray squirrel {Sciurus
carolinensis). The entire episode lasted no longer than three minutes.

Our observation represents the first instance we know of where a kite captured a
squirrel. The nest from which the squirrel was captured was approximately 11 m high
in a 22 m slash pine (Pinus elliottii) covered with Spanish moss {Tillandsia usneoides).
Although the wooded plaza at Archbold Biological Station is home to other potential
prey of kites, such as reptiles, amphibians, and small birds, eastern gray squirrels
are abundant, and may represent a viable opportunistic prey source. This may be
particularly true immediately after arrival during kites’ spring migration, but prior to
the onset of the breeding season. Kites are known to be opportunistic predators across
their range (Meyer 1995), and their highly varied diets in the tropics may serve to
supplement insect prey (Gerhardt et al. 2004, Robinson 1994). In Florida, kites may
opportunistically target small mammals - or similarly atypical prey such as small adult
passerines (Cox 2012) - during or shortly after their migration, when other prey items
may yet be scarce. Tree frog (Hyla spp.) activity in February and March is much lower
than peak levels in April through June (Meshaka and Layne 2015), and most passerine
species are unlikely to have begun nesting at this time (FWC 2003). In 2016, we first
sighted kites at Archbold on 24 February, consistent with typical early spring arrivals
(Greenlaw et al. 2014), but earlier than the breeding season which typically occurs
from mid-March through early-August (Stevenson and Anderson 1994, Greenlaw et
al. 2014). The earliest known laying date in Florida was 5 March (Meyer 1995). It
is probable that this squirrel was consumed by the capturing bird, but possible that

24

Notes

25

it was fed to a mate, either as part of courtship or conceivably to a female on a nest;
however, it was probably too early in the season for the latter and certainly too early
for the prey to have been fed to nestlings.

Acknowledgments

We thank Reed Bowman and Jim Cox for providing valuable feedback on previous
drafts of this manuscript, Fred Lohrer for stimulating its development, and Shane
Pruett for resources on previous field observations at Archbold Biological Station. We
are grateful to the staff and interns at Archbold for their support, and to the organization
itself for the opportunity to live and work in the unique scrub ecosystem of the Lake
Wales Ridge.

Literature Cited

Cox, J. A. 2012. Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) captures an adult Brown¬
headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla). Florida Field Naturalist 40:56-57.

FWC [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]. 2003. Florida’s Breeding
Bird Atlas: A Collaborative Study of Florida’s Birdlife. < http://myfwc.com/bba>. Ac¬
cessed 16 June 2016.

Gerhardt, R. P., D. M. Gerhardt, and M. A. Vasquez. 2004. Food delivered to nests of
Swallow-tailed Kites in Tikal National Park, Guatemala. Condor 106:177-181.

Greenlaw, J. S., B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and Woolfenden Florida
Bird Species: An Annotated List. Florida Ornithological Society, Special Publication
No. 8, Gainesville, Florida.

Lee, D. S., and M. K. Clark. 1993. Notes on post-breeding American Swallow-tailed
Kites, Elanoides forficatus (Falconiformes: Accipitridae), in north-central Florida.
Brimleyana 19:185-203.

Meshaka, W. E., Jr., and J. N. Layne. 2015. The Herpetology of Southern Florida. Herpe-
tological Conservation and Biology 10 (Monograph 5).

Meyer, K. D. 1995. Swallow-tailed Kite {Elanoides forficatus). In The Birds of North
America Online, No. 138 (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New
York.

Meyer, K. D., S. M. McGehee, and M. W. Collopy. 2004. Food deliveries at Swallow¬
tailed Kite nests in southern Florida. Condor 106:171-176.

Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1988. American Swallow-tailed Kite. Pages 109-131 in Handbook
of North American Birds, Vol. 4 (R. S. Palmer, Ed.). Yale University Press, New Ha¬
ven, Connecticut.

Robinson, S. K. 1994. Habitat selection and foraging ecology of raptors in Amazonian
Peru. Biotropica 26:443-458.

Stevenson, H. M., and B. H. Anderson. 1994. The Birdlife of Florida. University Press of
Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(l):26-27, 2017.

IN MEMORIAM
David W. Johnston, 1926-2015

David Ware Johnston, a past president of the Florida Ornithological
Society, died on July 26, 2015 at his home in Fairfax, Virginia. He was
born in Miami, Florida, on November 23, 1926, but spent most of his
early life in Atlanta, Georgia. There through the Boy Scouts, he became
fascinated with birds. After naval service in World War II, he attended
the University of Georgia where he earned a BS in 1949 and a MS in
1950. He was always active in the Georgia Ornithological Society and
served as editor of its journal. The Oriole, during 1956-1959.

After earning a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley
(1954) he taught at Mercer University (1954-1959) and Wake Forest
University (1959-1963) before coming to the University of Florida
in 1963. During his 16 years in Gainesville, among many research
interests, he did important work on aspects of the Indigo Bunting’s
ecology and biology, fat deposition and depletion by migratory birds,
and pesticide accumulation in the fatty tissues of birds; in all of these
studies he used tower-killed birds from Herbert L. Stoddard’s WCTV
study on Tall Timbers Research Station for most of his specimen
material. Johnston devoted much time investigating and writing
about the biogeography of West Indian birds, particularly those of the
Cayman Islands, and his interest in island avifaunas led him far afield
to such places as Wake Island and Alaska.

He also found time to prepare hundreds of expertly crafted study
skins as a teaching collection for the Department of Zoology. These
specimens are now housed at the nearby Florida Museum of Natural
History, designated as the David W. Johnston Teaching Collection, and
are used heavily for teaching courses in ornithology, vertebrate zoology,
and wildlife ecology.

Johnston was a Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union
(1974), and served as president of FOS during 1977-1979. He edited
Bird-Banding (now Journal of Field Ornithology) and Ornithological
Monographs, and for a time was director of the ecology program of the
National Science Foundation.

He went to George Mason University in Virginia in 1981 and though
he retired from academia in 1988, he stayed involved in science, being a
member of the Virginia Society of Ornithology, and serving as an editor
and advisor to government and international organizations such as the
World Bank, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Management Institute, and
U.S. Forest Service. He became interested in the history of natural

26

In Memoriam, David W. Johnston

27

history (he also liked to repair old clocks); among his seven written or
edited books was ''The History of Ornithology of Virginia,'’ as well as "A
Guide to Bird Finding in Virginia,” "Virginia’s Endangered Species,”
and "Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds,” the
last winning the best-edited book award from the Wildlife Society in
1999. He published a hundred or so peer-reviewed papers in various
scientific journals. One of his final works, "Cedar Key: Birding in
Paradise, Finding Birds Then and Now,” was published in 2009.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Esta, three children, and
many friends and colleagues in the Florida ornithological community.

Robert L. Crawford, 208 Junius St., Thomasville, Georgia 31792

Florida Field Naturalist 45(l):28-34, 2017.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Summer Report: June-July 2016. —This report consists of significant bird
observations compiled by the Field Observations Committee (FOC). Electronic
submissions to the FOC should be in the following format: species, number of individuals,
age and sex of the bird(s), color morph if applicable, location (including county), date,
observer(s), and significance. Seasons are winter (December-February), spring (March-
May), summer (June-July), and fall (August-November). Submit observations to regional
compilers within two weeks after the close of each season, or to the state compiler within
one month. Addresses of the compilers follow this report.

Sight-only observations are considered “reports” while only those observations
supported by verifiable evidence (photographs, video or audio recordings, or specimens)
are called “records.” Species for which documentation is required by the FOC and by
the FOS Records Committee (FOSRC; <fosbirdsorg/official-fiorida-state-bird-list>) are
marked here with an asterisk (*). A county designation (in italics) accompanies the first¬
time listing of each site in this report. Abbreviations in this report are: AFB = Air Force
Base, AFR = Air Force Range, EOS = end of season, m. obs = many observers, NERR
= National Estuarine Research Reserve, NP = National Park, NSRA = North Shore
Restoration Area, NWR = National Wildlife Refuge, SF = State Forest, SP = State Park,
STA = Stormwater Treatment Area, STF = sewage treatment facility, WMA = Wildlife
Management Area, and N, S, E, W etc., for compass directions. Bold-faced entries denote
birds newly reported or verified in Florida, or record numbers. Photographs or video- or
audio-recordings archived by the FOC are identified by a plus (-I-).

SUMMAEY OF THE SUMMER SEASON

This report does not purposefully include many data collected from the Breeding
Bird Atlas II, which concluded the five-year project. FOSRC review species listed in this
report include a potential first state record Fea’s Petrel, a Red-footed Booby in Pinellas,
a Hudsonian Godwit in St. Johns, and two each Alder Flycatcher and Willow Flycatcher
at Lake Apopka NSRA.

The FOC is seeking volunteers interested in joining the committee as regional
compilers for counties that are currently uncovered. The first region would include
Suwannee, Columbia, Gilchrist, Union, and Bradford Counties. A second region would
be Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota. A third area could be covered by one or
multiple interested individuals: Polk, Osceola, Hardee, De Soto, Highlands, Glades, and
Okeechobee Counties. Responsibilities would include soliciting and compiling notable field
observations for these counties at the end of each season, to be included in the report.
Interested individuals should contact the state compiler listed at the end of this report.

Species Accounts

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: 1 on Howard Road (Nassau) 4 Jun (T. Crane); 5 fiying N
on Halifax River at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach (Volusia) 8 Jun (H. Robinson);
8 at Lem Turner Spray Fields (Duval) 26 Jun (D. Foster) represented a significant
decline from last year; 25 at Jefferson County Recycling Center (Jefferson) 5 Jul (M.
Smith, R. Emond); 6 at Westside Industrial Park (Duval) 25 Jul (M. Charest).
Canada Goose: 2 at Wacahoota (Alachua) 21 Jul (J. Pruitt).

Black Swan: 1 at Seminole (Pinellas) 2 Jun 2016 (-i-R. Smith).

28

Field Observations

29

Egyptian Goose; 1 at Twin River Golf Club, Oviedo {Seminole) 2 Jul (G. Leavens, J. Leav¬
ens) provided perhaps the first county record.

Blue-winged Teal: Up to 4 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP {Alachua) 1-26 Jun (M. Ma-
netz, T Anderson et ah); up to 2 males at Lake Apopka NSRA {Orange) 18 Jun-19 Jul
(+P Hueber, H. Robinson, m. obs).

Northern Shoveler: 1 drake continued at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond {Duval)
through EOS (K. Dailey); 1 female at Merritt Island NWR {Brevard) 4 Jun (P. Hue¬
ber).

Redhead; 5 at Wm. E. Dunn WTF {Pinellas) 1-3 Jun (-i-B. Cochrane, m. obs); 2-4 at Tierra
Verde {Pinellas) 1-14 Jun (-i-D. Sauvageau, m. obs); 1 at N St. Petersburg {Pinellas)
21-24 Jun (M. Burns, C. Gjervold).

Ring-necked Duck: 4 (1 male, 3 females) at Alligator Lake {Columbia) throughout season
(J. Krummrich); 2 (1 male, 1 female) at Lake Okahumpka {Sumter) 14 Jun (J. Mann,
S. Mann, D. Grimes); 4 at Lake Morton {Polk) 16 Jun (D. Simpson); 1 at Sweetwater
Wetlands Park {Alachua) 3-20 Jun (M. Manetz, L. Davis et al.).

Greater Scaup: 2 at Crystal Bay {Citrus) 12-19 Jun (A. Coquerel, -i-E. Roche).

Lesser Scaup; 1 female at Bystre Lake {Hernando) 25 Jun-EOS (J. Mann, -i-S. Mann);
1 male at Spring Hill {Hernando) 26 Jun-10 Jul (+B. Hansen, A. Hansen et ah); 1
female at Spring Hill 24 Jul-EOS (B. Hansen, A. Hansen).

Black Scoter: Up to 8 at Huguenot Memorial Park {Duval) through 17 Jun and 2 there
through 24 Jul (K. Dailey, G. Williams et ah); 5 at Little Estero Island Critical Wild¬
life Area, Fort Myers Beach {Lee) 4 Jun, 4 there 12 Jun, 3 there Jun 30, 2 there 21 Jul,
and 1 remained through EOS (M. Rousher, -i-R. Kaskan et ah).

Hooded Merganser; 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 1-6 Jun (F. Goodwin, J. Mays et ah);
1 female off Heckscher Drive {Duval) 9 Jun-18 Jul (K. Dailey).

Ruddy Duck; 1 at Lake Morton 16 Jun-31 Jul (D. Simpson, R. Blair).

Common Loon: 1 at Ponce de Leon Inlet {Volusia) 13 Jun (M. Brothers); 1 in alternate
plumage near Indian River at Cocoa {Brevard) 22 Jun was taken to rehab (R. Stew¬
art).

Horned Grebe; 1 of 3 late spring birds remained at Wm. E. Dunn WTF to 5 Jun (-i-B.
Cochrane, m. obs).

American Flamingo: 1 at Mile Marker 58, Grassy Key {Monroe) 17 Jun-1 Jul (D. Mader,
-i-M. Hedden, m. obs); 3 at Cedar Key {Levy) 24 Jun (C. Bester); 1 at Big Carlos Pass
{Lee) 27 Jul (P. Heubeck).

*Fea’s Petrel: 1 offshore Elliott Key, Biscayne NP {Miami-Dade) 5 Jun (R. Torres, -i-L.
Manfredi, et ah), pending acceptance by the FOSRC would provide the first state
record.

Cory’s Shearwater; 1 off Lee 12 Jun (D. McQuade, -i-T. McQuade et ah); 5 off Tom Renick
Park, Ormond Beach 19 Jun (H. Robinson); 9 Calonectris d. borealis about 72 km off
Ponce de Leon Inlet {Volusia) 24 Jul including 1 “Scopoli’s” race, C. d. diomedea (M.
Brothers et al.).

Great Shearwater: 1 off Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 19 Jun (H. Robinson); 1 at Or-
mond-By-The-Sea {Volusia) 19 Jun (M. Brothers); 5 moribund from Volusia beaches
were brought to the Marine Science Center, Ponce Inlet, 19 and 20 Jun (-i-M. Broth¬
ers); 3 off Ponce de Leon Inlet 20 Jun during NE winds of 25-35 knots (M. Brothers);
1 off Lee 30 Jul (D. McQuade, +T. McQuade, et al.).

Audubon’s Shearwater: 9 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel: 39 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et
al.); 1 off Lee 30 Jul (D. McQuade, -i-T. McQuade).

Leach’s Storm-Petrel; 3 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel: 1 off Lee 12 Jun and 2 there 30 Jul (D. McQuade, -i-T. Mc¬
Quade); 1 moribund from a Volusia beach was brought to the Marine Science Cen¬
ter, Ponce Inlet, 19 Jun during NE winds of 25-35 knots (-i-M. Brothers; specimen to

30

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

FLMNH) represented the first specimen for Florida’s Atlantic coast north of Miami-
Dade] 3 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et ah).

Storm-Petrel sp: 2 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et ah).

Magnieicent Frigatebird: 39 in Hernando 7 Jun (C. Black, A. Hansen, B. Hansen, J.
McKay); 1 heading N off Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 19 Jun and 1 Jul (H. Rob¬
inson); 1 juv. over Halifax River near Port Orange Bridge (Volusia) 15 Jun (M. Broth¬
ers); 1 at Peters Point Beachfront Park (Nassau) 5 Jul (B. Spencer).

Brown Booby: 1 offshore perched on buoy at Ponce de Leon Inlet 8 Jun (M. Brothers);
1 off Lee 12 Jun (D. McQuade, -i-T. McQuade); 2 imm. off Tom Renick Park, Ormond
Beach 26 Jun (H. Robinson).

*Red-eooted Booby: 1 immature standing in the road at Pass-A-Grille Beach following
Tropical Storm Colin 7 Jun (fide +A. Nulph) provided the third Pinellas record; it was
taken to Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary for rehab but died the next day.

Northern Gannet: 1 at Ormond-By-The-Sea 19 Jun (M. Brothers); 1 at St. Vincent NWR
(Franklin) 12 Jul (J. Murphy).

American White Pelican: 40-50 at Alligator Lake throughout season (J. Krummrich); up
to 106 at Big Talbot Island SP-Spoonbill Pond throughout season (K. Dailey, m. obs);
9 at Hague (Alachua) 28 Jun (J. Hintermister).

Brown Pelican: About 50 nested at Egret Island Sanctuary, Lake Butler, Windermere
with 2 nests still active in Jun (-i-C. Lee) provided the first Orange breeding record.

American Bittern: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 5 Jun (P. Hueber).

Least Bittern: One pair at Imeson Center (Duval) 4 Jun (D. Foster); 30 at International
Paper Wetlands (Escambia) 12 Jun (J. Callaway, B. Callaway) was the highest num¬
ber ever for the westernmost 3 counties; 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR-Six
Mile Landing (St. Johns) 15-21 Jun (D. Reed et ah).

Great Blue Heron: 2 migrating about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers
et ah).

Great Blue Heron, White Morph: 1 at Kathr3m Abbey Hanna Park (Duval) 27 Jul-EOS
(fide K. Dailey).

Reddish Egret: 1 white morph at Ponce de Leon Inlet 17 Jun (M. Brothers); 1 at St.
Marks NWR (Wakulla) 29 Jul (D. Bryan).

Glossy Ibis: Up to 4 at Big Talbot Island SP-Spoonbill Pond 4 Jun-23 Jul (K. Dailey, m.
obs); 6 at Eastman/Taminco Sanctuary (Santa Rosa) 5 Jul (L. Kelly, B. Furlow); 1 at
Okaloosa County Water and STF (Okaloosa) 20 Jul (B. Chambers).

Roseate Spoonbill: Up to 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP to 17 Jul (T. Greenberg, J.
Mays et ah).

Osprey: 140 at Lake Apopka NSRA 20 Jun (H. Robinson).

Swallow-tailed Kite: 51 on 16 Jul, 60 on 19 Jul, and 60-i- on 30 Jul, all at same site east
of Brooksville (Hernando) (K. Wood, L. Lane); 50 at Oxford (Sumter) on 20 Jul (A.
Horst); 10 at ne Jefferson County (Jefferson) 28 Jul (M. Smith, R. Emond); 20 at Tom
Renick Park, Ormond Beach 10 Jul (H. Robinson); 280 at Lake Apopka NSRA 21 Jul
(H. Robinson).

Snail Kite: 1 at Smyrna Dunes Park (Volusia) 4 Jul (S. Simmons).

Mississippi Kite: 1 adult at Lake Apopka NSRA 27 May-30 Jul (-i-P. Hueber et al., H. Rob¬
inson, m. obs); 1 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 29 Jun (H. Robinson); 4 east of
Brooksville 30 Jul (K. Wood).

Short-tailed Hawk: 1 at J. N Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel (Lee) 2 Jun and 31 Jul (R.
Borchelt et al.); 1 at Alva (Lee) 3 Jun (R. Barber); 1 light morph at St. Johns County
Agricultural Extension (St. Johns) 3 Jun (D. Doyle); 1 at Big Cypress NP (Collier) 6
Jun (T. Zambon); 1 at Hams Marsh, Lehigh (Lee) 7 Jun (T. Obrock); 1 dark morph at
Russell Landing, Haw Creek Preserve SP (Flagler) 7 Jun (M. Brothers); 1 at Monroe
Station (Collier) 12 Jun (A. Kent, C. Fisher); 1 at Gainesville (Alachua) 15-29 Jun (P.
Hosner); 1 light morph at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 15 Jun (H. Robinson); 1

Field Observations

31

at Naples {Collier) 17 Jun (C. Weissburg); 1 at Newnans Lake {Alachua)Vd Jun (J.
Hintermister, D. Segal); 1 at San Felasco Hammock {Alachua) 26 Jun (H. Adams); 1
at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve {Lee) 5 and 14 Jul (T. Obrock, C. Ewell); 1 dark
morph at Lake Apopka NSRA 12 Jul (H. Robinson); 1 at J. N Ding Darling NWR-
Bailey Tract, Sanibel {Lee) 31 Jul (F Paulsen).

Purple Gallinule: Up to 4 adults at Lake Seminole Park {Pinellas) 18 June (+J. Clayton,
S. Aversa).

American Coot: 2 at 1-295 and 1-95 interchange in Duval 5 Jun (K. Dailey, M. Dailey).

Sandhill Crane: Up to 5, including 3 colts at New World Avenue {Duval) throughout
season (J. Graham et ah).

Whooping Crane: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP throughout the season (M. Manetz,
M. O’Sullivan et ah).

American Avocet: 4 in southwestern Hernando 7 Jun (C. Black); 4 males in alternate
plumage at Port Orange 16 Jun (-i-M. Brothers); 6 at Three Rooker Bar, Fort De Soto
Park {Pinellas) 30 Jul (-i-C. Yilmaz).

Piping Plover: 1 at Outback Key, Fort De Soto Park {Pinellas) 1 Jun (E. Plage); 1 at Mer¬
ritt Island NWR 4 Jun (-i-P. Hueber, M. Harris); 1 at South Anclote Key {Pinellas) 10
Jun (-I-D. Sauvageau); 1 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 16 Jul (K. Dailey); 6
at Outback Key, Fort De Soto Park 28 Jul (E. Plage).

Spotted Sandpiper: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 1 Jun (J. Mays, D. Segal); 1 at Sweet¬
water Wetlands Park 15 Jun (G. Parks et al.); 5 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill
Pond 16 Jul (K. Dailey); 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 17 Jul (J. Hintermister).

Solitary Sandpiper: 1 off Highway 100 in Bunnell {Flagler) 4 Jul (M. Brothers); 1 at
Gainesville 17 Jul (R. Rowan); 1 at Jeffco Dairy {Jefferson) 22 Jul (M. Smith, R.
Emond).

Greater Yellowlegs: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 3 Jun (J. Mays, C. Leonard); up to
2 at Gainesville 25 Jul-EOS (R. Rowan, M. Manetz et al.).

Willet: 1 at Shands Pier {Clay) 29 Jun (G. Williams, S. Raduns); 2 at Lake Apopka
NSRA 30 Jun and 1 there 18 Jul (H. Robinson); 260 on the beach at Tom Renick Park,
Ormond Beach 24 Jul and 240 there on 30 Jul (H. Robinson).

Lesser Yellowlegs: Up to 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP to 3 Jun (P. Polshek, J. Mays
et al.); 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 18 Jul (D. Rohan).

Whimbrel: 2 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 19 Jun (H. Robinson); 1 at St. Vincent
NWR 20 Jun (J. Murphy); 1 at Marco Island {Collier) 4 Jun and 2 there 2 Jul (M. Hig¬
gins); 2 at Ten Thousand Islands NWR, Shell Key Flats {Collier) 7 Jul (M. Gurley); 1
at Sanibel Causeway {Lee) 1 Jul (E. Combs); 1 at Gasparilla Island SP {Lee) 10 Jul (C.
Leonard); 1 at Bonita Beach {Lee) 27-29 Jul (R. Kaskan); 10 at Cape Romano {Collier)
29 Jul (K. Laakkonen); 1 at Carlos Point, Fort Myers Beach {Lee) 31 Jul (R. Kaskan).

Long-billed Curlew: 1 at St. Vincent NWR 5 Jul (-i-J. Murphy); 1 at Cayo Costa SP {Lee)
31 Jul (R. Repenning).

*Hudsonian Godwit: 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR Six Mile Landing {St. Johns)
19 Jun (D. Reed, m. obs).

Marbled Godwit: 1 flying s at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 15 Jul (H. Robinson); 137
at Three Rooker Bar, Fort De Soto Park 28 Jul (E. Plage).

Semipalmated Sandpiper: Up to 34 through 5 Jun at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP (R. Row¬
an, J. Mays et al.); 1 at St. Vincent NWR 15 Jul (-i-J. Murphy); up to 9 at Gainesville
25 Jul-EOS (R. Rowan, M. Manetz et al.).

Western Sandpiper: 1 at Gainesville 25-27 Jul (R. Rowan, M. Manetz et al.); up to 150 at
Outback Key, Fort De Soto Park 29 Jul (E. Plage).

Least Sandpiper: Up to 4 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP to 5 Jun (L. Davis, R. Terrill et
al.); 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 23 Jul (H. Adams); 1 about 72 km off Ponce de
Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

White-rumped Sandpiper: 1 at Outback Key, Fort De Soto Park 1 Jun (E. Plage).

32

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Pectoral Sandpiper: 1 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 16 Jul (K. Dailey).

Dunlin: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 2-3 Jun (R. Rowan, J. Mays et al.); 1 in breeding
plumage at Outback Key, Fort De Soto Park 29 Jul (E. Plage).

Stilt Sandpiper: 2 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 16 Jul (K. Dailey); up to 2 at
Gainesville 25-30 Jul (R. Rowan, A. Kratter et al.).

Wilson’s Snipe: 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 11 Jun (R. Rowan).

Wilson’s Phalarope: 1 at Okaloosa County Water and STF 19 Jun-9 Jul (M. Swan, B.
Purdy); 1 at St. Marks NWR 22 Jun (D. Morrow).

PoMARiNE Jaeger: 1 adult and 1 immature off Lee 12 Jun (D. McQuade, -i-T. McQuade,
et al.); 1 found exhausted on a Pinellas beach 3 Jul was taken to rehab and released
(-hA. Nulph).

Laughing Gull: Seasonal high count of 11,934 at Huguenot Memorial Park’s breeding
colony on 2 Jun {fide K. Dailey).

Herring Gull: 1 at Newnans Lake 9 Jun (J. Middleton).

Lesser Black-backed Gull: One immature at Redington Beach {Pinellas) 8 Jul (-i-B. Per¬
ry).

Glaucous Gull: 1 continued from the spring season at Three Rooker Bar, Fort De Soto
Park 4 Jun-30 Jul (-i-C. Yilmaz, m. obs).

Great Black-backed Gull: 1 2nd-cycle at Outback Key, Fort De Soto Park 23 Jun-29 Jul
represented Pinellas’ first June record (-i-T. Ploger, N Ploger).

Brown Noddy: 1 flew past John’s Pass {Pinellas) 7 Jun (C. Gjervold).

Sooty Tern: 1 at Three Rooker Bar, Fort De Soto Park 4 Jun (-i-J. McGinity); 7 at Newn¬
ans Lake 7 Jun (A. Kratter, J. Mays et al.); 1 at St. Petersburg Beach 7 Jun (E. Forys);
3 at old St. George Island causeway {Franklin) 25 Jun (E. Thompson, -i-J. Murphy); 1
at Sand Key Park {Pinellas) 26 Jun (-i-D. Yarbrough); 6 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon
Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

Sooty/Bridled Tern: 3 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

Bridled Tern: 6 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

Least Tern: 150-i- at Ponce de Leon Inlet 17 Jun (M. Brothers); 1 about 72 km off Ponce
de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

Gull-billed Tern: 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 4 Jun (C. Deutsch, M. Bruce); 1 at
Port Orange 16 Jun (-i-M. Brothers); 2 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 4 Jul (H.
Robinson).

Caspian Tern: 1 at Newnans Lake 3 Jun (J. Mays, P. Polshek); 1 at Newnans Lake 7 Jun
(T. Anderson).

Black Tern: 4 at Newnans Lake 7 Jun (J. Mays, A. Kratter et al.); 2 at Ponce de Leon
Inlet 17 Jun (M. Brothers); 1 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Broth¬
ers et al.).

Roseate Tern: 2 at Ponce de Leon Inlet 10 Jun and 1 there 30 Jun, mark the 3rd consecu¬
tive June at this location (-i-M. Brothers).

Common Tern: 6 at Ponce de Leon Inlet 17 Jun (M. Brothers); 5 off Tom Renick Park,
Ormond Beach 1 Jun and 29 there 19 Jun (H. Robinson).

Arctic Tern: 2 adults off Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 19 Jun (H. Robinson); 1 sec¬
ond-cycle at Ponce de Leon Inlet 22 Jun (-i-M. Brothers).

Forster’s Tern: 2 at Newnans Lake 7 Jun (A. Kratter, J. Mays et al.); 3 at Lake Lochloosa
{Alachua) 7 Jun (P. Polshek); 27 at Floridatown {Santa Rosa) 19 Jun (B. Pranty, V.
Ponzo); up to 40 at Shands Pier 29 Jun (G. Williams).

Royal Tern: Seasonal high count of 14,259 at Huguenot Memorial Park’s breeding colony
on 2 Jun {fide K. Dailey).

Smooth-billed Ani: Up to 2 continued at Loxahatchee NWR {Palm Beach) through EOS
(m. obs)

Burrowing Owl: 14 at Watermelon Pond {Alachua) 9 Jun (M. Drummond, J. Mays).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1 at Fort De Soto Park {Pinellas) 29 Jul (R. Smith, E. Plage).

Field Observations

33

Belted Kingfisher; 1 at Cross Creek {Alachua) 30 Jun (M. Bruce); 1 at Egans Creek
Greenway (Nassau) 4 Jul (J. Graham, C. Davis).

Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 juv. at Lake Apopka NSRA, where the species is not known to
breed 27 Jun and an adult there 25 Jul (H. Robinson).

American Kestrel: A pair fledged 2 young at Lake Apopka NSRA 2 Jun (H. Robinson).

Peregrine Falcon: 1 at St. Vincent NWR 7 Jun (J. Murphy).

Nanday Parakeet: 2 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 1 Jun (H. Robinson).

Red-masked Parakeet: 1 at NE St. Petersburg 24 Jun (-i-J. Clayton) provided the 2^^ Pinel¬
las record.

*Alder Flycatcher; 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 18 Jun (K. Hamblett, P. Hueber).

*WiLLOW Flycatcher; 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 18 Jun (-i-P. Hueber, K. Hamblett; details
to FOSRC).

Tropical Kingbird; 1 in Clewiston (Hendry) 27 Jun (D. Simpson).

Gray Kingbird; 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 13 Jun (H. Robinson); 1 at Little Talbot Island
SP (Duval) 16 Jul (K. Dailey).

Tree Swallow: 1 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 3 Jul (H. Robinson); 1 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 30 Jun-22 Jul (-i-P. Hueber, H. Robinson, m. obs).

Bank Swallow: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 20 Jun (H. Robinson); 1 at Gulf Breeze (Santa
Rosa) 22 Jul (B. Duncan); singles at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 27 and 31 Jul
(H. Robinson).

Cliff Swallow; 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 7 Jul (H. Robinson); 2 at Tom Renick Park, Or¬
mond Beach 31 Jul (H. Robinson).

Barn Swallow: At Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach, the last northbound swallows were
noted 31 May, while the first southbound were seen 12 Jun (H. Robinson).

Tufted Titmouse; 1 at Fort De Soto Park 9-26 Jun was an irregular visitor at the park
(R. Smith).

Brown-headed Nuthatch: 3-4 at Brooker Creek Preserve (Pinellas) throughout the sea¬
son (-I-C. Gjervold).

American Robin; 2 at Gainesville throughout the season (G. Parks, T. Webber et al.); 1
adult at Sawgrass Lake Park (Pinellas) 29 Jul (-i-J. Clayton, S. Tavaglione).

Gray Catbird: 2 confirmed breeding at Lake Apopka NSRA 12 Jim-4 Aug (-i-P. Hueber, L.
Fobs, m. obs); 1 in S Miami (Miami-Dade) 13 Jun (A. Kent); 1 at Plantation Preserve
(Broward) 22-30 Jun (S. Kaplan); 2 at Gainesville 24 Jim-3 Jul (D. Shehee, A. Kent et al.).

Louisiana Waterthrush; 1 on Fort George Island (Duval) 3 Jul (K. Dailey); 1 at Santa Fe
River near 1-75 (Alachua) 3 Jul (D. Segal); 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 12 Jul (H. Robin¬
son); 1 at Alligator Point (Franklin) 17 Jul (J. Murphy).

Black-and-white Warbler; 1 at John Chesnut Park (Pinellas) 1 Jun (D. Sauvageau); 1
at Sawgrass Lake Park 10 Jul (-i-J. Clayton); 2 at San Felasco Hammock 15 Jul (J.
Donsky); 1 about 72 km off Ponce de Leon Inlet 24 Jul (M. Brothers et al.).

Swainson’s Warbler: 1 at Tate’s Hell SF (Franklin) 10 Jul (J. Murphy).

American Redstart: 1 at Evinston (Alachua) 23 Jul (T. Halback); 1 at John Chesnut Park
29 Jul (-I-T. Mast).

Yellow Warbler: 2 at Cedar Key 30 Jul (D. Henderson).

Palm Warbler: 1 “Western” at Office Depot parking lot (Broward) 14 Jun (-i-A. Seelye-
James).

Prairie Warbler; 1 singing at North Key (Levy) 10 Jun (R. Rowan); 4 at Gainesville 23
Jul (R. Rowan, A. Kratter).

Yellow-breasted Chat: At least 7 pairs at Lake Apopka NSRA this summer (H. Robin¬
son); 1 at Tate’s Hell SF 26 Jun (J. Murphy).

Chipping Sparrow: 1 adult at Long Pine Key Campground, Everglades NP (Miami-Dade)
22 Jun (L. Manfredi, m. obs).

Seaside Sparrow: 2 at St. Vincent NWR 18 Jul (J. Murphy).

Blue Grosbeak; At least 17 pairs at Lake Apopka NSRA this summer (H. Robinson).

34

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Indigo Bunting: At least 20 pairs at Lake Apopka NSRA this summer (H. Robinson).

Painted Bunting: 1 singing male at Lake Apopka NSRA throughout the season (H. Rob¬
inson).

Shiny Cowbird: At least 3 (1 male, 2 females) at Lake Apopka NSRA 5 Jun-11 Jul (P. Hue-
ber, H. Robinson, m. obs); 2 at Alligator Point 19 Jun (-i-J. Murphy); 1 male at Destin
(Okaloosa) 23-25 Jul (B. Combs).

Orchard Oriole: At least 35 pairs at Lake Apopka NSRA this summer (H. Robinson).

House Finch: 4 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 24 Jul (H. Robinson); 53 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 25 Jul (H. Robinson).

Scaly-breasted Munia: 8 at Innerarity Point (Escambia) 11 Jun (K. Stanmore); 3 in Pace
(Santa Rosa) 13 Jun (L. Kelly); 12 in Pace 16 Jun (D. Stangeland, B. Pranty, V. Pon-
zo); nesting at Home Depot, Pensacola 25 Jun (J. Callaway, B. Callaway); nesting
in Gonzalez (Escambia) 2 Jul (B. Callaway); 6 in W Pensacola 3 Jul (S. Coster, C.
Coster); 2 in N Pensacola 19 Jul (P. Hombert).

Pin-tailed Whydah: 1 in E Pensacola (Escambia) 1 Jul (fide C. Tebay).

Contributors: Howard Adams, Trina Anderson, Steve Aversa, Roxy Barber, Cathy
Bester, Clay Black, Roberta Blair, Rick Borchelt, Michael Brothers, Matt Bruce,
Dana Bryan, Mark Burns, Brenda Callaway, Jerry Callaway, Bill Chambers, Mike
Charest, JoAnna Clayton, Bruce Cochrane, Barbara Combs, Ed Combs, Andre
Coquerel, Timothy Crane, Kevin Dailey, Marie Dailey, Candice Davis, Lloyd
Davis, Chip Deutsch, Jennifer Donsky, Diana Doyle, Michael Drummond, Bob
Duncan, Robert Emond, Charlie Ewell, Charles Fisher, Lynn Folts, David Foster,
Bruce Furlow, Colin Gjervold, Frank Goodwin, Jeffrey Graham, Tina Greenberg,
Debbie Grimes, Mark Gurley, Teresa Halback, Karen Hamblett, A1 Hansen, Bev
Hansen, Mitchell Harris, Mark Hedden, Dale Henderson, Monica Higgins, John
Hintermister, Peggy Hombert, Alice Horst, Pete Hosner, Philip Huebeck, Paul
Hueber, Steven Kaplan, Richard Kaskan, Les Kelly, Adam Kent, Andy Kratter,
Jerry Krummrich, Keith Laakkonen, Lucille Lane, Gary Leavens, Janet Leavens,
Charles Lee, Charlene Leonard, Douglas Mader, Mike Manetz, Larry Manfredi,
Jane Mann, Steve Mann, Tom Mast, Jonathan Mays, Jim McGinity, Jim McKay,
David McQuade, Tammy McQuade, John Middleton, Don Morrow, John Murphy,
Amy Nulph, Tom Obrock, Matt O’Sullivan, Geoff Parks, France Paulsen, Breanna
Perry, Eric Plage, Denise Ploger, Troy Ploger, Peter Polshek, Valerie Ponzo, Bill
Pranty, Jerry Pruitt, Bruce Purdy, Steve Raduns, Diane Reed, Robert Repenning,
Harry Robinson, Elaine Roche, Danny Rohan, Meg Rousher, Rex Rowan, Danny
Sauvageau, Alan Seelye-James, Debbie Segal, Danny Shehee, Scott Simmons,
David Simpson, Marvin Smith, Ron Smith, Bridget Spencer, Daniel Stangeland,
Karen Stanmore, Renee Stewart, Malcolm Swan, Sue Tavaglione, Carol Tebay,
Ryan Terrill, Ezra Thompson, Roberto Torres, Tom Webber, Casey Weissburg,
Graham Williams, Kristin Wood, Doug Yarbrough, Cuneyt Yilmaz, Terry Zambon

Report prepared by Kevin E. Dailey, state compiler (6661 Beatrix Drive,
Jacksonville, Florida 32226, <kedailey@yahoo.com>). Regional compilers are
Bruce H. Anderson (2917 Scarlet Road, Winter Park, Florida 32792, <scizortail@
aol.com>), Robin Diaz (200 Ocean Lane Drive #PB-1, Key Biscayne, Florida
33149, <rd4birds@bellsouth.net>). Bob and Lucy Duncan (614 Fairpoint Drive,
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561, <Town_Point@bellsouth.net>), Charlie Ewell (115
SW 51st Terrace, Cape Coral, Florida 33991, <anhinga42@comcast.net>), Bev
Hansen (6573 Pine Meadows Drive, Spring Hill, Florida 34606, <bevalhansen@
earthlink.net>), John Murphy (766 Alligator Drive, Alligator Point, Florida
32346, <southmoonunder@mchsi.com>), and Ron Smith (1500 85th Avenue
North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33702, <rsmithbirds@gmail.com>).

Florida Field Naturalist 45(1):35, 2017.

OUR FOS FIELD OBSERVATIONS
COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR SKILLS

The FOS Field Observations Committee seeks volunteers interested
in joining the committee as regional compilers for counties that
are currently uncovered. The first region would include Suwannee,
Columbia, Gilchrist, Union, and Bradford Counties. A second region
could be covered by one or several interested individuals; Polk, Osceola,
Hardee, De Soto, Glades, and Okeechobee Counties. Responsibilities
would include soliciting and compiling notable field observations for
these counties at the end of each season, to be included in the report.
Interested individuals should contact the state compiler listed at the end
of this report.

35

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Florida Field Naturalist is the journal of FOS, an important
communication vehicle for the Florida scientific and birding community.
Increasing costs need to be offset with a combination of member dues and
contributions.

Please consider a donation of $50, $100, $200 or more to FRIENDS
OF FFN. Your gift will allow FFN to improve its artwork, including four-
color photographs of rarities similar to the one of the state’s first Varied
Bunting, published in the February 2006 issue, and other improvements
in the content and appearance of our journal.

Contributions to FRIENDS OF FFN will be added to a special endowment
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We thank the following generous donors for contributing to FRIENDS
OF FFN:

2012

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

Robert Budliger

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Tim Towles

Robin Diaz

David Hartgrove

Nancy Prine

Larry Hribar

2014

John M. Murphy

Stephen Gross

Billi Wagner

William Courser

William Post

David Hartgrove

Anthony White

John Murphy

Robert Budliger

Robin Diaz

Theodore H. Below

Larry Hribar

Wilfred Yusek

2013

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

Larry Hribar

Kevin & Marie Dailey

Mary Landsman

St Johns River WMD

John Murphy

(In Memory of Judy Bryan)

Robin Diaz

Richard L. West

Andrew Kratter

Billi Wagner

Robert & Lucy Duncan

William Post

Michael Brothers

John L. Wuepper

36

Be a Friend of FFN

37

Michael Brothers
Wade Nolan
Ann Paul
Anthony White
Stuart R. Wilson
Janies E. Cavanagh, Jr.
Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Todd Engstrom
David Hartgrove
Larry Hribar
Dennis Meritt
William Post
Nancy A. Prine

2015

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.
Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Todd Engstrom
David Hartgrove

Larry Hribar
Dennis Meritt
William Post
Nancy A. Prine

2016

Michael Brothers
James E. Cavanagh, Jr.
Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Bob & Lucy Duncan
Todd Engstrom
David Goodwin
David Hartgrove
Earl & Dorothy Horn
Barbara C. Kittleson
John Michael Murphy
Stephen Nesbitt
Will Post
Nancy A. Prine
Raymond G. Scory
Paul Sykes

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE
FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

M. C. Bowman. 1978. Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon
Field Notes and American Birds, Volumes 1-30, 1947-1967. Florida
Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 1. xii + 43 pages. $4.

J. A. Cox. 1987. Status and Distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay.

Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 3. vii + 110 pag¬
es. $8.

R. W. Loftin, G. E. Woolfenden, and J. A. Woolfenden. 1991. Florida
Bird Records in American Birds and Audubon Field Notes (1947-
1989): Species Index and County Gazetteer. Florida Ornithological
Society Special Publication No. 4. xiv -i- 99 pages. $8.

R. W. Loftin. 1991. West Indian Bird Records in American Birds and
Audubon Field Notes (1947-1990): Species Index by Islands. Flor¬
ida Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 5. ix -i- 90 pages. $8.

W. B. Robertson, Jr. and G. E. Woolfenden. 1992. Florida Bird Species:
An Annotated List. Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication
No. 6. ix -I- 260 pages. FOS members: $15 soft cover, $20 hard cover;
Non-members: $18 soft cover, $23 hard cover.

G. E. Woolfenden, W. B. Robertson, Jr., and J. Cox. 2006. The Breeding
Birds of Florida. Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication
No. 7. ii -I- 142 pages. $12.

J. S. Greenlaw, B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and
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nithological Society Special Publication No. 8. viii -i- 435 pages. $24.

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38

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972
OFFICERS

President: Adam Kent, 222 SE 12th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641. Email: kestrelkent®
yahoo.com

Vice President: Emily Angell, 475 Easy Street, Avon Park, FL 33825. Email: epipher®
archbold- station. org

Secretary: Cole Fredricks, 325 Ruby Lake Loop, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Email:
cfredricks@tampabay.rr.com

Treasurer: Charles H. Fisher, Jr., 4806 W. Beach Park Dr., Tampa, FL 33609. Email:
chfl shercpa@hotmail. com

Editor, Florida Field Naturalist: Scott Robinson, Florida Museum of Natural History,
P.O. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: srobinson@flmnh.ufl.edu

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2017

Gina Kent, 222 SE 12th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641. Email: ginakent@arcinst.org
David Simpson, 139 S Willow St., Fellsmere, FL 32948. Email: simpsondavid@mac.com

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2018

Todd Engstrom, 309 Carr Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Email: engstrom@bio.fsu.edu
Erin Ragheb, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601. Email: erin.ragheb@

myFWC.com

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2019

Noel Brandon, Department of Integrated Environmental Science, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod
Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Email: noelb@cookman.edu
Jim Eager, 350 Fillmore Ave., Apt. F-18, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Email: beachbirder@
bellsouth.net

Graham Williams, 530 Rosedale Ave., Longwood, FL 32750. Email: grahamevanwilliams@
gmail.com

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979; Helen G. Cruickshank 1980; Oliver L. Austin, Jr. 1982
Pierce Brodkorb 1982; William B. Robertson, Jr. 1992; Glen E. Woolfenden 1994

Ted Below 1999; Fred E. Lohrer 2009

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, especially its abundant bird life,
are invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing to the Treasurer. Annual
membership dues are $25 for individual members, $30 for a family membership, $15
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Ornithological Society is Division of Birds, Florida Museum of Natural History, Museum
Road at Newell Drive, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. The Florida
Ornithological Society web site is at www.fosbirds.org

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON NEUTRAL PH PAPER

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 1 March 2017 Pages 1-38

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

Foraging behavior of the Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius)
at two North American vagrancy sites in the context of foraging
in its native range

Jon S. Greenlaw .1-13

NOTES

Defensive behavior of Ospreys {Pandion haliaetus) at natural and artificial
nest sites

Cierra Braga .14-17

First North American report of an American Kestrel {Falco sparverius)
roosting in a Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) nest

Joshua M. Diamond .18-20

‘Shadow-boxing’ by a Northern Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos)

Corey T Callaghan .21-23

First documentation of a Swallow-tailed Kite {Elanoides forficatus)

preying on an infant squirrel

David L. Sherer and Matthew Fuirst .24-25

IN MEMORIAM

David W. Johnston 1926-2015

Robert L. Crawford .26-27

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Summer Report: June-July 2016

Kevin E. Dailey .28-34

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Field Observations Committee needs your skills.35

Friends of FFN.36-37

FOS Special Publications.38

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 2 May 2017 Pages 39-70

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Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 2 May 2017 Pages 39-70

Florida Field Naturalist 45(2):39-44, 2017.

HATCHING FAILURE IN A FLORIDA POPULATION
OF HOUSE FINCHES {Haemorhous mexicanus)

Claire Gentile^ ^ and Christine M. Stracey^ ^ ^ ^

^Department of Biology, Westminster College, 1840 S 1300 E,

Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

^Present Address: University of Washington School of Medicine,
4333 Brooklyn Ave. NE, Seattle, Washington 98105

^Department of Biology and Florida Museum of Natural History,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7800

"^Present address: Department of Biology, Guilford College,
Greensboro, North Carolina 27410

^Corresponding author email: straceycm@guilford.edu

Abstract. —We analyzed data on hatching failure rates of an introduced population
of House Finches {Haemorhous mexicanus) in Gainesville, Florida. We calculated overall
hatching failure rates for 67 nests and also compared hatching failure rates of nests
(n=53) located on lights under aluminum roofs to nests (n=14) at other locations. Average
hatching failure for all nests was 0.201 +/- 0.045 SE. There was no significant difference
in hatching failure between nests in lights (0.225 +/-0.053) and other locations (0.113
+/-0.074). Overall, this population has relatively high rates of hatching failure. Two hy¬
potheses could explain such high rates of nest failure: a reduction in genetic diversity
because of a founder effect and high nest site temperature. Future studies, therefore,
should document both genetic diversity of this population and nest site temperatures.

The House Finch {Haemorhous mexicanus) is common throughout
North America (Badyaev et al. 2012), and was introduced to the east
coast in the 1930s by the release of a small number of captive birds on
Long Island (Elliot and Arbib 1953). In 1945 and 1946, the number of
individuals in the population was estimated to be 24 and 38, respectively
(Elliot and Arbib 1953) and had expanded to Florida by the mid-1990s

39

40

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

(Badyaev et al. 2012). Introduced populations of birds with fewer than
150 individuals have increased rates of hatching failure (Briskie and
Mackintosh 2004). During another study (Stracey and Robinson 2012),
we observed what appeared to be high rates of hatching failure for
House Finches in Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida.

In this study, we calculated/compared overall rates of hatching
failure for House Finches in Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida.
House Finches in Gainesville build their nests in extreme, varying
environments (Stracey and Robinson 2012). Some nests are built in
shrubs, parking garages, or on buildings where the temperature around
the nest remains at typical, ambient levels. Other nests, however, are
built on top of light structures beneath aluminum roofs, hereafter
referred to as light nests (Fig. 1), which have the potential to reach
high temperatures. We therefore also compared hatching failure rates
from nests on lights to those in typical nest sites to test if there was an
effect of nest site location on hatching failure.

Methods

We collected data on hatching failure rates of House Finches over a four-year pe¬
riod from 2004 to 2007. We located nests at ten study sites in Gainesville including the
University of Florida campus, K-12 schools, residential neighborhoods, and parking lots
(Stracey and Robinson 2012). For each nest, we defined the nest site as either “light” or
“other.” Light nests were those built on top of lights under aluminum roofing (Fig. 1) and
occurred at eight different locations. Other nest sites included shrubs, parking garage
structures, and buildings at five different locations. The contents of nests were typically
recorded every four days, with gaps ranging from three to fifteen days. For each nest,
we recorded clutch size and number of unhatched eggs. We calculated hatching failure
as the number of unhatched eggs divided by the clutch size and calculated overall rates
of hatching failure for this population. We then compared hatching failure rates of light
and other nests using a two-tailed Mann-Whitney test.

Results

We observed a total of 67 House Finch nests, with 53 nests
categorized as “light” and 14 nests categorized as “other.” The average
clutch size was 4.12 +/- 0.09 SE. The average hatching failure for all
observed nests was 0.201 +/- 0.045 SE. The average hatching failure
rate of “light” nests was 0.225 -I-/-0.053 SE, while the average for “other”
nests was 0.113 +!- 0.074 SE. There was no significant difference in
hatching failure between light and other nests (U’ = 336.35, n^ = 53,

= 14, P = 0.60).

Discussion

The average hatching failure rate across multiple bird species
is 10 percent, yet introduced populations of less than 150 founding

Gentile and Stracey—House Finch Hatching Failure

41

Figure 1. Example of a House Finch nest placed in a “light” nest site, situated
between a light and the aluminum roof of a breezeway.

individuals show hatching failure rates that average 21.6 +/- 5.6 percent
(Briskie and Mackintosh 2004). We documented an average hatching
failure rate of 20.1 +/- 4.5 percent for this introduced population of
House Finches. Reduced genetic diversity can increase hatching
failure (Bensch et al. 1994, Kempenaers et al. 1996, Hansson 2004,
Spottiswoode and Moller 2004, Mackintosh and Briskie 2005) and
introduced populations of House Finches have lower allelic richness
and heterozygosity relative to native populations, indicating decreased
genetic diversity (Hawley et al. 2006). Our data are consistent with the
hypothesis that reduced genetic diversity could he causing high rates of
hatching failure in this population, hut the data need to be compared to
hatching failure rates of native populations of House Finches. A native
House Finch population in Arizona had a hatching failure rate of 12.9%

42

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

(reported as mean hatching success = 87.1 +/- 19%; Stein et al. 2010),
while an introduced population in New York had an average hatching
failure rate of 36.9% (reported as mean hatching success = 63.1 +/-
7.1%; Hartup and Kollias 1999). While these data are suggestive that
genetic diversity may play a role in hatching failure rates, data on
levels of genetic diversity of this population are necessary to assess
this hypothesis.

Another factor linked to increased rates of hatching failure is
exposure to high ambient temperatures (Arnold et al. 1987, Veiga 1992,
Arnold 1993, Serrano et al. 2005). For example, nests of Ash-throated
Flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens) in metal fence posts in Arizona
had significantly hotter nests (>41° C) than those nesting in bluebird
boxes and only one pole nest successfully fledged young (Dunning and
Bowers 1990). Presumably, our light nests, placed between a light and
an aluminum roof, reached significantly higher temperatures than
nests placed in other locations. Light nests had a hatching failure rate
of 22.5 +/- 4.5 percent and other nest sites had a rate of 11.3 +/- 7.4
percent. We did not, however. And a significant effect of nest site on rate
of hatching failure, which could be a result of our limited sample size
for other nests (N = 14). There may also be an interaction between time
of year and nest site location as temperatures early in the season are
not likely to reach levels where they would negatively affect hatching
rates. Unfortunately, because of our limited sample of nests from other
sites, we are unable to look for an interaction between time of year and
nest site. Alternatively, incubating females, which rarely leave the nest
when temperatures exceed 27° C (Badyaev et al. 2012), may be able to
regulate the nest microclimate sufficiently to avoid hatching failure.
Cooper et al. (2006) found that Eastern Bluebird {Sialia sialis) nest
boxes would reach temperatures as high as 46° C, but the nest pocket
with eggs remained at 40.5° C. Without data on nest microclimate we
are unable to further assess this hypothesis.

Whether incubation by female House Finches prevents lethal
heating or nests never reach lethal temperatures, building nests in
these light locations does not appear to have a significant immediate
fitness cost to House Finches. Furthermore, these nests experienced
very low levels of nest predation (Stracey and Robinson 2012) that likely
outweigh any increase in hatching failure. To address the possible cost
of increased temperature on nesting success, it is critical that future
studies place data loggers at the nest site and inside the nest pocket to
record actual temperatures.

In order to tease apart the effects of genetic diversity and
temperature on hatching failure in this Florida population of House
Finches, future studies should collect data on genetic diversity of
the finches and employ data loggers to record nest temperature. In

Gentile and Stracey—House Finch Hatching Failure

43

0 )

D

ro

**-

G)

C

Z

u

(0

c

o

tr

o

a

E

Q.

0.6 -r

0.5 -

0.4 -

0.3 -

0.2 -

0.1 -

0.0 -

Light

Other

Nest Location

Figure 2. The average proportion of eggs that failed to hatch for nests built on
top of lights under aluminum roofs (light nests; see Fig. 1) and nests located in
shrubs, parking garage structures, buildings, etc. (other nests; U’ = 336.35, n^ =
53, n^= 14, P = 0.60).

addition, differences in humidity and eggshell structure may differ
between native and non-native populations affecting rates of hatching
failure (Stein and Badyaev 2011) and need to be taken into account
in future studies. A larger sample of nests located in sites other than
lights is also needed. Although this population in Florida appears to
have a high hatching failure rate, these birds have still been able to
thrive on the East coast and have expanded their range to cover the
majority of the United States.

Acknowledgments

We thank S. Robinson for logistic and financial support during data collection, T.
Richard for assistance with field work, and Sonya LeClair and S. Robinson for sugges¬
tions that improved the manuscript.

Literature Cited

Arnold, T. W. 1993. Factors affecting egg viability and incubation time in prairie dab¬
bling ducks. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71:1146-1152.

Arnold, T. W., F. C. Rohwer, and T. Armstrong. 1987. Egg viability, nest predation,
and the adaptive significance of clutch size in prairie ducks. American Naturalist
130:643-653.

44

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Badyaev, a. V., V. Belloni, and G. E. Hill. 2012. House Finch {Haemorhous mexicanus),
The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithol¬
ogy. Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: <http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/
bna/species/046>.

Bensch, S., D. Hasselquist, and T. von Schantz. 1994. Genetic similarity between par¬
ents predicts hatching failure: Nonincestuous inbreeding in the Great Reed Warbler?
Evolution 48:317-326.

Briskie, J. V., AND M. Mackintosh. 2004. Hatching failure increases with severity of popu¬
lation bottlenecks in birds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 10:558-
561.

Cooper, C. B., W. M. Hochachka, T. B. Phillips, and A. A. Dhondt. 2006. Geographical
and seasonal gradients in hatching failure in Eastern Bluebirds Sialia sialis rein¬
force clutch size trends. Ibis 148:221-230.

Dunning, J. B., and R. K. Bowers. 1990. Lethal temperatures in Ash-throated Flycatcher
nests located in metal fence posts. Journal of Field Ornithology 61:98-103.

Elliot, J. J., and R. S. Arbib, Jr. 1953. Origin and status of the House Finch in the east¬
ern United States. Auk 70:31-37.

Hansson, B. 2004. Marker-based relatedness predicts egg-hatching failure in great reed
warblers. Conservation Genetics 5:339-348.

Hartup, B. K., and G. V. Kollias. 1999. Field investigation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum
infections in House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) eggs and nestlings. Avian Dis¬
eases 43:572-576.

Hawley, D. M., D. Hanley, A. A. Dhondt, and I. J. Lovette. 2006. Molecular evidence for
a founder effect in invasive House Finch {Carpodacus mexicanus) populations experi¬
encing an emergent disease epidemic. Molecular Ecology 15:263-275.

Kempenaers, B., F. Adriaensen, A. J. Van Noordwijk, and A. A. Dhondt. 1996. Genetic
similarity, inbreeding, and hatching failure in Blue Tits: Are unhatched eggs infer¬
tile? Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences 263:79-185.

Mackintosh, M. A., and J. V. Briskie. 2005. High levels of hatching failure in an insular
population of the South Island robin: a consequence of food limitation? Biological
Conservation 122:409-416.

Serrano, D., J. L. Te ll a , and E. Ursua. 2005. Proximate causes and fitness consequenc¬
es of hatching failure in Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni. Journal of Avian Biology
36:242-250.

Spottiswoode, C., and a. P. Moller. 2004. Genetic similarity and hatching success in
birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences 271:267-272.

Stein, L. R., and A. V. Badyaev. 2011. Evolution of eggshell structure during rapid range
expansion in a passerine bird. Functional Ecology 25:1215-1222.

Stein, L. R., K. P. Oh, and A. V. Badyaev. 2010. Fitness consequences of male provisioning
of incubating females in a desert passerine bird. Journal of Ornithology 151:227-234.

Stracey, C. M., and S. K. Robinson. 2012. Does nest predation shape urban bird commu¬
nities? Pages 49-70 in Urban Bird Ecology and Conservation (C. A. Lepczyk and P. S.
Warren, Eds.). Studies in Avian Biology 45, University of California Press, Berkeley,
California.

Veiga, j. P. 1992. Hatching asynchrony in the House Sparrow: A test of the Egg-Viability
Hypothesis. American Naturalist 139:669-675.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(2):45-49, 2017.

IMPROVISED COURTSHIP FEEDING BY AN
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) PAIR

James R. Thomas

1175 Grand Pointe Dr, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563

During the early part of the breeding cycle male Ospreys {Pandion
haliaetus) supply their female mates with fish. This is known as
courtship feeding. After a successful hunt the male typically consumes
part of his catch away from the nest before depositing the remaining
portion in the nest for the female (Poole 1989, Green and Krebs 1995).
Typically, the female subsequently flies with the fish to a separate perch
for consumption. The exchange of the fish is normally dependent upon
an intact functional nest. While observing various nesting Ospreys on
Santa Rosa Island, Escambia County, Florida in 2014, I observed and
photographed a male Osprey that necessarily “improvised” in a novel
way so as to courtship feed his mate in the absence of a functional nest.

I watched this pair for a period of several weeks in the spring of
2014 as they attempted to build a nest in the top of a dead tree. The
tree offered little in the way of long branches or other features that
might support a typical Osprey nest of the platform type. As a result,
most of the nesting material that was delivered by the male and female
to the potential nesting site either immediately, or eventually, fell from
the tree to the ground. After approximately 20 days of construction, the
nest had no real discernible organization, consisting mostly of a few
sticks and bits of disorganized vegetation.

During one period of observation, around 15 days after the
beginning of nest construction, the male arrived at the nesting site
with the posterior portion of a fish in his left talons. He perched on what
remained of a dead primary branch of the nesting tree, and the female
continued to perch on the remaining trunk of the tree approximately 2.5
meters from him (Fig. 1). Note that in the photo there is no significant
(functional) nest present in the tree below the pair. From his perch the
male extended his left leg towards the female with a portion of fish in
talons. The female, however, did not leave her perch.

Rather than drop the fish into the very rudimentary nest (which
would be usual courtship feeding behavior for an Osprey), the male
continued to hold on to the fish. Ospreys rarely retrieve dropped fish
from the ground (Poole 1989). After a few minutes, the male fiew
to the female, and hovered before her. While she fed on the fish he
continued to hover and hold the fish in his left talons (Fig. 2). The
female remained on her perch during this time. The male hovered for

45

46

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Figure 1. Perched male Osprey on the left holds posterior half of a fish in left
talons and extends it towards the female. The female remains perched opposite
him. Note that in the photo there is no significant (functional) nest present in
the tree below the pair.

approximately 10 to 15 sec while she fed on the fish, and then returned
to his perch with the fish in his talons. He repeated this behavior two
or three more times and allowed the female to feed each time. During
the entire time I observed the pair, the male did not take any meat
from the fish for himself. He eventually dropped the remains of the
fish into the rudimentary nest and it immediately fell to the ground.
Neither bird attempted to recover it.

I am unable to find other reports of an Osprey courtship feeding
its mate by holding food in its talons while hovering. Perhaps this is
not surprising. Usual courtship feeding behavior in this species does
not involve the direct feeding of the female by the male. Instead, male
Ospreys deliver fish to the female by dropping the fish in the nest. While
males of some avian species will courtship feed females by presenting
food items directly to them, they are often seasonally monogamous and
are competing with other males for a female’s attention. Since Ospreys
typically mate for life, the male is not courtship feeding the female
to gain her attention. Most likely, the male is feeding the female to
promote successful brooding (Poole 1985, Green and Krebs 1995).

Thomas—Osprey Courtship Feeding

47

Figure 2. After a few minutes, the male flies to the female, and subsequently
hovers at a height that allows her to feed on the flsh while remaining on her
perch.

Courtship feeding in birds exists in many forms (Galvan and Sanz
2011). It typically occurs during the early part of the breeding cycle.
In many species it involves the presentation of solid or regurgitated
food by the male to the female. In species where the female courts
the male, the behavioral roles are usually reversed. The function of
courtship feeding has been difficult to discern in breeding Ospreys
and other avian (and even non-avian) species (Poole 1984, Green
and Krebs 1995). While the function of courtship feeding in Ospreys
remains controversial, recent reports on other avian species suggest
that courtship feeding promotes overall brood success. In a study by
Galvan and Sanz (2011) on 170 species of birds, it was noted that
many of the avian species that practice courtship feeding are those in
which the female is solely responsible for most aspects of reproduction,
including nest-building and the incubation of eggs. They proposed that
the male’s primary responsibility in these species is to feed the female.
In a relatively early paper, Royama (1966) studying tits in the genus

48

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Parus concluded that the feeding of females by the males may have
a nutritional function rather than a courtship function; males may
provide a substantial part of the females’ food when (1) the females
need to produce a large number of eggs on successive days, and (2) the
females are incubating eggs and are not able to spend time acquiring
food. Lifjeld and Slagsvold (1986) found a positive correlation between
the rate of courtship feeding by male Pied Flycatchers {Ficedula
hypoleuca) and the body weights of the female and the pair’s offspring
at the time of fledging. Courtship fed females also experienced shorter
incubation periods.

I believe that the behavior of the male Osprey that I observed
represents a form of behavioral “improvisation” driven by the biologic
need to courtship feed under difficult circumstances (the absence of a
nest). The male was forced to formulate a unique behavioral response,
one that included at least two behavioral components not typically
a part of courtship feeding in this species: (1) hovering, and (2) the
holding of prey in talons to facilitate the feeding of a mate. Hovering
is a component of some Osprey courtship displays such as the Fish-
flight, and Ospreys may also hover while scouting for prey. It is not
a behavior that is routinely observed in association with courtship
feeding. Furthermore, I have never personally seen, and am unable
to find any report of, a male Osprey directly feeding the female while
holding a fish in its talons.

Ethologists use the term “fixed action pattern” or “modal action
pattern” to denote instinctive behavioral sequences that are relatively
invariant within a species. Often initiated by a particular stimulus,
these sequences run to completion and are free of environmental
influences. For these reasons they are thought to be “hard-wired”
within the brain and, in this way, they are not learned behaviors. Other
behaviors in animals appear to be learned and the learning process is
often one of trial and error. Wolfgang Kohler (1925) proposed another
form of animal learning, which he first observed in chimpanzees {Pan
troglodytes), that does not involve trial and error. It is known as insight
learning. Insight learning occurs when the solution to a problem is
realized by an individual animal in a sudden and abrupt manner.

It is possible that the behavior exhibited by the male Osprey
described in this paper is an example of insight learning. Perhaps the
best argument for this is that the courtship feeding behavior of the
male Osprey described above has not been previously reported and,
therefore, may simply be a product of insight learning by this one
particular male Osprey under rather unique circumstances.

It is also possible that the unique behavior demonstrated by this
male Osprey during courtship feeding is a product of higher-order
innovation and problem solving by trial and error. However, I did not

Thomas—Osprey Courtship Feeding

49

observe previous “trials” and one might also expect to find previous
reports of this behavior hy Ospreys if this were the case. Again, the
absence of such reports suggests that the behavior is a product of
insight learning by the male of this Osprey pair.

Generally corvids, parrots, and some raptors are considered to
have intellectual abilities that are greater than other avian species
(Emery 2006). Lefebvre et al. (1997) proposed a method of measuring
avian intelligence in terms of innovation in feeding habits. Another
raptor, the Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrinus), members of the Order
Ciconiiformes, and the corvids scored highest in this study.

Literature Cited

Birkhead, T. R., and C. M. Lessees. 1988. Copulation behaviour of the Osprey. Animal
Behaviour 36:1672-1682.

Biondi, L. M., M. S. Bo, and A. 1. Vassallo. 2010. Inter-individual and age differences in
exploration, neophobia, and problem solving ability in a Neotropical raptor {Milvago
chimango). Animal Cognition 13:701-710.

Emery, N. J. 2006. Cognitive ornithology: The evolution of avian intelligence. Philosophi¬
cal Transactions of the Royal Society B 361:23-43.

Galvan, L, and J. J. Sanz. 2011. Mate-feeding has evolved as a compensatory energetic
strategy that affects breeding success in birds. Behavioral Ecology 22:1088-1095.
Green, D. J. and E. A. Krebs. 1995. Courtship-feeding in Ospreys Pandion haliaetus: A
criterion for mate assessment? Ibis 137:35-43.

Kohler, W. 1925. Mentality of Apes. Harcourt, Brace & World (U.S. edition).

L. Lefebvre, P. Whittle, E. Lascaris, and A. Finkelstein. 1997. Feeding innovations and
forebrain size in birds. Animal Behaviour 53:549-560.

Lifjeld, j., and T. Slagsvold. 1986. The function of courtship feeding during incubation
in the pied flycatcher FicecZw/a hypoleuca. Animal Behaviour 34:1441-1453.

Poole, A. F. 1984. Reproductive limitations in coastal Ospreys: an ecological and evolu¬
tionary perspective. Ph.D. dissertation, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Poole, A. 1985. Courtship feeding and Osprey reproduction. Auk 102:479-492.

Poole, A. 1989. Ospreys: A Natural and Unnatural History. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, U.K.

Royama, T. 1966 a re-interpretation of courtship feeding. Bird Study 13:116-129.

Stokes, A. W., and H. W. Williams. 1971. Courtship feeding in gallinaceous birds. Auk
88:543-559.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(2):50-52, 2017.

RAFINESQUE’S BIG-EARED BAT
{Corynorhinus rafinesquii) IN A FLORIDA CAVE IN WINTER

Lisa M. Smith\ John Mayersky^, and Jeffery A. Gore^

^Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, Florida 32601

Email: Lisa.Smith@myfwc.com

Wlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Panama City, Florida 32409

Rafinesque’s big-eared bat {Corynorhinus rafinesquii) occurs across the southeastern
United States from Illinois to Florida (Lacki and Bayless 2013). This species roosts in
various natural and anthropogenic settings (Barhour and Davis 1969, Belwood 1992,
Hurst and Lacki 1999), hut roost sites and winter roosting behavior vary with latitude.
In the northern portion of their range, Rafinesque’s big-eared bats typically overwinter in
caves and mines in colonies as large as 1,500 individuals (Pearson 1962, Hurst and Lacki
1999, Lacki and Bayless 2013). Further south, winter colonies are much smaller, usually
containing <50 individuals (Trousdale and Beckett 2004, Basse et al. 2011, Clement
and Castleberry 2013). Moreover, Rafinesque’s big-eared bats in the south rarely roost
in caves and instead occur in widely dispersed colonies in tree cavities (Clement and
Castleberry 2013, Fleming et al. 2013) or manmade structures, including cisterns (Basse
et al. 2011), abandoned buildings (Finn 1996, Loeb and Zarnoch 2011), and bridges
(Trousdale and Beckett 2004, Ferrara and Leberg 2005). We found only one record from
the southern coastal plain of a Rafinesque’s big-eared bat wintering in a cave, and that
occurred in central Alabama (Best et al. 1992). The few winter roost sites documented
in Florida were in abandoned buildings or culvert bat houses, and bats roosted in those
sites year-round without an extended period of torpor (Finn 1996, Kevin Oxenrider, pers.
obs.). A single non-torpid individual was found in winter in a highway culvert in Walton
County, in northwest Florida (Paul Moler, pers. obs.), but no Rafinesque’s big-eared bats
have been reported in Florida caves in the winter.

During winters from December 2014 through March 2016, we visited 145 caves
in north Florida 1-3 times to assess their status as bat roosts. On 2 February 2015,
we observed a Rafinesque’s big-eared bat in a cave at Falling Waters Btate Park in
Washington County. The bat was not observed during visits in February 2014 or 2016,
and no Rafinesque’s big-eared bats were detected at other caves. To our knowledge, this
is the first record of a Rafinesque’s big-eared bat in a cave during the winter in Florida.
Despite extensive surveys of cave bats in Florida (Rice 1955, Gore and Hovis 1998, Gore
et al. 2012), only two Rafinesque’s big-eared bats have been recorded in Florida caves
and both are summer records: one in Florida Caverns Btate Park in Jackson County
in 1942 (Florida Museum of Natural History, specimen UF 13016) and the other in a
manmade cave near Bilver Bprings in Marion County (Neill 1953).

The Rafinesque’s big-eared bat we observed was roosting in the twilight area of a
short, narrow, fissure cave connecting two sinkholes. The open structure of this cave
allows for large temperature fiuctuations and increased airfiow, conditions typically
found in Rafinesque’s big-eared bat hibernacula in the northern portion of the species
range (Mumford and Whitaker 1982). The bat was roosting in this smaller, more exposed
cave despite the presence of a larger, darker, and more climatically stable cave <20 m
away. This neighboring cave is one of the largest tri-colored bat {Perimyotis suhflavus)

50

Notes

51

hibernacula in Florida, and Rafinesque’s big-eared bats frequently hibernate in caves
near tri-colored bats and southeastern myotis {Myotis austroriparius) (Hurst and Lacki
1999, Sasse et al. 2011). However, the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat we observed was within
3 m of a lone tri-colored bat.

The bat we observed was torpid and its surface body temperature was 3.0° C, the
same temperature as the cave wall. These bats are typically more active and alert when
roosting than are those of many other species, and they often undergo short bouts of
torpor and move between different roost sites (Johnson et al. 2012). We visited the
cave only once in 2015 and do not know how long the bat was present. Frequent roost
switching may explain why we did not observe the bat during our survey in 2014 or 2016.

It is not clear why Rafinesque’s big-eared bats rarely roost in caves during the
winter in the southern portion of their range. Although caves are not as abundant in
the southeastern coastal plain as in some more northern parts of the species range
(Culver and Pipan 2009), caves are present and north Florida in particular contains
many potential cave roosts (Florea and Vacher 2009). We suspect that the relatively
warm climate of north Florida allows Rafinesque’s big-eared bats to survive in a variety
of roosts and remain active because insect prey is available on most nights. But that
still leaves the question of why caves, which have relatively stable temperatures, are
not used as roosting sites where caves are common or when temperatures are low.
Minimum temperatures on the three days preceding our observation ranged from -1
to 2° C, which may have made the cave an attractive temporary roost. Although our
observation demonstrates that Rafinesque’s big-eared bats sometimes roost in Florida
caves in winter, it only adds to the mystery of why non-cave sites are usually selected
over stable cave environments as winter roosts.

Literature Cited

Barbour, R. W., and W. J. Davis. 1969. Bats of America. The University Press of Ken¬
tucky, Lexington.

Belwood, J. J. 1992. Southeastern big-eared bat, Plecotus rafinesquii macrotis. Pages
287-293 in Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Volume 1 (Mammals) (S. R. Hum¬
phrey, Ed.), University Press of Florida, Gainesville.

Best, T. L., S. D. Carey, K. G. Caesar, and T. H. Henry. 1992. Distribution and abundance
of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in coastal plain caves of southern Alabama. National
Speleological Society Bulletin 54:61-65.

Clement, M. J., and S. B. Castleberry. 2013. Divergent roosting habits of Rafinesque’s
big-eared bat and southeastern myotis during winter fioods. American Midland Natu¬
ralist 170:158-170.

Culver, D. C., and T. Pipan. 2009. The Biology of Caves and Other Subterranean Habi¬
tats. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

Ferrara, F. J., and P. L. Leberg. 2005. Infiuence of investigator disturbance and tem¬
poral variation on surveys of bats roosting under bridges. Wildlife Society Bulletin
33:1113-1122.

Finn, L. S. 1996. Roosting and foraging ecology of a southeastern big-eared bat (Coryno-
rhinus rafinesquii macrotis) maternity colony in central Florida. Final Report to The
Nature Conservancy, Maitland, Florida.

Fleming, H. L., J. L. Belant, and D. M. Richardson. 2013. Multi-scale roost site selection
by Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) and southeastern myotis
(Myotis austroriparius) in Mississippi. American Midland Naturalist 169:43-55.

Florea, L. J., and H. L. Vacher. 2009. The southeastern coastal plain: an overview. Caves
and Karst in America, <http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/geog_fac_pub/22>. Accessed
15 March 2016.

52

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Gore, J. A., and J. A. Hovis. 1998. Status and conservation of southeastern myotis ma¬
ternity colonies in Florida caves. Florida Scientist 61:160169.

Gore, J. A., L. Lazure, and M. E. Ludlow. 2012. Decline in the winter population of gray
hats (Myotis grisescens) in Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 11:89-98.

Hurst, T. E., and M. J. Lacki. 1999. Roost selection, population size, and habitat use hy a
colony of Rafinesque’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii). American Midland
Naturalist 142:363-371.

Johnson, J. S., M. J. Lacki, S. C. Thomas, and J. F. Grider. 2012. Frequent arousals from
winter torpor in Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii). PLoS ONE
7(ll):e49754. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049754.

Lacki, M. J., and M. L. Bayless. 2013. A conservation strategy for Rafinesque’s big-eared
bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) and southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius). Bat
Conservation International, Austin, Texas.

Loeb, S. C., and S. j. Zarnoch. 2011. Seasonal and multiannual roost use by Rafinesque’s
big-eared bats in the coastal plain of SC. Pages 111-121 in Conservation and Man¬
agement of Eastern Big-eared Bats: A Symposium (S. C. Loeb, M. J. Lacki, and D.
A. Miller, Eds.). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Eorest Service, Southern Research
Station, Asheville, North Carolina.

Mumford, R. E., and j. O. Whitaker, Jr. 1982. Mammals of Indiana. Indiana University
Press, Bloomington.

Neill, W. T. 1953. A Florida specimen of Le Conte’s lump-nosed bat. Journal of Mam¬
malogy 34:382-383.

Pearson, E. W. 1962. Bats hibernating in silica mines in southern Illinois. Journal of
Mammalogy 43:27-33.

Rice, D. W. 1955. Life history and ecology oiMyotis austroriparius in Florida. Journal of
Mammalogy 38:15-32.

Sasse, D. B., D. a. Saugey, and D. R. England. 2011. Winter roosting behavior of Rafin¬
esque’s big-eared bat in southwestern Arkansas. Pages 123-128 in Conservation and
Management of Eastern Big-eared Bats: A Symposium (S. C. Loeb, M. J. Lacki, and
D. A. Miller, Eds.). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Re¬
search Station, Asheville, North Carolina.

Trousdale, A. W., and D. C. Beckett. 2004. Seasonal use of bridges by Rafinesque’s big-
eared bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquii, in southern Mississippi. Southeastern Natural¬
ist 3:103-112.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(2):53-65, 2017.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Fall Report: August-November 2016. —This report consists of significant
bird observations compiled by the Field Observations Committee (FOC). Electronic
submissions to the FOC should be in the following format: species, number of individuals,
age and sex of the bird(s), color morph if applicable, location (including county), date,
observer(s), and significance. Seasons are winter (December-February), spring (March-
May), summer (June-July), and fall (August-November). Submit observations to regional
compilers within two weeks after the close of each season, or to the state compiler within
one month. Addresses of the compilers follow this report.

Sight-only observations are considered “reports” while only those observations
supported by verifiable evidence (photographs, video or audio recordings, or specimens)
are called “records.” Species for which documentation is required by the FOC and by
the FOS Records Committee (FOSRC; <fosbirds.org/official-fiorida-state-bird-list>) are
marked here with an asterisk (*). A county designation (in italics) accompanies the first¬
time listing of each site in this report. Abbreviations in this report are: AFB = Air Force
Base, AFR = Air Force Range, EOS = end of season, m. obs. = many observers, NERR
= National Estuarine Research Reserve, NP = National Park, NSRA = North Shore
Restoration Area, NWR = National Wildlife Refuge, SF = State Forest, SP = State Park,
STA = Stormwater Treatment Area, STF = sewage treatment facility, WMA=Wildlife
Management Area, and N, S, E, W etc., for compass directions. Bold-faced entries denote
birds newly reported or verified in Florida, or record numbers. Photographs or video- or
audio-recordings archived by the FOC are identified by a plus (-I-).

Summary of the Fall Season

The fall season will be remembered for two hurricanes that impacted Florida:
Hermine and Matthew. Hurricane Hermine made landfall in the Big Bend area on 1
September and brought several notable pelagic species to Franklin, including Brown
Noddy, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, and an amazing 11 tern species io Alachua. Hurricane
Matthew skirted the eastern seaboard 6-8 October from Miami-Dade all the way
through Nassau. Matthew had a significant coastal impact from Volusia north, where it
devastated coastal dune habitat in northern Flagler, St. Johns, Duval, and Nassau. In
addition, Matthew caused significant damage to the pier at Fort Clinch SP, destroyed the
Shands pier in Clay, and forced the closure of Huguenot Memorial Park in Duval for over
four months. In less-affected counties observers attributed many unusual inland coastal
or pelagic species to Matthew, including a Black-capped Petrel in Alachua.

This report refiects the taxonomic / sequence changes from the 2016 American
Ornithologists’ Union’s (AOU) Supplement. FOSRC review species listed in the report
include a Brant, American Black Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Hudsonian and Bar¬
tailed Godwit, Long-tailed Jaeger, Black-legged Kittiwake, Sabine’s Gull, Red-footed
Booby, Neotropic Cormorant, Long-eared Owl, multiples each of Yellow-bellied, Alder,
and Willow Flycatchers, two Say’s Phoebes, a La Sagra’s Flycatcher, Sulphur-bellied
Flycatcher, Thick-billed Vireo, Lapland Longspur, “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Black-throated Gray Warbler, and a Western Spindalis.

The FOC is seeking volunteers interested in joining the committee as regional
compilers for counties that are currently uncovered. The first region would include

53

54

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Suwannee, Columbia, Gilchrist, Union, and Bradford Counties. A second region could
be covered by one or multiple interested individuals: Polk, Osceola, Hardee, De Soto,
Glades, and Okeechobee Counties. Responsibilities would include soliciting and compiling
notable field observations for these counties at the end of each season, to be included in
the report. Interested individuals should contact the state compiler listed at the end of
this report.

Species Accounts

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: ca. 100 at Monticello {Jefferson) 15 Nov (M. Smith).
Fulvous Whistling-Duck: 65 at Lake Apopka NSRA (Om^ige) 31 Oct (H. Rohinson).
Greater White-fronted Goose: 1 at Tallahassee {Leon) 22 Oct (J. Cavanagh).

Snow Goose: 6 at St. Marks NWR {Wakulla) 27 Nov (D. Gagne, D. Olavarria, D. Fraser);
3 white morphs, 2 adults, 1 immature, at Ponce de Leon Inlet {Volusia) 29 Nov (-i-M.
Brothers et ah).

*Brant: 1 at East Cape Camp, Cape Sable, Everglades NP {Monroe) 25-26 Nov (-i-A.
Washuta).

Trumpeter Swan: One with pinioned wings at Eagle Lake Park {Pinellas) 18-20 Aug (-i-K.
Duncan, m. obs.).

Gadwall: 4-7 at Lake Maggiore {Pinellas) 20-27 Nov (-i-S. Tavaglione); 23 at Lake Apopka
NSRA 21 Nov (H. Robinson).

*American Black Duck: Up to 3 at Perdue Pond Wildlife Area {Duval) 20 Nov-EOS (D.
Foster).

M all ard: 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP {Alachua) 1 Sep (M. O’Sullivan, M. Manetz et
al.); 19 at St. Marks NWR 27 Nov (D. Gagne, D. Olavarria, D. Fraser).

Cinnamon Teal: 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR-Six Mile Landing {St. Johns) 8
Nov (D. Reed et al.).

Northern Shoveler: 1 continued from the previous winter season at Big Talhot Island SP
- Spoonbill Pond {Duval) through 27 Aug (K. Dailey et al.); 1 at the Okaloosa County
STF {Okaloosa) 22 Aug (D. Stangeland).

Northern Pintail: 1 at Merritt Island NWR {Brevard) 18 Aug (J. Stefancic); 1 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 14 Nov-EOS (H. Rohinson); 1-2 females at Willia m E. Dunn WTF
{Pinellas) 19-29 Nov (-i-B. Cochrane).

Canvasback: Up to 2 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park {Alachua) 13-19 Nov (D. Rohan, M.

Manetz); 1 male at Lake Apopka NSRA 21 Nov (H. Rohinson).

Redhead: 1 male at Tierra Verde {Pinellas) 29 Aug-23 Oct (R. Smith).

Ring-necked Duck: 1 at Tierra Verde 30 Oct (-i-S. Tavaglione); ca. 1600 on one retention
pond at The Villages {Sumter) 24 Nov (J. Dinsmore).

Lesser Scaup: 1 at south PmeZZas 10 Aug (T. Ploger, D. Ploger).

Surf Scoter: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 24 Oct (H. Robinson); 1 at Tomoka SP, Ormond
Beach (Volusia) 19 Nov (-i-M. Brothers); 1 at John U. Lloyd SP {Broward) 25 Nov (-i-M.
Berney); 1 at Marco Island {Collier) 27 Nov (-i-M. Higgins); 1 at Belleair Beach {Pinel¬
las) 27 Nov (K. Nelson).

White-winged Scoter: 1 at Tomoka SP, Ormond Beach 25 Nov (-i-M. Brothers).

Black Scoter: 2 continued at Huguenot Memorial Park {Duval) through 6 Aug (K. Dailey
et al.); 103 at Fort Pickens {Escambia) 8 Nov (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 120 at Santa
Rosa Island {Okaloosa) 8 Nov (K. Christman); 1 female at Boca Ciega Bay {Pinellas)
14-24 Nov (-I-T. Ploger, D. Ploger); up to 100 at Tomoka SP, Ormond Beach 19-25 Nov
(-I-M. Brothers); 3-4 at Tarpon Springs (Pinellas) 20-27 Nov 19 (D. Gagne et al.); 1 at
Bayport {Hernando) 22 Nov (B. Pranty); 80 at Fort Pickens 28 Nov (B. Duncan, L.
Duncan); 45 at Ponce de Leon Inlet 29 Nov (M. Brothers et al.).

Long-tailed Duck: 1 at J. N. Ding Darling NWR {Lee) 26 Nov (+D. Richard).

Common Goldeneye: 1 adult female at Melbourne {Brevard) 30 Nov (-i-J. Eager).

Field Observations

55

Hooded Merganser: 247 at Brighton Bay {Pinellas) 27 Nov (M. Burns).

Red-breasted Merganser: 1 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 6 Aug (K. Dailey).

American Flamingo: 1 at mile marker 58, Grassy Key {Monroe) 23 Aug (K. Miller).

Pied-billed Grebe: 41 on Lake Maggiore 14 Oct (-i-S. Tavaglione); 5 recently Hedged
young, downtown Pensacola {Escambia) 24 Oct (B. DeArman).

Horned Grebe: 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 17 Nov (H. Robinson).

*Red-necked Grebe: 1 adult at Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park, Hudson {Pasco) 15
Nov (-I-J. Eager).

Common Ground-Dove: 1 on a nest at Inverness {Citrus) 6 Oct (R. Lovestrand).

White-winged Dove: 2 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 3 Aug (H. Robinson); 1 at
Atlantic Beach {Duval) 24 Nov (D. Pridgen).

Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1 at Half Moon WMA {Sumter) 3 Nov (A. Horst).

Black-billed Cuckoo: 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park {Pinellas) 7 Sep (-i-D. Love); up to 3 at
Fort De Soto Park 28 Sep-4 Oct (-i-S. Olsen, P. Brannon, -i-R. Smith et al.); 1 at Curry
Hammock SP {Monroe) 8 Oct {fide R. Diaz); 1 at St. George Island SP {Franklin) 9 Oct
(-I-J. Stevenson); 1 at Newberry {Alachua) 9 Oct (L. Holt).

Smooth-billed Ani: 1 at Loxahatchee NWR {Palm Beach) 23 Aug-28 Sep (m. obs.); 2 at
L-31 Spreader Canal at SW 232 Avenue {Miami-Dade) 12 Nov (M. Porcelli); 1 at STA-
5/6 {Hendry) 19 Nov-EOS (M. England, -i-C. Groff et al.).

Groove-billed Ani: Up to 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 17 Oct and 9 Nov-EOS (H. Robinson,
-i-C. Newton, R. Geisler); 1 at St. Marks NWR 13 Nov (-i-A. Kent, G. Kent).

Common Nighthawk: 61 migrating at Ponce Inlet 12 Sep (M. Brothers).

Eastern Whip-poor-will: 1 at Evergreen Cemetery {Broward) 17 Sep (M. Berney); 1 at
Forest Run Park {Pinellas) 24 Sep (R. Smith); 1 found injured at south Pinellas was
taken to rehab 1 Oct (-i-R. Smith); 2 at Reddie Point Preserve {Duval) 28 Oct (J. Gra¬
ham, C. Davis); 1 at Old Jennings Recreation Area {Clay) 5 Nov (J. Graham); 3 at
Ringhaver Park {Duval) 7 Nov (J. Graham, C. Davis).

Rufous Hummingbird: Up to 2 at Castellow Hammock Park {Miami-Dade) 25 Sep-EOS
(-I-L. Manfredi, m. obs.).

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: 2 at Castellow Hammock Park 23 Oct-EOS (-i-S. Juan); 1 was
banded at Pensacola 31 Oct {fide B. Duncan); 1 at Eastpoint {Franklin) 17 Nov-EOS
(-hS. Klink).

Purple Swamphen: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 5 Nov-EOS (-i-P. Hueber, m. obs.).

Limpkin: 1 at Flagler Estates, Hastings {St. Johns) 11 Oct (C. Hooker).

Sandhill Crane: 1 at Gulf Breeze {Santa Rosa) 13 Nov (S. McNemar); 20 at St. Marks
NWR 24 Nov (J. Cavanagh).

Whooping Crane: 1 ten-year old wild-hatched female present throughout the season at
Paynes Prairie Preserve SP (J. Hintermister, D. Segal et al.); 1 one-year old wild-
hatched female at Lake Tuscawilla {Alachua) 12 Oct-6 Nov (C. Burney, L. Predny,
D. Young).

American Avocet: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 8 Aug (D. Dacol); 1 at Caladesi Island
{Pinellas) 20 Aug (-i-S. Mann, J. Mann); 4 at Dunedin Causeway {Pinellas) 21 Aug (D.
Goebel); up to 22 at Treasure Island Beach {Pinellas) 2 Sep (R. Smith et al.); 28 at
Fred Howard Park {Pinellas) 21 Oct (-i-B. Perry); 7 at Lake City Sprayfield {Columbia)
28 Oct (D. Segal); 18 at Honeymoon Island SP {Pinellas) 15 Nov (-i-R. Lane); up to 3
at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 16 Nov-EOS (M. Manetz et al.); 14 at Clapboard Creek
{Duval) 20 Nov (K. Dailey).

Black-bellied Plover: 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 7 Aug (D. Segal); up to 3 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 15-22 Aug (H. Robinson); 18 at CR 305 south of intersection with CR
304, west of Cody’s Corner {Flagler) 29 Aug (M. Brothers); up to 3 at Paynes Prairie
Preserve SP 11-19 Nov (B. Carroll, C. Deutsch).

American Golden-Plover: 1 at CR305 sod fields {Flagler) 13-15 Aug (M. Brothers et al.);
1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 30 Aug-2 Sep (M. Manetz et al.); 1 flyover at Lake

56

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Apopka NSRA 3 Sep (+L. Folts fide R Hueber); 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 13-27
Sep (B. Purdy, G. Floyd, D. Stangeland); 1 at Bald Point SP (Franklin) 10 Oct (-i-J.
Murphy); 1 adult at Disappearing Island, Ponce Inlet (Volusia) 24 Oct (M. Brothers);
1 at CR 721 Teal Pond (Highlands) 4-8 Nov (D. Simpson, m. obs.).

Upland Sandpiper; 1 at Avon Park (Polk) 10 Aug (D. Estabrooks); 33 at Hatton Highways
Sod Fields (Palm Beach) 20 Aug (D. O’Malley).

Whimbrel: 1 at Tom Renick Park, Ormond Beach 1 Sep (H. Robinson); 1 at Lake Apopka
NSRA 3 Sep (P Hueber, +M. Hill, m. obs.).

Long-billed Curlew; 1 at Browns Farm Road (Palm Beach) 21 Aug (-i-C. Sanchez); 1 at
St. Vincent NWR (Franklin) 22 Aug (J. Murphy).

*Hudsonian Godwit; 1 juvenile at Big Carlos Pass (Lee) 15 Oct (J. Boyd, B. Rapoza).

*Bar-tailed Godwit; 1 adult at Fred Howard Park, Tarpon Springs 16-18 Oct (-i-S. Rear¬
don, -i-J. Eager, m. obs.), details to FOSRC.

Marbled Godwit; 1 at Huguenot Memorial Park 4 Aug (M. Chappell); 170 at Fort De Soto
Park (Pinellas) 15 Oct (J. Eager).

Ruddy Turnstone; 1 at Newnans Lake (Alachua) 2-3 Sep (S. Goodman et ah); 1 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 8 Sep (H. Robinson).

Red Knot; 138 at Caladesi Island 20 Aug (S. Mann, J. Mann); 150 at Fort De Soto Park
15 Oct (J. Eager).

Stilt Sandpiper; Up to 3 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 3-27 Aug (K. Dailey);
1 at Tallahassee 6 Sep (J. Cavanagh); 5 at Lake City Sprayfield (Columbia) 28 Oct
(D. Segal).

Sanderling; At Lake Apopka NSRA 20 Aug (1 in sod field; J. Thornton) and 3 Sep (2 in
flight and heard calling; P. Hueber, G. Williams, m. obs.); 1 at Lake Lochloosa (Ala¬
chua) 2 Sep (S. Goodman, T. Goodman).

Dunlin; Up to 15 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 29 Oct-EOS (M. Bruce et al.).

Purple Sandpiper; 1 at Fort Clinch SP pier (Nassau) 28 Nov (M. Haas).

Baird’s Sandpiper; 1 at CR 827 - Bolles Canal (Palm Beach) 14 Aug (P. Bithorn, K. Sars-
field); 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 11 Sep (B. Duncan, L. Duncan, C. Brown, P.
Brown).

White-rumped Sandpiper; 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 15-16 Oct (G. Floyd, M. Swan);
1 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 22 Oct (W. Nolan).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper; Up to 7 off Route 100 west of Bunnell (Flagler) 29 Aug-3 Sep
(M. Brothers, m. obs.); 1 at Treasure Island Beach 31 Aug-2 Sep (D. Darrell-Lambert,
E. Plage, -I-J. Clayton); 3 at Davis Park, Nocatee (St. Johns) 4-5 Sep and 1 there 11-14
Sep (D. Reed, C. Elder, m. obs.).

Pectoral Sandpiper; Up to 3 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 3-27 Aug (K. Dai¬
ley); 2 at Nocatee Athletic Fields (St. Johns) 4 Aug (D. Reed); up to 4 were at n. St.
Petersburg (Pinellas) 27-28 Aug (-i-R. Smith, m. obs.); 36 at Treasure Island Beach 1
Sep (D. Darrell-Lambert).

Western Sandpiper; 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 7-8 Aug (D. Segal et ah); up to 3 at
Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 29 Aug-1 Sep (M. Manetz, T. Anderson et ah); 1 at Sweet¬
water Wetlands Park 14 Sep (R. Rowan, D. Rohan).

Short-billed Dowitcher; 7 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 31 Aug (M. O’Sullivan); 1 at
Newnans Lake 2 Sep (R. Rowan, M. O’Sullivan et ah).

Long-billed Dowitcher; 1 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 3 Aug (K. Dailey); up
to 4 at Fort De Soto Park 29 Oct (-i-R. Smith, R. Harrod).

American Woodcock; 1 at Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park (Duval) 19 Nov (K. Dailey, M.
Dailey).

Willet; 5 at Alachua 2-4 Sep (J. Mays, M. Bruce et al.).

Wilson’s Phalarope; 1 at Felda (Collier) 22 Aug (D. True); up to 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA
22 Aug-20 Sep (-i-P. Hueber, H. Robinson, G. Williams); 3 at Big Talbot Island SP

Field Observations

57

- Spoonbill Pond 24 Aug (D. Segal, J. Donsky); 3 at Merritt Island NWR 3 Sep (D.
Young).

Red-necked Phalarope: 1 specimen collected at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR 28
Aug {fide D. Reed); 2 at Newnans Lake 2 Sep (J. Hintermister, P Laipis, B. Shea); 1
offshore Collier 4 Sep (D. McQuade et ak); 3 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond
14 Sep (P Leary); 18 offshore Lee 25 Sep (D. McQuade et ak); 10 at John U. Lloyd SP
29 Oct (M. Berney).

Parasitic Jaeger: 1 at Dania Beach Pier {Broward) 6 Oct (M. Berney).

*Long-tailed Jaeger: 2 subadults offshore Miami-Dade 18 Sep (R. Torres, -i-D. O’Malley
et ak).

*Black-legged Kittiwake: 1 immature at Boynton Beach Inlet Park {Palm Beach) 12-13
Nov (-I-M. Gomes).

*Sabine’s Gull: 1 immature at Boynton Beach Inlet Park 23 Oct (D. Essian).

Franklin’s Gull: 1 at Bayport 23 Nov (A. Hansen, B. Hansen); 1 at St. Marks NWR 27
Nov (D. Gagne, D. Olavarria, D. Fraser).

Herring Gull: 1 at Newnans Lake 8 Oct (J. Hintermister, A. Kent et ak).

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 37 (26 adults) at Outback Key 14 Oct provided a record high
count for Pinellas (E. Plage, A. Kent et ak).

Glaucous Gull: 1 3rd-cycle at Madeira Beach and other south Pinellas beaches 13 Sep-
19 Oct (-I-R. Smith, L. Smith et ak); 1 first-cycle at Helen Cooper Floyd Park {Duval)
11 Nov (D. Pridgen).

Great Black-backed Gull: 1 at St. Marks NWR 27 Nov (D. Gagne, D. Olavarria, D.
Fraser).

Brown Noddy: 1 at Alligator Point {Franklin) 2 Sep (J. Murphy); 1 at Newnans Lake 2
Sep (S. Robinson).

Sooty Tern: 3 at Alligator Point 2 Sep (J. Murphy); up to 12 at John’s Pass {Pinellas) 2
Sep (P. Plage, E. Plage, W. Meehan, m. obs.); 1 at Weekiwachee Preserve {Hernando)
2 Sep (M. Gardler); 130 aX, Alachua 2 Sep (A. Kratter, J. Mays et ak); 2 at Pahokee
Marina - Lake Okeechobee {Palm Beach) 7 Oct (M. Berney).

Bridled Tern: 1 at Bald Point SP 1 Sep (-i-J. Murphy); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP
2 Sep (R. Terrill, J. Mays); 2 immatures at John’s Pass 2 Sep (E. Plage, P. Plage, R.
Smith).

Least Tern: 19 at Alachua 2 Sep (M. O’Sullivan, R. Terrill et ak).

Gull-billed Tern: 2 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 3 Aug (K. Dailey); 2 at
Weekiwachee Preserve 2 Sep (M. Gardler); 5 at Alachua 2 Sep (J. Mays, A. Kratter
et ak).

Caspian Tern: 4 ai Alachua 2 Sep (R. Rowan, D. Segal et ak).

Common Tern: 9 at Alachua 2 Sep (M. O’Sullivan, A. Kratter et ak); 373 at Outback Key
{Pinellas) 13 Sep (E. Plage).

Royal Tern: 5 at Alachua 2 Sep (M. O’Sullivan, J. Martin et ak); 1 at Newnans Lake 7-8
Oct (R. Terrill, C. Bateman et ak).

Sandwich Tern: 4 at Alachua 2 Sep (R. Terrill, S. Ewing et ak).

Black Skimmer: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 30 Aug (M. Manetz); 4 at Alachua 2 Sep
(S. Goodman, T. Tompkins et ak).

Red-throated Loon: 1 at Alligator Point 13 Sep (D. Gagne, D. Olavarria, D. Fraser).

Common Loon: 1 at Fred Howard Park 11 Aug (S. Reardon); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 13-18
Sep (B. Showier, -i-J. Fisher).

Black-capped Petrel: 1 at Newnans Lake 8 Oct (A. Kent et ak).

Cory’s Shearwater: 1 Scopoli’s subspecies offshore Collier 4 Sep (+D. McQuade et ak); 15
offshore Collier 11 Nov (T. Marvel).

Band-rumped Storm-Petrel: 2 offshore Miami-Dade 20 Aug (-i-R. Torres, L. Manfredi); 1
offshore Lee 21 Aug (D. McQuade et ak).

58

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Magnificent Frigatebird; 4 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR 2 Sep (D. Reed); 47 at
Weekiwachee Preserve 2 Sep (M. Gardler); 8 flew east at Bushnell (Sumter) 2 Sep (L.
Lane); 35 ei Alachua 2-3 Sep (R. Terrill, B. Tarbox et al.); 1 at Little Talbot Island SP
(Duval) 13 Sep (R. Becker); 1 at Fort Clinch SP 13 Sep (G. Pfoh); 1 at Markham Park
and Sawgrass Recreation Park (Broward) 7 Oct (M. Berney); 52 offshore Crandon
Park Beach (Miami-Dade) 2 Nov (Ro. Diaz).

Brown Booby: Up to 9 at Philippe Park (Pinellas) 17 Aug-30 Nov (S. Murasko, J. Zarolin-
ski, -i-D. Yarbrough, m. obs.); 1 at John U. Lloyd SP 5 Nov-EOS (-i-M. Berney).

*Red-footed Booby: 1 immature at Fowey Rocks Light (Miami-Dade) 2 Nov (J. Kushlan,
-i-K. Hines).

*Neotropic Cormorant: 1 at Wakodahatchee Wetlands (Palm Beach) 29 Sep-EOS (S.
Young, m. obs.).

American Bittern: 1 at Ringhaver Park 22 Aug (C. Davis); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve
SP 1 Sep (M. O’Sullivan, R. Rowan et al.); 1 at Green Cay Wetlands (Palm Beach) 15
Sep (-hL. Fell).

Great Blue Heron, white morph: 1 continued at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park (Duval)
through 22 Oct (m. obs.).

Black-crowned Night-Heron: 1 incubating eggs at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs
Wildlife SP (Citrus) 10 Nov (B. Curran et al.).

Glossy Ibis: 2 at St. Petersburg 8 Aug (M. Burns, -i-R. Smith).

White-faced Ibis: 1 at Tallahassee 9 Aug (J. O’Connell); 1 at the Okaloosa County STF
11 Sep (B. Duncan, L. Duncan, C. Brown, P. Brown); 7 at St. Marks NWR 27 Nov (D.
Gagne, D. Olavarria, D. Fraser).

Swallow-tailed Kite: 250 at Lake Apopka NSRA 11 Aug (H. Robinson); 1 over Fort De
Soto Park 21 Sep (-i-J. Mangold et al.).

White-tailed Kite: 1 at Gulf Breeze 22 Oct (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at Kissimmee
Prairie Preserve SP (Okeechobee) 20 Nov (J. Strohsahl).

Mississippi Kite: 1 at Airport Lakes Park (Orange) 28 Sep (T. Rodriguez).

Northern Harrier: 1 at Dayson Basin (Duval) 10 Aug (fide K. Dailey); 1 at Lake Apopka
NSRA 3 Sep (P. Hueber, L. Taylor, B. Taylor, m. obs.); 1 over north St. Petersburg 8
Sep (-I-J. Clayton).

Short-tailed Hawk: 1 dark morph at Fellsmere (Indian River) 16 Nov (-i-D. Simpson); 1
light morph at Bay Lake, Walt Disney World (Orange) 24 Oct (J. Thornton).

Swainson’s Hawk: 1 at Pensacola (Escambia) 11 Oct (C. Brown); 1 at the Okaloosa County
STF 29 Oct (M. Swan).

*Long-eared Owl: 1 at a construction site at Longboat Key (Manatee) 14 Oct was taken
to a rehab facility where it perished that afternoon (-\-fide S. Wilson).

Short-eared Owl: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 13 Nov (D. Gagne et al.).

American Kestrel: 1 orphaned juvenile taken to a rehab center at north Jacksonville
(Duval) 1 Aug (fide K. Dailey).

Merlin: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 30 Aug (-i-W. Meehan, B. Jenks); 1 at Okeeheelee Park
(Palm Beach) 31 Aug (D. O’Malley); 1 adult. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Is¬
land NWR (Brevard) 30 Sep (J. Eager); 1 at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando (Orange)
4 Oct (J. Thornton).

Peregrine Falcon: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 3 Sep (-i-P. Hueber, G. Williams, m. obs.) 1
offshore Ponce de Leon Inlet 25 Sep (M. Brothers et al); 1 adult at Merritt Island
NWR 30 Sep (J. Eager); 1 at Mead Botanical Garden, Winter Park (Orange) 3 Oct
(J. Thornton); 1 adult at Lake Placid (Highlands) 7 Oct (J. Eager); 1 at Shands Pier
(Clay) 11 Oct (S. Raduns).

Cockatiel: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 29 Aug (H. Robinson).

White-winged Parakeet: 1 at a north St. Petersburg yard 29 Sep provided the first Pinel¬
las record (-i-J. Clayton).

Field Observations

59

Budgerigar; 1 at Lake Hancock Outfall Wetland (Polk) 4 Sep (C. Fredricks); 1 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 2 Aug (H. Robinson).

Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 at Gulf Breeze 26 Aug (B. Duncan).

Eastern Wood-Pewee: 1-2 at Sawgrass Lake Park 9-10 Aug (-i-J. Gibson et al.); 17 at
Honeymoon Island SP 20 Sep (D. Goebel et al.); 2 at Mead Botanical Garden, Winter
Park 29 Oct (J. Thornton); 1 at Evergreen Cemetery (Broward) 10 Nov (T. Rodriguez).

* Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 1 at Mead Botanical Garden, Winter Park 17-23 Sep (P.

Hueber, -i-G. Williams, m. obs.); 1 “possible” at Fort De Soto Park 30 Sep-1 Oct (D.
Gagne, -i-P. Brannon, et al.); 1 “possible” at Fort De Soto Park 3-10 Oct (fide E. Plage,
photographed by many, details to FOSRC by R. Smith).

*Alder Flycatcher: 1 vocalizing at Lake Apopka NSRA 26 Aug (G. Williams; details to
FOSRC); up to 3 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 1-30 Sep (M. O’Sullivan, A. Zions et
al.); 1 at Tallahassee 13 Sep (-i-E. Schunke, J. Cavanagh).

*WiLLOW Flycatcher; 1 vocalizing at Lake Apopka NSRA 26 Aug (G. Williams; details to
FOSRC); 1 at Reddie Point Preserve (Duval) 1 Oct (K. Dailey, D. Foster).

“Traill’s” Flycatcher: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 15 Sep (H. Robinson); 1 at Shingle Creek
Regional Park, Kissimmee (Osceola) 30 Sep (C. Newton).

Least Flycatcher; 1-2 at Fort De Soto Park 25 Sep-1 Oct (G. Williams et al., -i-J. Gibson,
M. James et al.); 1 at Mead Botanical Gardens, Winter Park 28 Sep (J. Eager).

*Say’s Phoebe: 1 at Cedar Key (Levy) 1 Oct (D. Henderson); 1 at Molino (Escambia) 9 Oct
(J. Yuhasz).

Vermilion Flycatcher; 1 at Fort Pickens 24 Sep (J. Callaway, B. Callaway); 1 at Gaines¬
ville (Alachua) 20 Oct (T. Mitchell); up to 3 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 11 Nov-
EOS (L. Davis et al.); 1 at St. Marks NWR 13 Nov (-i-A. Kent, G. Kent); 1 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 28 Nov (H. Robinson).

Ash-throated Flycatcher; 1 at Fort Pickens 21 Oct (M. Brower, C. Brower); 4 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 17 Nov (H. Robinson, -i-P. Hueber); 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 26-
28 Nov (B. Stanley et al.).

*La Sacra’s Flycatcher; 1 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP (Miami-Dade) 2 Nov-EOS (+Ro.
Diaz).

* Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: 1 at A. D. Barnes Park (Miami-Dade) 13 Oct (E. Boenzli,

details to FOSRC).

Tropical Kingbird; 1 at L-31W Spreader Canal (Miami-Dade) 10 Oct-EOS (L. Manfredi);
1 at Tamiami Trail west of Krome Avenue (Miami-Dade) 30 Oct-EOS (M. Davis); 1 at
STA-2 (Palm Beach) 12 Nov-EOS (S. McKemy); 1 at STA 3-4 (Palm Beach) 19 Nov-
EOS (K. Miller, M. Gomes).

Western Kingbird; 1 at St. George Island SP 9 Oct (J. Stevenson); 3 at Minneola kingbird
roost (Lake) 6 Nov (J. Stefancic); 1 at St. Cloud (Osceola) 1 at Hague (Alachua) 14-15
Nov (R. Rowan et al.); 19 Nov (J. Thornton, C. Newton); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve
SP 21-24 Nov (L. Davis et al.).

Eastern Kingbird: 36 at Lake Apopka NSRA 29 Aug (H. Robinson); 330 at Newnans Lake
1 Sep (R. Rowan).

Gray x Tropical Kingbird: 1 presumed hybrid photographed at Lake Apopka NSRA 19
Aug (-I-P. Hueber, -i-S. Durrance).

ScissoR-TAiLED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Fort Pickens 24 Sep (J. Callaway, B. Callaway); 1 at the
Okaloosa County STF 5 Oct (C. Wiley); 1 at Gulf Breeze 9 Oct (B. Duncan); 4 at Per¬
dido Key (Escambia) 22 Oct (J. Schiro).

*Thick-billed Vireo: 1 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 30 Nov (D. O’Malley, -i-D. Bern¬
stein).

Philadelphia Vireo; 1-2 at Fort De Soto Park 30 Sep-3 Oct (-i-J. Clayton et al.); 1 at Shin¬
gle Creek Regional Park, Kissimmee 30 Sep (-i-C. Newton); 1 at St. George Island SP 9
Oct (-I-J. Murphy); 1 at Hickory Swamp Preserve (Lee) 9 Oct (E. Warren); 1 at Bonner

60

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Park {Pinellas) 9-10 Oct (-i-T. Kalbach, G. Williams); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 12 Oct
(E. Plage); 1 at Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs (Volusia) 13 Oct (M. Brothers).

Purple Martin: 5 at Fort De Soto Park 14 Oct (J. Eager).

Tree Swallow: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 30 Aug (H. Robinson).

Northern Rough-winged Swallow: ca. 25 over Lake Maggiore 23 Nov (S. Tavaglione).

Bank Swallow: 29 at Lake Apopka NSRA 9 Aug (H. Robinson); up to 5 at Fort De Soto
Park 23-27 Aug (-i-J. Mangold, M. Burns).

Clief Swallow: 2 at Fort De Soto Park 8 Aug (E. Plage); 3 at Lake Apopka NSRA 9 Aug
(H. Robinson); 17 at Tierra Verde 4 Oct (E. Plage).

Cave Swallow: 1 at John Chesnut Park 27 Aug (J. Swenfurth); 1 at Honeymoon Island
SP 23 Oct (T. Kalbach); 1 at Fort Pickens 1 Nov (L. Duncan); 1 offshore Collier 11 Nov
(-I-T. Marvel).

Barn Swallow: 1 Lake Maggiore 22 Nov (-i-S. Tavaglione).

Carolina Chickadee: 2 at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando 10 Sep and again there 4 Oct
(J. Thornton, S. Presutti).

Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1 at Gulf Breeze 7 Oct (D. Timmons); 4 at Gainesville 9 Oct-23
Nov (R. Terrill, R. Bartlett et al.); 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR 23-25 Oct (C.
Elder, D. Reed); 1 at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 13-30 Nov (-i-S. Tavaglione, R. Har-
rod); 1 at North Anclote River Park 19-22 Nov (-i-R. Smith et al.); 2 at Cary SF (Duval)
19 Nov (D. Foster); 1 at a Largo backyard 26 Nov (T. Knuth); 1 at Honeymoon Island
SP 26 Nov (T. Kalbach); 1 at Tall Timbers Research Station (Leon) 28 Nov (D. Gagne,
D. Olavarria, D. Fraser).

Winter Wren: 4 at St. Marks NWR 27 Nov (D. Gagne, D. Olavarria, D. Fraser).

Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1 at Troy Spring SP (Lafayette) 22 Oct (S. Goodman); 3 at
Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 23 Oct (A. Zions); 5 at Taye Brown Regional Park (Duval)
23 Oct (J. Graham); 3 at Guana River WMA (St. Johns) 25 Oct (C. Elder, D. Reed);
4 at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park 29 Oct (J. Graham, C. Davis); 1 at Taye Brown Re¬
gional Park 20 Nov (J. Graham).

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1 at Gainesville 20 Sep (B. Tarbox); 1 at Bell Ridge Longleaf
VIE A (Gilchrist) 21 Sep (A. Zions).

Veery: 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park 3-4 Sep (-i-C. Yilmaz et al.).

Swainson’s Thrush: 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park 4 Sep (-i-M. Hill, C. Hill).

Wood Thrush: 1 at Eastman/Taminco Sanctuary (Santa Rosa) 21 Nov (L. Kelly, B. Fur-
low, L. Goodman); 1 at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 27 Nov (-i-K. Dailey, m.
obs.).

American Robin: 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park 29 Jul-3 Sep (J. Clayton, -i-W. Meehan et al.).

Pin-tailed Whydah: 1 at e Pensacola 1 Oct (J. Lloyd).

Red-cheeked Cordonbleu: 1 coming to a St. Johns feeder 20 Sep (W. Patton).

Scaly-breasted Munia: 23 at Pace (Santa Rosa) 12 Aug (D. Stangeland); 10 at Ascend
Chemicals (Escambia) 24 Aug (C. Davis); 2 at Gulf Breeze 25 Sep (C. Wiley); 15 at
Beulah (Escambia) 28 Sep (E. Renfroe); 12 at Hickory Shores (Santa Rosa) 30 Sep (P.
Bennett); 7 at International Paper Wetlands (Escambia) 8 Oct (J. Callaway); 20 at n
Pensacola 5 Nov (P. Doggrell).

Pine Siskin: 1 at San Mateo (Duval) 16 Nov (D. Foster); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 25 Nov
(-I-J. Mangold); 1 at Brooker Creek Preserve 26 Nov (J. Wells).

American Goldfinch: 1 at The Heather, Weeki Wachee (Hernando) 17 Sep (M. Gardler).

*Lapland Longspur: 1 male at Loop Road (Monroe) 29 Oct (-i-J. Boyd).

Worm-eating Warbler: 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park 7 Aug (J. Clayton, R. Harrod); 1 at Mo-
lino 13 Aug (J. Yuhasz).

Northern Waterthrush: 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 20 Aug (J. Thornton); 1 at Shell Key 20
Nov (-I-B. Ahern, E. Plage et al.).

Golden-winged Warbler: 1 male at Sawgrass Lake Park 5-8 Sep (R. Stewart, M.
Daughtrey et al.); 1 male at Philippe Park 6 Sep (S. Aversa, K. Nelson); 1 male at

Field Observations

61

Largo Nature Preserve (Pinellas) 6 Sep (+K. Duncan); 5 at Alachua 17 Sep-8 Oct
(M. Manetz, C. Burney et al.); 1 female at Fort De Soto Park 20 Sep (-i-P Brannon et
al.); 2 males at Fort De Soto Park 29-30 Sep (-i-B. Landry et al.); 2 at Sawgrass Lake
Park 30 Sep (-i-S. Tavaglione, E. Haney et al.); 1 at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 30
Sep (D. Goodwin, E. Haney); up to 10 at Pinellas 1 Oct (fide R. Smith); 1 at Turkey
Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay (Brevard) 1 Oct (J. Armstrong); 1 at Enchanted Forest
Sanctuary, Titusville (Brevard) 2 Oct (L. Lois); 1 at Mead Botanical Garden, Winter
Park 2 Oct (T. Yates fide B. Taylor); 1 at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Collier) 2 Oct
(R. Kaskan); 1 female at Central Winds Park, Winter Springs 3-4 Oct (P. Hueber, L.
Mathis, G. Williams); 1 at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers (Lee) 5 Oct
(M. Rousher); 1 at Theodore Roosevelt Area (Duval) 9 Oct (T. Rohtsalu).

Blue-winged Warbler: 1 at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers 2 Sep (R. Re¬
penning) and 28-29 Sep (J. Padia-Lopez et al.); 2 adult males at Sawgrass Lake Park
5 Sep (J. Eager); 1 at Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples (Collier) 1 Oct (M. Hig¬
gins); 1 at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary 1-9 Oct (K. Laakkonen et al.); 1 at Airport
Lakes Park, Orlando 3 Oct (T. Rodriguez); 1 at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando 4 Oct
(J. Thornton); 1 at Theodore Roosevelt Area 9 Oct (T. Rohtsalu).

Blue-winged x Golden-winged (Brewster’s): 1 at Tallahassee 12 Sep (-i-E. Schunke) was
an apparent “Brewster’s backcross”; 1 at Tallahassee 16 Sep (-i-E. Schunke) was an
apparent first generation Brewster’s; 1 at a Pinellas yard 21 Sep (-i-T. Knuth).
Black-and-white Warbler: 1 migrating ca. 64-i- km off Ponce de Leon Inlet in Gulf Stream
25 Sep (M. Brothers et al.).

Prothonotary Warbler: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 20 Aug (J. Thornton).

Swainson’s Warbler: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 5 Sep (-i-D. Margeson, R. Smith); 1 at Poe
Springs (Alachua) 8 Sep (R. Rowan, M. Manetz); 1 at Gainesville 15 Sep (A. Kratter);
1 banded at Tomoka SP (Volusia) 16 Sep (M. Wilson); 1 at Atlantic Beach (Duval)

22 Sep (D. Pridgen); 1 at McGough Park (Pinellas) 29 Sep (-i-T. Knuth); 2 at Shingle
Creek Regional Park, Kissimmee 30 Sep (+ C. Newton); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 1-2
Oct (-I-G. Williams et al.); 1 at Newnans Lake 20 Oct (M. Manetz).

Tennessee Warbler: Up to 5 at Lake Apopka NSRA 18 Sep-3 Nov (H. Robinson); 1 at
Mead Botanical Garden, Winter Park 3 Oct (J. Thornton); 3 at Harry P. Leu Gardens,
Orlando 4 Oct (J. Thornton).

Orange-crowned Warbler: 1 at Airport Lakes Park 3 Oct (T. Rodriguez).

Nashville Warbler: 1 at Central Winds Park, Winter Springs 13 Sep (-i-S. Simmons); 1 at
Seminole (Pinellas) 26 Sep (-i-T. Knuth); 1 at Airport Lakes Park 3 Oct (T. Rodriguez);
1 at Gainesville 7 Oct (B. Ewing, S. Ewing); 1 at Reddie Point Preserve 9 Oct (D.
Foster et al.); 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR 16 Oct (-i-C. Elder); 1 at Paynes
Prairie Preserve SP 16 Oct (A. Kratter); 1 at Possum Branch Preserve 23-24 Oct (C.
Yilmaz, R. Smith, L. Smith); 1 at Flagler Hospital (St. Johns) 16 Nov (S. Cooper); 1 at
Masaryktown (Hernando) 26 Nov (D. Love).

Connecticut Warbler: 1 adult female at Bills Baggs Cape Florida SP 8 Oct (fide Ro.
Diaz).

Kentucky Warbler: 1 at a n St. Petersburg residence 4 Aug (-i-S. Tavaglione).

Hooded Warbler: 1 on a pelagic trip off Ponce de Leon Inlet 25 Sep (M. Brothers et al);

1 male at Celebration (Osceola) 15 Nov (J. Thornton, Viki Krikorian, Cheryl Tybor).
Cape May Warbler: 3 at Lake Apopka NSRA 15 Sep (H. Robinson); 9 at Alachua 17 Sep-

23 Oct (J. Graham, B. Ewing et al.).

Cerulean Warbler: Up to 6 at Sawgrass Lake Park 5-10 Aug (-i-S. Tavaglione, E. Haney,
m. obs.); 1 at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 6 Aug (R. Smith, S. Tavaglione et al.) and
another one there 9 Aug (D. Goodwin); 1 at Central Winds Park, Winter Springs 20
Aug (J. Leavens, S. Simmons); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 22 Aug (H. Robinson); up to
5 at Sawgrass Lake Park 3-5 Sep (fide R. Smith); 6 at Alachua 5-23 Sep (M. Walters,
G. Kent et al.).

62

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Northern Parula: 1 at Gulf Breeze 28 Nov (M. Brower, C. Brower).

Magnolia Warbler: 1 at Mead Botanical Garden, Winter Park 3 Oct (J. Thornton); up to
2 at Harry P Leu Gardens 3-4 Oct (J. Thornton); up to 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 3 and
6 Oct (H. Rohinson), and another there 4 Nov (-i-P Hueher, G. DelPizzo).

Bay-breasted Warbler: 1 at Captain Forster Hammock Preserve, Vero Beach {Indian
River) 2 Oct (D. Simpson); 1 at Newton Park, Winter Garden {Orange) 8 Oct (J.
Thornton); 1 at Cypress Grove Park, Orlando {Orange) 10 Oct (J. Thornton); singles
at Lake Apopka NSRA 10 Oct and 3 Nov with 2 on 31 Oct (H. Rohinson); 1 at Scrub
Jay Trail, Clermont {Lake) 15 Oct (J. Thornton); 1 at Evergreen Cemetery 10 Nov
(T. Rodriguez).

Blackburnian Warbler: Up to 4 at Sawgrass Lake Park 7-10 Aug (-i-S. Tavaglione); 1 at
Celebration 12 Sept (J. Thornton); 1 adult male. Mead Botanical Gardens, Winter
Park 28 Sep (J. Eager); 1 adult male at Fort De Soto Park 2 Oct (-i-J. Eager); 1 at
Wadeview Park, Orlando {Orange) 2 Oct (J. Thornton); singles at Lake Apopka NSRA
12, 15, 20, 22 Sep and 3 Oct (H. Robinson); 1 at Lake Woodruff NWR, Deleon Springs
18 Oct (M. Brothers); 1 at Harry P. Leu Gardens 21 Oct (J. Thornton).

Yellow Warbler: 61 at Lake Apopka NSRA 22 and 30 Aug (H. Robinson); 6 at Largo
Nature Preserve 30 Aug (R. Cornelius); 1 on a pelagic trip off Ponce de Leon Inlet 25
Sep (M. Brothers et al); 2 at Mead Botanical Gardens 28 Sep (J. Eager); 1 at Newton
Park, Winter Garden 8 Oct (J. Thornton); 1 at Lake City Sprayfield 29 Oct (D. Segal);
1 at Henderson Beach {Okaloosa) 15 Nov (K. Morales, E. Julson).

Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1 at Celebration 12 Sept (J. Thornton); up to 2 at Lake Apopka
NSRA 19 Sep-10 Oct (H. Robinson); 1 at Mead Botanical Gardens 28 Sep (J. Eager).

Blackpoll Warbler: Up to 7 at Lake Apopka NSRA 10-27 Oct (H. Robinson); up to 3 at
Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR 13-18 Oct (-i-C. Elder); 2 at Kathryn Abbey Hanna
Park 29 Oct (J. Graham, C. Davis).

Yellow-rumped Warbler: 3 at Lake Seminole Park {Pinellas) 30 Sep (M. Hughes); 8 at
Alachua 9 Oct (J. Broadhead, F. Lee et al.).

* Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s): 1 at St. Joseph Peninsula SP {Gulf) 12 Nov (D.
Morrow, A. Morrow, J. Walthall, D. Legare).

Prairie Warbler: 1 on a pelagic trip off Ponce de Leon Inlet 25 Sep (M. Brothers et al); 1
at Eastport Wastelands {Duval) 26 Nov (-i-K. Dailey, M. Dailey).

*Black-throated Gray Warbler: 1 adult male. Evergreen Cemetery 16 Oct-EOS (A.
Seelye-James, -i-M. Avello, m. obs.).

Black-throated Green Warbler: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 20 Sep (P. Brannon, E. Plage); 1
at Sawgrass Lake Park 19 Nov (-i-S. Tavaglione); 1 at Cypress Grove Park 10 Oct (J.
Thornton); 1 at Reddie Point Preserve 5 Nov (T. Rohtsalu); singles at Lake Apopka
NSRA 10 and 17 Oct (H. Robinson).

Canada Warbler: 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park 3-4 Sep (-i-S. Tavaglione et al.); 1 immature at
Sawgrass Lake Park 7-11 Sep (-i-D. True, M. Burns et al.); 1 at Newnans Lake 19-26
Sep (M. O’Sullivan et al.); 1 at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve 24-30 Sep (C. Ewell
et al.); 1 at Crayton Pocket Park {Collier) 25 Sep (K. Laakkonen); 1 at Sawgrass Lake
Park 30 Sep (K. Duncan); 1 at Gainesville 7-8 Oct (B. Ewing, S. Ewing); 1 at Newnans
Lake 8 Oct (S. Goodman, T. Goodman, G. Israel); 1 at St. George Island SP 8 Oct (J.
Stevenson, J. Cavanagh).

Wilson’s Warbler: Single females at Mead Botanical Garden 17-19 Sep (P. Hueher, -i-G.
Williams, m. obs.), and 15-17 Oct (P. Hueher, -i-F. Salmon, m. obs.); 1 at Central Winds
Park 22-23 Sep (-i-S. Simmons et al., J. Eager); 1 male at Fort De Soto Park 29 Sep
(B. Landry, R. Smith); 1 at Gainesville 3 Oct (A. Zions); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve
SP 3-22 Oct (M. O’Sullivan et al.); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 13 Oct (H. Robinson); 1
female at Carillon Business District {Pinellas) 13 Nov (-i-L. Margeson, D. Margeson);
1 at Fort Pickens 27 Nov (A. Holzinger).

Field Observations

63

Yellow-breasted Chat: 1 at Sugden Regional Park, Naples {Collier) 30 Aug (K. Laak-
konen); 1 at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve 21 Sep (M. Rousher); 1 at Shands Pier
11 Oct (S. Raduns); 1 at Eastport Wastelands 8-10 Nov (D. Foster, K. Dailey).

^Western Spindalis: 1 male at Charles Deering Estate {Miami-Dade) 19 Nov-EOS (-i-Ra.
Diaz).

Chipping Sparrow: 1 at Hickory Mound WMA {Taylor) 20 Aug (D. Asbell).

Clay-colored Sparrow: 1 at Bald Point SP 4 Oct (J. Murphy); 1 at Fred W. Coyle Freedom
Park, Naples {Collier) 11 Oct (-i-J. Hall et ah); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 30 Oct-6 Nov
(-I-P. Hueber, m. obs.); 1 at Brooker Creek Preserve 24-30 Nov (-i-T. Mast, m. obs.).

Lark Sparrow: 1 at Gulf Breeze 26 Aug (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at Canaveral National
Seashore, Apollo Beach {Volusia) 13 Sep (D. LaGrange); 1 adult at Largo Nature Pre¬
serve 16 Sep (-I-K. Duncan); 1 adult at Fort De Soto Park 24 Sep (-i-K. McKinney) and
another one there 29 Sep-4 Oct (S. McNemar); 1 at St. George Island SP 11 Oct (-i-J.
Stevenson, J. Cavanagh); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 4-5 Nov (-i-P. Hueber, L. Folts); 1 at
Fort De Soto Park 8 Nov (E. Plage).

Savannah Sparrow: 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 3 Oct (D. Rohan).

Nelson’s Sparrow: Up to 7 at Estero Bay Preserve SP {Lee) 13 Nov-EOS (D. McQuade,
-I-J. Haas et ah); 2 were mist-netted at Shell Key {Pinellas) 20 Nov with 1 having been
previously banded at the site 16 Feb 2014 (L. Deaner, J. Greenlaw et ah).

Saltmarsh Sparrow: Up to 2 at Fort De Soto Park 23-30 Oct (-i-R. Smith, R. Harrod); 1
at St. Marks NWR 10 Nov (J. Cavanagh); up to 2 at Estero Bay Preserve SP {Lee) 13
Nov-EOS (D. McQuade, -i-J. Haas et ah); 1 at San Carlos Bay/Bunche Beach Preserve
{Lee) 26 Nov-EOS (M. Rousher et ah).

Seaside Sparrow: 1 juvenile at Fort De Soto Park 17-21 Sep (-i-K. Mason, E. Plage); 1
hatch-year at Evergreen Cemetery 7 Oct (-i-M. Berney).

Lincoln’s Sparrow: 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR - Six Mile Landing 7 Nov (D.
Reed, C. Elder); 1 at Guana River WMA 17 Nov (D. Reed, C. Elder); 1 at Boyd Hill
Nature Preserve 25 Nov (-i-S. Tavaglione).

White-crowned Sparrow: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 9 Oct (G. Kent, A. Kent, C.
Faulhaber); 1 juvenile at Fort De Soto Park 29 Oct-7 Nov (P. Plage, -i-R. Smith, R.
Harrod, S. Tavaglione).

Summer Tanager: 14 at Honeymoon Island SP 20 Sep (-i-S. Goebel).

Western Tanager: 1 male at Miami-Dade Community College {Miami-Dade) 25-27 Nov
(S. Paez, -i-N. Frade); 1 at Gulf Breeze 26 Nov (L. Duncan).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 at Harry P. Leu Gardens 11 Oct (J. Thornton).

Blue Grosbeak: 1 at St. Marks NWR 13 Nov (-i-A. Kent, G. Kent).

Painted Bunting: Up to 3 at Lake Apopka NSRA 20-25 Aug (J. Thornton, H. Robinson); 1
adult male and 1 in female plumage at Lake Apopka NSRA 27 Aug (J. Eager).

Dickcissel: 2 at Gulf Breeze 23 Aug and 21 Sep (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at Lake Apop¬
ka NSRA 15 Sep (H. Robinson); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 20 Oct (J. Mays); 1
at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 4 Nov (J. Mays); 1 at Lake Florence {Polk) 25 Oct (J.
Yarnell).

Bobolink: 1 at St. Marks NWR 13 Nov (R. Christen).

Eastern Meadowlark: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 25 Nov (-i-J. Mangold).

Yellow-headed Blackbird: 1 at Alligator Point 9 Sep (-i-J. Murphy); 1 female at Cedar Key
11 Sep (D. Henderson); 1 at Gainesville 6 Nov (E. Anderson, W. Wilbur).

Rusty Blackbird: 29 at International Paper Wetlands 20 Nov (J. Callaway, B. Callaway);
5 at Gulf Breeze 20 Nov (B. Duncan); 4 at Tall Timbers Research Station 28 Nov (D.
Gagne, D. Olavarria, D. Fraser).

Brewer’s Blackbird: 1 female returned to Bayport for the sixth winter 1 Nov, identified
by unique white pigmentation in the right eye (J. McKay); 1 adult female, Jenkins
Landing Park, Weeki Watchee {Hernando) 15 Nov (-i-J. Eager).

64

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Shiny Cowbird: 2 males at Eastman/Taminco Sanctuary 10 Oct (L. Kelly, B. Furlow, L.
Goodman).

Bronzed Cowbird: 1 at Hague 22 Oct-3 Dec (M. Manetz, S. Wade et al.); 1 at St. Marks
NWR 17 Nov (J. Cavanagh); 1 at Sumterville (Sumter) 20 Nov. (S. Collins).

Orchard Oriole: 1 at Clam Bayou Nature Preserve (Pinellas) 12 Aug (-i-W. Meehan); 1 at
Joe’s Creek Greenway (Pinellas) 14 Aug (-i-W. Meehan); 1 at Eagle Lake Park 18 Aug
(-I-B. Cochrane); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 3 Oct (D. Gagne et al.).

Contributors: Eric Anderson, Jim Armstrong, Daphne Ashell, Miriam Avello,
Steve Aversa, Richard Bartlett, Fred Bassett, Craig Bateman, Richard Becker,
Paul Bennett, Mark Berney, David Bernstein, Paul Bithorn, Erich Boenzli, John
Boyd, Peter Brannon, Jordan Broadhead, Michael Brothers, Cathy Brower,
Michael Brower, Cecil Brown, Pam Brown, Matt Bruce, Chris Burney, Mark Burns,
Brenda Callaway, Jerry Callaway, Bob Carroll, Jim Cavanagh, Marie Chappell,
Ron Christen, Kevin Christman, JoAnna Clayton, Bruce Cochrane, Steve Collins,
Sam Cooper, Roger Cornelius, Colleen Cowdery, Brinda Curran, Dalcio Dacol,
Kevin Dailey, Marie Dailey, David Darrell-Lambert, Mary Daughtrey, Candice
Davis, Chris Davis, Michelle Davis, B. DeArman, Gigi DelPizzo, Chip Deutsch,
Rangel Diaz, Robin Diaz, James Dinsmore, Perry Doggrell, Jennifer Donsky, Bob
Duncan, Kathy Duncan, Lucy Duncan, Sonia Durrance, Jim Eager, Cynthia Elder,
Margaret England, David Essian, Daniel Estabrooks, Charlie Ewell, Ben Ewing,
Sam Ewing, Craig Faulhaber, Linda Fell, Jeff Fisher, Graham Floyd, Linda Folts,
David Foster, Noah Frade, Don Frazer, Cole Fredricks, Bruce Furlow, David Gagne,
Murray Gardler, Reinhart Geisler, Jerry Gibson, Dale Goebel, Marcello Gomes,
Larry Goodman, Steve Goodman, Ted Goodman, Dave Goodwin, Jeffrey Graham,
Cindy Groff, Mark Haas, Jean Hall, Karen Hamblett, Erik Haney, Al Hansen, Bev
Hansen, Randy Harrod, Dale Henderson, Monica Higgins, Chad Hill, Marla Hill,
Mario Hill, Kirsten Hines, John Hintermister, Linda Holt, Andrew Holzinger,
Chris Hooker, Alice Horst, Paul Hueber, Glenn Israel, Bonnie Jenks, Smith Juan,
Eric Julson, Tim Kalbach, Richard Kasken, Kay Keigley, Les Kelly, Adam Kent,
Gina Kent, Sheila Klink, Tammy Knuth, Andy Kratter, James Kushlan, Keith
Laakkonen, David LaCrange, Lucille Lane, Robert Lane, Patrick Leary, Janet
Leavens, Felicia Lee, Donna Legare, Lori Losi, Darcy Love, Robert Lovestrand,
Mike Manetz, Larry Manfredi, John Mangold, Jane Mann, Stephen Mann, Don
Margeson, Lorraine Margeson, John Martin, Tom Marvel, Kathy Mason, Tom
Mast, Lori Mathis, Jonathan Mays, Jim McKay, Susan McKemy, Kevin McKinney,
Shelby McNemar, David McQuade, Wendy Meehan, Pam Meharg, Kenny
Miller, Kent Miller, Travis Mitchell, Kathy Morales, Ann Morrow, Don Morrow,
Sue Murasko, John Murphy, Kris Nelson, Christian Newton, Wade Nolan, Jeff
O’Connell, Debbie Olavarria, Sig Olsen, Dan O’Malley, Matt O’Sullivan, Jose
Padilla-Lopez, Stephen Paez, Breanna Perry, Gail Pfoh, Eric Plage, Pete Plage,
Denise Ploger, Troy Ploger, Mario Porcelli, Bill Pranty, Laura Predny, Stephen
Presutti, Donald Pridgen, Bruce Purdy, Steve Raduns, Brian Rapoza, Steve
Reardon, Diane Reed, Erin Renfroe, Robert Repenning, Douglas Richard, Harry
Robinson, Scott Robinson, Tom Rodriguez, Danny Rohan, Thomas Rohtsalu, Meg
Rousher, Rex Rowan, Frank Salmon, Carlos Sanchez, Kevin Sarsfield, Elliot
Schunke, Alan Seelye-James, Debbie Segal, Barbara Shea, Julie Shiro, Bob
Showier, Scott Simmons, David Simpson, Lori Smith, Marvin Smith, Ron Smith,
Daniel Stangeland, Bill Stanley, Joyce Stefancic, Jim Stevenson, Robert Stewart,
John Strohsahl, Malcolm Swan, Bryan Tarbox, Sue Tavaglione, Barbara Taylor,
Larry Taylor, Ryan Terrill, Dana Timmons, Tom Tompkins, Roberto Torres, David
True, Sidney Wade, Mitch Walters, Jody Walthall, Amy Washuta, Jim Wells,
Wendy Wilbur, Chris Wiley, Graham Williams, Meret Wilson, Stu Wilson, Doug

Field Observations

65

Yarbrough, Jess Yarnell, Ted Yates, Culeyt Yilmaz, Danny Young, Susan Young,
John Yuhasz, and Adam Zions.

Summer 2016 report not published previously: Franklin’s Gull: 1 at
Tallahassee 30 Jun-5 Jul (J. O’Connell, +E. Schunke).

Report prepared by Kevin E. Dailey, state compiler (6661 Beatrix Drive,
Jacksonville, Florida 32226, <kedailey@yahoo.com>). Regional compilers are
Bruce H. Anderson (2917 Scarlet Road, Winter Park, Florida 32792, <scizortail@
aol.com>), Robin Diaz (200 Ocean Lane Drive #PB-1, Key Bisca3me, Florida
33149, <rd4birds@bellsouth.net>). Bob and Lucy Duncan (614 Fairpoint Drive,
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561, <Town_Point@bellsouth.net>), Charlie Ewell (115
SW 51st Terrace, Cape Coral, Florida 33991, <anhinga42@comcast.net>), Bev
Hansen (6573 Pine Meadows Drive, Spring Hill, Florida 34606, <bevalhansen@
gmaiLcom>), John Murphy (766 Alligator Drive, Alligator Point, Florida 32346,
<southmoonunder@mchsi.com>), and Ron Smith (1500 85th Avenue North, St.
Petersburg, Florida 33702, <rsmithbirds@gmaiLcom>).

Florida Field Naturalist 45(2):66, 2017.

CORRECTION: FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF THE

VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER {Empidonomus varius) AT
TWO NORTH AMERICAN VAGRANCY SITES IN THE
CONTEXT OF FORAGING IN ITS NATIVE RANGE

Jon S. Greenlaw

10503 Mistflower Lane, Tampa, Florida 33647

My recent article on flycatcher foraging (Greenlaw 2017), should
have stated that Diane Reed discovered Florida’s first Variegated
Flycatcher {Empidonomus varius), on 5 June 2013 in St. Augustine.
It also should have noted that Marie Dailey made the video recording
of this bird, which includes footage of hawking behavior that provided
valuable information for my article.

The Acknowledgments should reflect these changes. The sentence
on page 11 beginning with “I am grateful” should read: “I am grateful
to Diane Reed and Marie Dailey for making the videotape of hawking
behavior by the St. Johns County bird available to the Florida
Ornithological Society Records Committee. The author apologizes for
these errors and thanks Kevin Dailey for pointing them out.”

Literature Cited

Greenlaw, J. S. 2017. Foraging behavior of the Variegated Flycatcher {Empidonomus
varius) at two North American vagrancy sites in the context of foraging in its native
range. Florida Field Naturalist 45:1-13.

66

Florida Field Naturalist 45(2):67, 2017.

OUR FOS FIELD OBSERVATIONS
COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR SKILLS

The FOS Field Observations Committee seeks volunteers
interested in joining the committee as regional compilers for counties
that are currently uncovered. The first region would include Suwannee,
Columbia, Gilchrist, Union, and Bradford Counties. A second region
could be covered by one or several interested individuals: Polk, Osceola,
Hardee, De Soto, Glades, and Okeechobee Counties. Responsibilities
would include soliciting and compiling notable field observations for
these counties at the end of each season, to be included in the report.
Interested individuals should contact the state compiler listed at the
end of the Field Observations report in this issue.

67

BE A FRIEND OF FFN

Florida Field Naturalist is the journal of FOS, an important
communication vehicle for the Florida scientific and birding community.
Increasing costs need to be offset with a combination of member dues
and contributions.

Please consider a donation of $50, $100, $200 or more to FRIENDS
OF FFN. Your gift will allow FFN to improve its artwork, including
four-color photographs of rarities similar to the one of the state’s first
Varied Bunting, published in the February 2006 issue, and other
improvements in the content and appearance of our journal.

Contributions to FRIENDS OF FFN will be added to a special
endowment of FOS, the interest of which will be used to improve the
journal. Please write a check payable to the Florida Ornithological
Society and specify that the gift is for FOS Friends of FFN. Send
your check to the Treasurer; Charles H. Fisher, Jr., c/o Reilly, Fisher
& Solomon PA, 4950 W. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 610, Tampa, FL 33609.
Email; chflshercpa@hotmail.com

We thank the following generous donors for contributing to
FRIENDS OF FFN;

2013

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Larry Hribar

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

Mary Landsman

Kevin & Marie Dailey

John Murphy

St Johns River WMD

Robin Diaz

(In Memory of Judy Bryan)

Andrew Kratter

Richard L. West

Robert & Lucy Duncan

Billi Wagner

Michael Brothers

William Post

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

John L. Wuepper

Robert Budliger

Michael Brothers

Tim Towles

Wade Nolan

Nancy Prine

Ann Paul

2014

Anthony White

Stephen Gross

Stuart R. Wilson

William Courser

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

David Hartgrove

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

John Murphy

Kevin & Marie Dailey

Robin Diaz

Robin Diaz

Larry Hribar

Todd Engstrom

Wilfred Yusek

David Hartgrove

68

69

Larry Hribar
Dennis Meritt
William Post
Nancy A. Prine

2015

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.
Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Todd Engstrom
David Hartgrove
Larry Hribar
Dennis Meritt
William Post
Nancy A. Prine

2016

Michael Brothers
James E. Cavanagh, Jr.
Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Bob & Lucy Duncan
Todd Engstrom
David Goodwin

David Hartgrove
Earl & Dorothy Horn
Barbara C. Kittleson
John Michael Murphy
Stephen Nesbitt
Will Post
Nancy A. Prine
Raymond G. Scory
Paul Sykes

2017

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

Silvio Crespo

Kevin & Marie Dailey

Robin Diaz

Todd Engstrom

David Goodwin

David Hartgrove

Earl & Dorothy Horn

Fred & Charlotte Lohrer

Travis & Karen MacClendon

Dennis Meritt

John Michael Murphy

Ann Paul

Will Post

Dr. Walter K. Taylor

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE
FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

M. C. Bowman. 1978. Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon
Field Notes and American Birds, Volumes 1-30, 1947-1967. Florida
Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 1. xii + 43 pages. $4.

J. A. Cox. 1987. Status and Distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay.

Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 3. vii + 110 pag¬
es. $8.

R. W. Loftin, G. E. Woolfenden, and J. A. Woolfenden. 1991. Florida
Bird Records in American Birds and Audubon Field Notes (1947-
1989): Species Index and County Gazetteer. Florida Ornithological
Society Special Publication No. 4. xiv -i- 99 pages. $8.

R. W. Loftin. 1991. West Indian Bird Records in American Birds and
Audubon Field Notes (1947-1990): Species Index by Islands. Flor¬
ida Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 5. ix -i- 90 pages. $8.

W. B. Robertson, Jr. and G. E. Woolfenden. 1992. Florida Bird Species:
An Annotated List. Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication
No. 6. ix -I- 260 pages. FOS members: $15 soft cover, $20 hard cover;
Non-members: $18 soft cover, $23 hard cover.

G. E. Woolfenden, W. B. Robertson, Jr., and J. Cox. 2006. The Breeding
Birds of Florida. Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication
No. 7. ii -I- 142 pages. $12.

J. S. Greenlaw, B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and
Woolfenden Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List. Florida Or¬
nithological Society Special Publication No. 8. viii -i- 435 pages. $24.

To order Special Publications: Please send a check payable to the
Florida Ornithological Society to the Treasurer:

Charles H. Fisher, Jr.
c/o Reilly, Fisher & Solomon PA
4950 W. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 610
Tampa, FL 33609

E-mail: chflshercpa@hotmail.com

For Special Publication Number 8 only, there is a flat price of $24, which
includes tax and shipping.

For all other Special Publications, your check should include the price
given in the list above plus tax and shipping as determined here:

Shipping: Add $2 shipping for 1-5 copies; $4 for 6-10 copies.

Sales Tax: Florida residents add the sales tax for the county in which the
Special Publications will be delivered. Calculate the sales tax based on the
total cost of the special publications plus shipping.

70

Florida Field Naturalist

ISSN 0738-999X

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Editor: Scott Robinson, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, RO.

Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: srobinson@ flm nh.ufl.edu
Managing/Copy Editor: Tom Webber, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of
Florida, RO. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: twebber@flmnli.ufl.edu
Associate Editor (for bird distribution): Bruce Anderson, 2917 Scarlet Road, Winter
Fark, FL 32792. Email: scizortail@aol.com

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Florida Field Naturalist is a refereed journal emphasizing biological field studies
and observations of vertebrates, especially birds, in or near Florida and the nearby West
Indies. We welcome submission of original manuscripts containing new information from
these areas. We encourage electronic submission of manuscripts. Rlease consult
recent issues of the journal and the FOS website (http://www.fosbirds.org/content/ffn-
article-submission-guidelines) for style, noting especially that manuscripts should:

(1) be double-spaced throughout, including tables and figure captions;

(2) include the scientific name at the first mention of each species;

(3) include capitalized standard English names for all birds, but lower
case for English names of other organisms;

(4) use metric units for all measurements;

(5) use the form “7 June 2003” for all dates;

(6) use the 24-hour clock for all indications of time (e.g., 0800, 1400);

(7) use the following abbreviations: s (second), min (minute), h (hour);

(8) use active voice where at all possible.

Submit manuscripts, and books for review, to the Editor, Scott Robinson.
Field observations should be sent to a regional compiler of the Field Observations
Committee (see Field Observations, this issue, and http://www.fosbirds.org/content/
submit-observation). Reports of birds for which the FOS Records Committee requires
documentation (see http://fosbirds.org/content/records-committee) should be sent to the
Secretary of the Committee, Andrew W. Kratter, Florida Museum of Natural History,
R O. Box 117800, Gainesville, Florida 32611; Email: kratter@fimnh.ufi.edu.

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 2 May 2017 Pages 39-70

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

Hatching failure in a Florida population of House Finches (Haemorhous

mexicanus)

Claire Gentile and Christine M. Stracey .39-44

Improvised courtship feeding hy an Osprey {Pandion haliaetus) pair

James R. Thomas .45-49

NOTES

Rafinesque’s hig-eared hat {Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in a Florida cave
in winter

Lisa M. Smith, John Mayersky, and Jeffery A. Gore .50-52

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Fall Report: August-November 2016

Kevin E. Dailey .53-65

CORRECTIONS

Correction: Foraging behavior of the Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus

varius)

Jon S. Greenlaw .66

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Field Observations Committee needs your skills.67

Friends of FFN.68-69

FOS Special Publications.70

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 3 September 2017 Pages 71-102

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972
OFFICERS

President: Adam Kent, 222 SE 12th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641. Email: kestrelkent®
yahoo.com

Vice President: Ann Paul, 11586 W Bayshore Drive, Crystal River, FL 34429. Email:
apaul@auduhon.org

Secretary: Cole Fredricks, 325 Ruby Lake Loop, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Email:
cfredricks@tampabay.rr.com

Treasurer: Char te r H. Fisher, Jr., 4806 W Beach Park Drive, Tampa, FL 33609. Email:
chflshercpa@hotmail.com

Editor, Florida Field Naturalist: Scott Robinson, Florida Museum of Natural History,
PC. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: srohinson@fl mn h.ufl.edu

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2018

Todd Engstrom, 309 Carr Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Email: engstrom@bio.fsu.edu
Whitney Gray, 620 S Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Email: whitney.gray@
myFWC.com

Erin Ragheb, 1105 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601. Email: erin.ragheb@
myFWC.com

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2019

Jim Eager, 350 Fillmore Avenue, Apt. F-18, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Email: beachbirder@
bellsouth.net

Graham Williams, 530 Rosedale Avenue, Longwood, FL 32750. Email: grahamevanwilliams@
gmail.com

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2020

Christopher Ferro, 2607 Pepper Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32935. Email: lonelybirder43@
gmail.com

Dan O’Malley, FWC, 8535 Northlake Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33412.
Email: Dan.Omalley@myFWC.com

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979; Helen G. Cruickshank 1980; Oliver L. Austin, Jr. 1982
Pierce Brodkorb 1982; William B. Robertson, Jr. 1992; Glen E. Woolfenden 1994

Ted Below 1999; Fred E. Lohrer 2009

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, especially its abundant bird life,
are invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing to the Treasurer. Annual
membership dues are $25 for individual members, $30 for a family membership, $15
for students, $45 for contributing members, and $40 for institutional membership;
add $5 for overseas delivery. One-time contributions for life membership are $400 for
individuals and $500 for families. All members receive Florida Field Naturalist.

Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective copies, and requests
for information about advertising and subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer.

Florida Field Naturalist is published quarterly (March, May, September, and
November) by the Florida Ornithological Society. It is printed by E. O. Painter Printing
Co., PO. Box 877, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130. The permanent address of the Florida
Ornithological Society is Division of Birds, Florida Museum of Natural History, 1659
Newell Dr., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. The Florida Ornithological
Society web site is at www.fosbirds.org

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON NEUTRAL PH PAPER

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 3 September 2017 Pages 71-102

Florida Field Naturalist 45(3):71-78, 2017.

FIRST VERIFIED BREEDING RECORD OF THE
RUDDY DUCK {Oxyura jamaicensis) IN FLORIDA

Lorraine Margeson

LG2 Environmental Solutions, 320 62nd Ave. NE,

St. Petersburg, Florida 33702

Email: donlocomm@aol.com

Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) breed primarily in the prairie
pothole region of North America, although small numbers breed or have
bred in Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and southeastern
North America (Brua 2002, McNair et al. 2006). Most of the few breeding
records from southeastern North America are from inland impoundments
and phosphate pits in the north- and central peninsular region of Florida
(Menk and Stevenson 1977, Woolfenden and Woolfenden 1984, Brua 2002),
though these reports did not include documentation such as still photos,
video, or audio recordings (Greenlaw et al. 2014). Here I document with
still photos and video the first verified breeding of Ruddy Duck in Florida
and the first breeding of that species reported from a Florida coastal island.

Study Site

The Tampa Harbor Dredged Material Disposal Facility, also known
as “3-D” (27.8309, -82.4373) is a 155 ha (384 acre) dredged-material
island in Hillsborough Bay, Hillsborough County, Florida (Fig. 1). The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) constructed the island for
the containment of material dredged from federal channels in Tampa
Harbor. 12 m-high dikes contain the dredged material, which is pumped
onto the island in a slurry. The interior of the island is topographically
varied, with borrow pits and higher elevations. Terrestrial vegetation
is sparse to absent. No mangroves grow inside the dikes. About 100 ha
(250 acres) is covered by shallow perched brackish water derived from
the slurry and rain. Some of the more southerly locations transition
to fresh water dominated by broadleaf cattails (Typha latifolia). The

71

72

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

\

A

-

1

V

v^fc

?--ri

>

l /IJb MacDiN
'( Air Forc9 Basm

\ k - .

^ 'Cf="

3D SM! Isfand k

^ Oibsonton

#

C?

Hillsborough Bay

V

OOS 1 2

l•Qlome(««s

N

Figure 1. Location of spoil island 3-D in Hillsborough Bay. GIS from Tampa Bay
Estuary Program.

breeding site, in the southern part of the island, was in a 3-4 ha borrow
pit, 1.5 m at its deepest point, tenuously connected to the large expanse
of more northerly ponds. It was the only area that contained cattails

Margeson—Ruddy Duck Breeding

73

Figure 2. Spoil island 3D with the Ruddy Duck nesting pond location marked.
Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

after a dredging project in 2015 and 2016, indicating that the water
was relatively fresh. No water testing was done to collect quantitative
data on salinity. The extent, depth, and connections of the pond are
expected to vary with dredging work.

74

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Survey Protocol

This area was monitored as part of a dredging contract following
a USAGE monitoring plan required by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
David Goodwin and I surveyed the island for all bird species daily
throughout the fall of 2016 (10 Oct-9 Dec).

Chronology of Observations

10 October 2016. The first Ruddy Duck recorded in our survey
of 3-D was a lone female on the south pond with Pied-Billed Grebe
{Podilymhus podiceps) adults and young, Common Gallinule (Gallinula
galeata) adults and young, and American Coots {Fulica americana).
The water was more fresh than brackish as evidenced by the presence
of cattails. The pond was about 0.9 m deep.

19 October 2016. I did not see this female again until the 19th,
when I found her caring for five downy ducklings (Fig. 3). D. Goodwin
and I studied the ducklings with 8X binoculars for about 40 min at
distances as close as 15 m, and estimated that they were about one
day old. Using the data in Brua (2002), I estimate that the date of first
laying was about 22 September 2016.

18 November 2016. We saw the female and five young on this
date for the first time since 19 October. I estimate that the young were
about one month old. Rising water levels from new dredge slurry had

Figure 3. Female Ruddy Duck with five downy ducklings 19 October 2016<

Margeson—Ruddy Duck Breeding

75

widened the channel connecting the southern pond and the larger
northern pond. I surmise that the family spent their time since their
last appearance in cattails north of the southern pond.

20 November 2016. Two days later we first saw a male in breeding
plumage in the pond. He escorted the ducklings and performed the
“bubbling” display, pounding his chest to make bubbles (Fig. 4), which
can be either courtship behavior or an aggressive action (Ladhams
1977). He seemed to be directing the display toward any of the American
Coots, Pied-Billed Grebes, and ducks such as Northern Shoveler {Anas
clypeata), chasing them when they approached the ducklings.

25 November 2016. The breeding-plumaged male remained on
patrol in the southern pond, constantly guarding the ducklings and
bubbling when any other species approached (Fig. 5). We did not see
the adult female this day. The pond was now about 1.5 m deep and
likely more brackish than in September.

5 December 2016. On this day we saw the ducklings fiapping
their wings. By this date they had about completed the pre-juvenal
molt (Brua 2002).

7 December 2016. For the first time since 20 November we saw a
female Ruddy Duck, presumably the one we had seen previously, with
the rest of the family (Fig. 6).

8 December 2016. The breeding-plumaged male continued
swimming with the juveniles (video clip; <https://www.youtube.com/

Figure 4. Ruddy Duck male bubbling.

76

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Figure 5. Ruddy Duck male with a duckling, about to bubble at a Northern
Shoveler.

watch?v=jey9yMm3HPA)>. He performed the bubbling display near
one of the juveniles, and the juvenile then bubbled, as though it were
learning the display from him (video clip: <https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=j D 7 Gul wpfxg>).

9 December 2016. This was the last day of bird monitoring for this
dredging project. All five young were now in juvenal plumage (Fig. 6).

Discussion

This is the first breeding of Ruddy Ducks in Florida to be verified,
with both still photos and video. It also extends the known breeding
period for Ruddy Ducks in Florida, from April to mid-August
(Greenlaw et al. 2014), to early September. The video recording may
be the only one showing a juvenile seeming to learn the bubbling
habit from an adult. The male observed with the ducklings was likely
one of the parents, although other studies have observed non-related
males with young (Ladhams 1977). It was the only male in breeding
plumage among the 125 wintering Ruddy Ducks on the island during
this breeding event.

This island was created as a working island, but has been well
managed for breeding species for the past three years as the Army
Corps of Engineers observes provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act, and includes bird monitoring and habitat management in its

Margeson—Ruddy Duck Breeding

77

Figure 6. Three Ruddy Duck juveniles with the presumed mother (at left).

program. The salinity of the water in any given borrow pit can change
dramatically depending on the volume of summer rains and the varying
placement of the dredge slurry. Breeding sites on St. Croix have been
on seasonal salt ponds (McNair et al. 2006), and previous breeding sites
in Florida have included managed impoundments, phosphate pits, and
an abandoned quarry. The continually changing geography and water
content on this island may provide ongoing habitat for Ruddy Duck
breeding, especially if bird monitors can help to manage work activities
during nesting.

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Douglas B. McNair for detailed and thoughtful suggestions that
improved the manuscript.

Literature Cited

Brua, R. B. 2002. Ruddy Duck {Oxyura jamaicensis), The Birds of North America (R
G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lah of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of
North America Online: <https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/rudduc>.
Greenlaw, J. S., B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and Woolfenden Florida
Bird Species: An Annotated List. Special Publication No. 8, Florida Ornithological
Society, Gainesville, Florida.

Ladhams, D. E. 1977. Behaviour of Ruddy Ducks in Avon. British Birds 70:137-146.

78

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

McNair, D. B., L. D. Yntema, C. Cramer-Burke, and S. L. Fromer. 2006. Recent breeding
records and status review of the Ruddy Duck {Oxyura jamaicensis) on St. Croix, U.S.
Virgin Islands. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19:91-96.

Menk, G. E., and H. M. Stevenson. 1977. Second Florida breeding record of the Ruddy
Duck. Florida Field Naturalist 5:12-13.

Paul, R. T., A. F. Schnapf, and M. Lopez. 1994. A second Ruddy Duck nests in Hillsbor¬
ough County. Florida Field Naturalist 22:53-43.

WooLFENDEN, G. E., AND J. A. WooLFENDEN. 1984. Florida Field Naturalist 12:32-33.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(3):79-86, 2017.

RECENT OCCURRENCES OF UNUSUALLY PLUMAGED
KINGBIRDS {Tyrannus) IN FLORIDA: HYBRIDS
OR LITTLE-NOTICED NATURAL VARIANTS?

Stu Wilson
Sarasota, Florida

Email: stuwilson@comcast.net

Introduction

In the spring of 2016, two observers at two widely separated
locations studied and photographed what appeared to be Gray
Kingbirds {T. dominicensis) that had a highly unusual extensive yellow
wash on the underparts.

On 5 April 2016, experienced Florida birder Carl Goodrich (pers.
comm.) noted an odd-looking kingbird on a wire in the company of
two Gray Kingbirds at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park (“Fort
Zach”) at Key West, Monroe County, Florida. In his first view, without
a binocular, the bird struck him as a Western Kingbird {T. verticalis)
because of the yellow on the underparts. Later the same day, when
he was able to photograph the bird and study it in more detail with
a binocular, he realized it was not a Western Kingbird. Goodrich has
seen “thousands of Gray Kingbirds in the Keys over the last 40 years
and none were as yellow as this one” (Fig. lA). He believes he saw the
same bird a week earlier in a gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruha) at the
same location in the company of a dozen Gray Kingbirds, but was not
able to photograph it on that occasion.

On 15 May 2016, Michelle Wilson (pers. comm.) was birding on
Lust Road at Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area (LANSRA),
Orange County, Florida, part of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. There
she photographed a kingbird (Fig. IB) across a small canal, perched
atop a dead branch with a few Red-winged Blackbirds {Agelaius
phoeniceus). The kingbird intrigued her because “... there was a yellow/
buttery coloring to the underside....”

Two plausible explanations emerge for explaining these atypical
kingbirds: 1) The subject birds are products of Tropical Kingbird
{T. melancholicus) x Gray Kingbird hybrid nestings such as those
documented in Sarasota 2013-2016 (Wilson et al. 2015); or 2) The
subject birds represent examples of natural color variation in the
underparts of Gray Kingbird. Here I evaluate these two possibilities.

79

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FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Figure 1. A) Photograph of first subject kingbird taken by Carl Goodrich at
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park at Key West, Monroe County, Florida
on 5 April 2016; B) Photograph of second subject kingbird taken by Michelle
Wilson on Lust Road at Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area, Orange
County, Florida on 15 May 2016.

Discussion

Tropical Kingbird x Gray Kingbird hybridization. —In 2015
Wilson et al. (2015) documented the nesting of a female Tropical Kingbird
at St Armands Circle, Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida, during the
spring and summer of 2013. The authors provided strong evidence that
the female Tropical Kingbird (“Dot”) mated with a male Gray Kingbird
producing four hybrid young which fledged and subsequently dispersed.
These events represented not only the first confirmed nesting of Tropical
Kingbird east of the Mississippi River, but the first presumed Tropical
Kingbird x Gray Kingbird hybridization anywhere (Wilson et al. 2015).

Dot repeated her performance in the springs and summers of 2014,
2015, and 2016, producing three, two, and two fledglings, respectively
(S. Wilson, pers. obs.). In those years, it was not known whether she
chose the same male Gray Kingbird as her partner, and all eleven
offspring looked substantially identical to each other. In 2013, all
four nestlings were banded but none of the offspring were banded in
subsequent years. Other than presumably providing semen, a Gray
Kingbird male parent played no observable role in the nesting process
(S. Wilson pers. obs., John Ginaven pers. comm.), quite unlike the male
Gray Kingbird studied by Doyle (2013).

Wilson—Kingbird Plumages

81

The offspring were closely monitored in 2013, but less so in
subsequent years. Fledglings were noted to be dependent on their
mother for food (almost exclusively flying insects) for one to two weeks
after fledging, thereafter feeding on their own. Those fledglings which
could be tracked were noted to disappear three to four weeks after
fledging. Monitoring the independent fledglings was complicated
because they looked so similar to Gray Kingbirds. Several Gray
Kingbird nests were noted in the vicinity, and the natal area became a
gathering spot for Gray Kingbirds during the fledging period (S. Wilson
pers. obs., J. Greenlaw pers. comm.).

The description of the young hybrids that fledged from the Sarasota
nest in 2013 is as follows: “Pale underparts with just a faint hint of
yellow wash on the belly and slightly deeper yellow on the undertail
coverts, gray backs, dark remiges edged in yellow, brown wing coverts
edged in light brown, brown rectrices edged in light brown, gray crown,
loral and postocular gray smudge, and long dark bills” (Wilson et al.
2015). The appearance of the young birds that fledged from Dot’s nests
in 2014, 2015, and 2016 was consistent with this description (Figs. 2
and 3, S. Wilson pers. obs., J. Greenlaw pers. comm.).

Figure 2. Photograph of two fledgling kingbirds begging from their mother,
taken by Claire Herzog at St Armands Circle, Sarasota, Sarasota County,
Florida on 4 July 2014.

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FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Figure 3. Photograph of two fledgling kingbirds taken by Claire Herzog at St
Armands Circle, Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida on 15 July 2015.

When photographs of the 2016 Monroe and Orange county birds
were circulated, two prominent Florida birder/ornithologists, Bruce
H. Anderson at Winter Park and Andrew W Kratter of the Florida
Museum of Natural History at Gainesville, commented that the subject
birds appeared to be Tropical Kingbird x Gray Kingbird hybrids or
perhaps backcrosses of a hybrid with a Gray Kingbird (BHA & AWK
pers. comm., 16-17 May 2016).

The Monroe and Orange county photographs each show what
appears superficially to be a Gray Kingbird, but with a noticeable
amount of yellow wash on the underparts tending to concentrate in
the vent/undertail covert area. The description of these individuals
closely matches that observed on the fiedgling birds at the St Armands
Circle natal site. Since no bands were noted on the Monroe (CG pers.
comm.) or Orange (see Fig. IB) county birds, members of Dot’s 2013
brood would tend to be eliminated from consideration, as all those
fiedglings were banded. Since the Monroe and Orange county birds
were discovered in April and May of 2016, respectively, they could not
have been members of Dot’s 2016 brood either.

Wilson—Kingbird Plumages

83

That the Monroe and Orange county birds came from the Sarasota
County nests of 2014 or 2015 cannot be proven. The Monroe County
bird was found about 320 km south-southeast, and the Orange County
bird about 180 km northeast, of the natal area (Fig. 4).

There is little information available to help predict dispersal
movements of the hybrid fledglings from the natal area on St Armands
Circle in Sarasota County. There have been no published positive
recaptures or resightings of any of the nine fledglings from the nests
of 2013 through 2015. Although Dot was reliably present in the St
Armands Circle area April through September for at least the last
four years, her whereabouts throughout the remainder of the year are
unknown. Tropical Kingbird is rare in Florida with barely two dozen
confirmed records through 2015. The species has been found in all
seasons, as a migrant in summer, fall, and spring, rarely overwintering
(Pranty et al. 2016).

Melvin A. Traylor {fide B. Anderson), after examining Florida’s only
Tropical Kingbird specimen (UCF 2082, Palm Beach County), commented
that in his opinion the bird was from one of the Mexican populations.
Since 2002, there have been reports of Tropical Kingbirds at LANSRA at
least four times, occurring in all seasons except summer (Pranty 2002,
2004a, 2004b, 2004c, 2007; Dailey 2016); there are no known published
reports of Tropical Kingbird from the Florida Keys (Pranty et al. 2016).

Figure 4. Map showing locations of Tropical Kingbird x Gray Kingbird natal
site in Sarasota County and locations where Orange and Monroe county
atypical kingbirds were photographed.

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FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Florida breeding status and seasonal movements of the possible
hybrids’ other parental species, Gray Kingbird, are much better
documented. Gray Kingbird is a rare to uncommon nesting species
throughout the length of Florida, but confined almost exclusively to the
coasts (BBAE 2016). There are occasional winter records (Greenlaw
et al. 2014), but the majority of Florida breeding birds likely winter
in the West Indies (Chesser 1995). Gray Kingbird is a rare visitor to
Orange County during spring and fall migration and individuals have
occasionally remained at LANSRA into the early summer and early
winter (e.g., Pranty 2004b, 2014). Gray Kingbirds are regular breeders
in Monroe County (Greenlaw et al. 2014), including at Fort Zach (C.
Goodrich pers. comm.).

Therefore, to judge from the described plumages of the known Florida
Tropical Kingbird x Gray Kingbird hybrids and the similar plumages
observed in the photographed kingbirds at Ft. Zach and LANSRA, as
well as what is known of each species’ seasonal movements, the origin
of the photographed birds could conceivably be the documented hybrid
nestings in Sarasota.

At least as plausibly, the Orange and Monroe county birds could
have originated from an undocumented pairing of Tropical Kingbird
and Gray Kingbird elsewhere in Florida or nearby. The majority of the
recent infiux of Tropical Kingbird records in Florida are of individual
birds (Pranty et al. 2016) and it is reasonable to assume these
individuals might resort to a Gray Kingbird mate out of necessity, just
as in the Sarasota case.

Natural color variation in Gray Kingbirds. —The possibility
that the abnormal underpart plumage noted in the Orange and Monroe
county birds simply represents natural color variation in Gray Kingbird
must also be considered. Documentation of such variation is scarce
and inconsistent. Neither Pyle (2002), Sibley (2014), nor Smith and
Jackson (2002) make mention of yellow on the ventral plumage of Gray
Kingbird of any age or sex (although Sibley’s depiction of the juvenile
bird seems to show a very faint yellow wash on the lower fianks). Smith
and Jackson state without reservation that Gray Kingbird may be
distinguished from other kingbirds by “underparts without yellow.” J.
Jackson (pers. comm.), of Smith and Jackson (2002), indicates that he
does not recall observing any Gray Kingbird specimens with a yellow
wash.

On the other hand, Ridgway (1907) describes Gray Kingbird with
“under tail-coverts usually tinged with pale yellow.” Waite (2002)
indicates that Gray Kingbird shows “... mostly white underparts with
pale yellow wash on belly and undertail coverts.” My own observations
and those of others involved in the 2013 Sarasota nest-site monitoring
(Wilson et al. 2015) revealed that, indeed, the undertail coverts of Gray

Wilson—Kingbird Plumages

85

Kingbird frequently show a faint yellow wash, perhaps most commonly
noted on young birds. However, we did not see an extension of the
yellow wash beyond the undertail coverts.

A study of tyrannid phylogeny (Ohlson et al. 2013) reveals a
number of close relatives of Gray Kingbird, namely Tropical Kingbird,
Couch’s Kingbird {T. couchii), Cassin’s Kingbird {T. vociferans), Thick¬
billed Kingbird {T. crassirostris), and Western Kingbird, that show
yellow (bright or paler) across portions of the underparts. However,
other relatives, namely Eastern Kingbird {T. tyrannus), Loggerhead
Kingbird (T. caudifasciatus), and Fork-tailed Flycatcher {T. savanna)
show no yellow, just plain white and pale gray. Gray Kingbirds may
have a latent ability to express the yellow trait in plumage color of the
underparts. Field evidence of such a trait, however, is scant.

Conclusion

Although uncertainty abounds, in my view the extent of pale yellow
on the underparts of the photographed Orange and Monroe county
birds (i.e. not limited to undertail coverts but extending through vent
and belly to lower abdomen) is more likely explained by the documented
precedent of Tropical Kingbird x Gray Kingbird hybridization than
by naturally-occurring Gray Kingbird variation, where convincing
documentation is lacking. I call upon Florida birders to be on the alert
for Tropical Kingbird hybrid nestings, and to scrutinize Gray Kingbird
plumages for instances of unusual coloration.

Acknowledgments

I thank John Ginaven for his diligence in steadily monitoring Dot’s natal site since
2013; Claire Herzog, Carl Goodrich, and Michelle Wilson for contributing photographs,
and the latter two for providing details of their observations; Naomi Deutsch for assist¬
ing with graphics; Bill Pranty for allowing me access to the manuscript of his and his
colleagues’ then-unpublished paper; and Bruce Anderson and Jon Greenlaw for helpfully
reviewing early drafts of this manuscript.

Literature Cited

BBAE [Breeding Bird Atlas Explorer] (online resource). 2016. U.S. Geological Sur¬
vey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 1 August 2016. <http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/
bba>.

Chesser, R. T. 1995. Biogeographic, Ecological, and Evolutionary Aspects of South Amer¬
ican Austal Migration, With Special Reference to the Family Tyrannidae. Ph.D. Dis¬
sertation, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.

Dailey, K. 2016. Field observations fall report: August-November 2015. Florida Field
Naturalist 44:65-76.

Doyle, D. 2013. Observations of Gray Kingbird {Tyrannus dominicensis) habits and
breeding behavior in St. Johns County, Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 41:117-
122 .

86

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Greenlaw, J. S., B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and Woolfenden Florida
Bird Species; An Annotated List. Special Publication No. 8., Florida Ornithological
Society, Gainesville.

Ohlson, J. L, M. Irestedt, P. Erickson, and J. Fjeldsa. 2013. Phylogeny and classification
of the New World suboscines (Aves, Passeriformes). Zootaxa 3613:1-35.

Pranty, B. 2002. Eield observations winter report: December 2001-January 2002. Florida
Field Naturalist 30:100-112.

Pranty, B. 2004a. Field observations fall report: August-November 2003. Florida Field
Naturalist 32:63-74.

Pranty, B. 2004b. Field observations winter report; December 2003-January 2004. Flor¬
ida Field Naturalist 32:117-127.

Pranty, B. 2004c. Field observations spring report: March-May 2004. Florida Field Natu¬
ralist 32:153-162.

Pranty, B. 2007. Field observations winter report: December 2006-January 2007. Florida
Field Naturalist 35:89-102.

Pranty, B. 2014. Field observations summer report: June-July 2013. Florida Field Natu¬
ralist 42:36-47.

Pranty B., A. W. Kratter, and V. Ponzo. 2016. Status and distribution in Florida of Tropi¬
cal Kingbird {Tyrannus melancholicus) and Couch’s Kingbird {Tyrannus couchii).
Florida Field Naturalist 44:83-105.

Pyle, P. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 1: Columbidae to Plo-
ceidae. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, California.

Ridgway, R. 1907. The Birds of North and Middle America. Bulletin of the United States
National Museum, No. 50, Part IV. Washington, D.C.

Sibley, D. A. 2014. The Sibley Guide to Birds. 2nd ed. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Smith, G. A., and J. A. Jackson. 2002. Gray Kingbird {Tyrannus dominicensis). The
Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca; Cornell Lab of Ornithology;
Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: <http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/
species/668>

Waite, M. 2012. iBird: An Ultimate Interactive Bird Guide <https://identity.whatbird.
com/obj/837/overvie w/Gray_Kingbird. aspx>

Wilson, S., R. E. Peipert, J. Ginaven, and B. Rossheim. 2015. Nesting and hybridization
of a Tropical Kingbird {Tyrannus melancholicus) and Gray Kingbird {T. dominicensis)
in Sarasota, Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 43:1-11.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(3):87-98, 2017.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Winter Report: December 2016-February 2017. —This report consists of
significant bird observations compiled by the Field Observations Committee (FOC).
Electronic submissions to the FOC should be in the following format: species, number
of individuals, age and sex of the bird(s), color morph if applicable, location (including
county), date, observer(s), and significance. Seasons are winter (December-February),
spring (March-May), summer (June-July), and fall (August-November). Submit
observations to regional compilers within two weeks after the close of each season, or
to the state compiler within one month. Addresses of the compilers follow this report.

Sight-only observations are termed “reports” while only those observations supported
by verifiable evidence (photographs, video or audio recordings, or specimens) are called
“records.” Species for which documentation is required by the FOC and by the FOS Records
Committee (FOSRC; <fosbirds.org/official-fiorida-state-bird-list>) are marked here with
an asterisk (*). A county designation (in italics) accompanies the first-time listing of each
site in this report. Abbreviations in this report are: AFB = Air Force Base, AFR = Air
Force Range, CA = Conservation Area, EOS = end of season, FLMNH = Florida Museum
of Natural History, m. obs. = many observers, NERR = National Estuarine Research
Reserve, NP = National Park, NSRA = North Shore Restoration Area, NWR = National
Wildlife Refuge, SF = State Forest, SP = State Park, STA = Stormwater Treatment Area,
STF = sewage treatment facility, WMA = Wildlife Management Area, WTF = Wastewater
Treatment Facility, and N, S, E, W etc., for compass directions. Bold-faced entries denote
birds newly reported or verified in Florida, or record numbers. Photographs or video- or
audio-recordings archived by the FOC are identified by a plus (-I-).

Summary of the Winter Season

The winter season saw average temperatures that were considerably higher than
normal across the entire state, including differences of -i-5° to -i-9° F at stations ranging from
Pensacola to Jacksonville to Key West. Rainfall totals varied across the state in December
and January, and a drier than normal February resulted in 62% of the state being in some
level of drought conditions by the end of the season (Stefanova et al. 2016, 2017a, 2017b).

FOSRC review species noted in this report include a pair of Brant, American Black
Duck, Common Merganser, Vaux’s Swift, Razorbill, Sabine’s Gull, Black-headed Gull,
Thayer’s Gull, Neotropic Cormorant, a Great White Pelican observed in Lee for the second
winter. La Sagra’s Flycatcher, Thick-billed Vireo, Sprague’s Pipit, Smith’s Longspur,
Kirtland’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Spindalis, Bananaquit, and
Harris’s Sparrow.

The FOC welcomes David Sherer as the compiler ior Highlands', his contributions will
strengthen these seasonal reports. The FOC would also like to express deep appreciation
to Bruce H. Anderson who has volunteered his time as the central east coast regional
compiler for over 16 years and is now stepping away from the role. Bruce’s regional
reports have always been detailed and comprehensive, and have certainly provided high
value data.

The FOC is seeking volunteers interested in joining the committee as regional
compilers for counties that are currently uncovered. The first region would include

87

88

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Suwannee, Columbia, Gilchrist, Union, and Bradford. A second region could be covered
by one or multiple interested individuals; Polk, Osceola, Hardee, De Soto, Glades, and
Okeechobee Counties. Responsibilities would include soliciting and compiling notable
field observations for these counties at the end of each season. Interested individuals
should contact the state compiler listed at the end of this report.

Species Accounts

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck; 32 at Rabon Road {Jefferson) 10 Dec (M. Smith).

Fulvous Whistling-Duck; 4 at Lake Apopka NSRA {Orange) 1 and 12 Dec (H. Robinson).

Greater White-fronted Goose; 4 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP {Alachua) 8-23 Dec (M.
Manetz, M. Bruce et al.); 1 at Gulf Breeze {Santa Rosa) 24 Dec (J. Stuckey); 3 at
Rabon Road 28 Dec (-i-M. Smith); 1 at International Paper Wetlands {Escambia) 30
Dec (J. Callaway, B. Callaway); 2 at Lake Belleview 24 Jan provided the first PmeZ/as
record (-i-B. Cochrane).

Snow Goose; 1 white morph at Tosohatchee WMA {Orange) 20 Dec (D. Simpson); 1 at
Lakes Park, Fort Myers {Lee) 2 Jan (-i-D. McQuade, E. Warren); 2 at Rabon Road 8
Jan (M. Smith); 1 at Fort Island Gulf Beach {Citrus) 11 Jan (F. Hillman et ah); 1 at
west Jacksonville {Duval) 18-25 Feb (K. Dailey, D. Foster).

Ross’s Goose; 1 at N Escambia 19 Dec (M. Petosky); 4 at the Okaloosa County STF {Oka¬
loosa) 17-19 Feb (M. Swan); 3 at N Escambia 27 Feb (B. Duncan, L. Duncan).

*Brant; 2 at Bunche Beach, Fort Myers {Lee) 17 Dec-21 Jan (T. Olkowski, -i-C. Ewell, et
al.); details to FOSRC; 2 at Canaveral NS are believed to be the same birds {Volusia)
2 Feb-EOS (J. Hughes, m. obs.).

Canada Goose; Up to 275 at Perdue Pond Wildlife Area {Duval) through 8 Dec (D. Fos¬
ter); 27 at Largo Nature Reserve {Pinellas) 7 Jan (K. Duncan).

Egyptian Goose; 4 adults with 8 downy goslings at Sebastian {Indian River) 2 Jan (J.
Baker, -i-G. Harber).

Gadwall; 103 at Lake Apopka NSRA 1 Dec (H. Robinson); 1 at Orlando Wetlands Park
{Orange) 20 Dec (P. Hueber, B. Anderson et al.); 1 male at St. Johns River south of
SR46 {Seminole) 26 Dec (D. Simpson).

*American Black Duck; Up to 4 continued at Perdue Pond Wildlife Area through 28 Feb
(m. obs.); 1 at St. Marks NWR (Wakulla) 10 Dec (M. Smith).

Northern Pintail; 5 at Orlando Wetlands Park 20 Dec (P. Hueber, B. Anderson et al.); 1
at Lake Apopka NSRA 6 Feb (H. Robinson).

Canvasback; 2 males at Orlando Wetlands Park 20 Dec (-i-P. Hueber, B. Anderson et al.);
1 male at Perdue Pond Wildlife Area 1 Jan-EOS (D. Foster, m. obs.).

Redhead; 1 female at Lake Apopka NSRA 15 Dec-27 Feb (H. Robinson).

Ring-necked Duck; 3500 at a retention pond in The Villages {Sumter) 22 Dec (J. Dins-
more).

Greater Scaup; 1 at Spring Hill {Hernando) 7 Dec (A. Hansen, B. Hansen et al.); 1 at Or¬
lando Wetlands Park 20 Dec (P. Hueber, B. Anderson et al.); 2 at Dunn WTF {Pinellas)
31 Dec-13 Feb (-i-C. Yilmaz, T. Kalbach).

Lesser Scaup; ca. 550,000 on Banana River at Cocoa Beach {Brevard) 17 Dec (J. Eager, T.
Ledford; 3 waves of ducks streamed through 180° from south to north for 20 minutes).

Common Eider; 1 immature male at Black Point Marina jetty {Miami-Dade) 18 Dec (-i-N.
Frade, m. obs.); 1 immature male at Juno Beach Park and Pier {Palm Beach) 23 Dec
(-I-D. O’Malley); 1 female at Lighthouse Point Park, Ponce Inlet (Volusia) 24 Dec (-i-M.
Bruce); 1 female at Jetty Park, Cape Canaveral {Brevard) 24 Jan-14 Feb (m. obs.);
1 immature male at Crandon Marina, Crandon Park {Miami-Dade) 10-26 Jan (-i-M.
Avello); 1 immature male at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson SP {Broward) 25 Feb
(-I-M. Berney).

Field Observations

89

Surf Scoter; 9 at Tomoka Basin, Tomoka SP (Volusia) 5 Jan (M. Brothers); 1 at Car-
rabelle Beach (Franklin) 11 Feb (R. Cassidy); 4 at Pensacola Beach (Escambia) 4-14
Feb (D. Muth, B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 35 at Fort Pickens (Escambia) 21 Feb (D.
Stangeland).

White-winged Scoter: 1 at Fort Clinch SP (Nassau) 11 Dec (D. Gagne et ah); 2 at
Tomoka Basin, Tomoka SP 5 Jan (M. Brothers);! at St. Marks NWR 12 Jan (J.
Cavanagh).

Black Scoter: 20 at Tomoka Basin, Tomoka SP 5 Jan (M. Brothers).

Long-tailed Duck; 1 at J. N. Ding Darling NWR (Lee) 26 Nov (-i-D. Richard); 2 at Shired
Island (Dixie) 5 Dec (D. Wassmer, L. Saul); 1 female at Rodney Ketcham Park, Cape
Canaveral (Brevard) 3-30 Jan (m. obs.); 5 at Veterans Memorial Park (Okaloosa) 7-8
Feb (C. Crawford, B. Duncan, L. Duncan).

Bufflehead; 8 at Lake Apopka NSRA 1 Dec (H. Robinson); 38 at Courtney Campbell
Causeway (Pinellas) 12 Dec (-i-R. Lane, D. Lane); 77 (8 adult males) at a retention
pond just north of The Villages at Summerfield (Marion) 13 Dec (J. Dinsmore); 1 at
Orlando Wetlands Park 20 Dec (-i-P. Hueber, B. Anderson et ah); 30 at Dunn WTF 31
Dec (-I-C. Yilmaz); 10 at Shell Key Preserve (Pinellas) 1 Jan (E. Plage, P. Plage); 45 at
a retention pond at The Villages 26 Feb (L. Felker); 24 near the Courtney Campbell
Causeway 28 Feb (-i-B. Lane).

Common Goldeneye: 1 female at Melbourne (Brevard) throughout the season (m. obs.);
1 at Spring Hill 4 Dec and 8 Jan-19 Feb (A. Hansen, B. Hansen); 1 at Wildwood
(Sumter) 13-14 Dec (P. Stafford, G. DelPizzo, D. Richard); 1 female at Lake Maggiore
(Pinellas) 16-17 Dec (R. Smith et ah); 1 near Sanford (Seminole) 17 and 22 Dec for the
third consecutive winter (-i-G. Williams, -i-K. Schmidt); 1 at Gainesville (Alachua) 18
Dec-4 Feb (J. Martin, S. Robinson, A. Kratter et ah); 1 off Heckscher Drive (Duval)
23 Dec-4 Feb when it was found dead and salvaged (D. Foster, m. obs., specimen to
FLMNH); 1 at Seven Springs WTF (Pasco) 28 Dec ( D. Goodwin, E. Haney); 1 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 29 Dec (H. Robinson); 1 female at Dunn WTF 22-30 Jan (T. Kalbach,
-i-B. Cochrane, m. obs.).

*CoMMON Merganser; 1 at Seven Springs WTF 28 Dec (D. Goodwin, E. Haney).

Red-breasted Merganser: 1 female at Lake Apopka NSRA 4 Dec (P. Hueber, T. Boorstin);
1 at Wildwood 31 Dec (S. Stafford).

Ruddy Duck; 1,000-i- at Sand Beach Road (Eranklin) 29 Jan (J. Murphy).

Horned Grebe; Up to 2 at Lake Apopka NSRA 5 and 15 Dec (H. Robinson).

White-winged Dove: 81 roosting at NE St. Petersburg (Pinellas) 1 Jan (-i-R. Smith).

Smooth-billed Ani: 2 at Loggerhead and Bush Key, Dry Tortugas NP (Monroe) 14 Dec
(fide R. Diaz); 1 at Loxahatchee NWR (Palm Beach) 1 Dec-EOS (m. obs.); 1 at Fort
De Soto Park (Pinellas) 2-17 Jan (-i-D. Kulp, m. obs.); 1 at South Dade, SR 9336 (Mi-
ami-Dade) 4 Jan-14 Feb (C. Sanchez, m. obs.); 1 adult at South Central Regional
WTF, Russ Grissom Memorial Wetlands, Viera (Brevard) 5 Jan-1 Feb (m. obs.); 1 at
Markham Park (Broward) 12-30 Jan (M. Berney); 1 adult at STA 5, Clewiston (Hen¬
dry) 14 Jan (J. Eager).

Groove-billed Ani: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 1 Dec (H. Robinson); 2 at Clay Island (Lake)
from fall 2016-EOS (m. obs.); 1 at Black Creek Trail - C-IW (Miami-Dade) 24 Dec-
EOS (-I-N. Frade, m. obs.).

Lesser Nighthawk; 1 at Garcon Point (Santa Rosa) 17 Dec (A. Knothe, D. Robbins, B.
Almario).

Chuck-will’s-widow: 1 at Sebastian 2 Jan (G. Harber); 1 at Cape San Bias (Gulf) 11 Jan
was taken to a rehab clinic where it died (-i-J. Rinehart); 1 at Archbold Biological Sta¬
tion (Highlands) 28 Feb (D. Sherer).

Eastern Whip-poor-will: 1 at Scarborough Ranch (Highlands) 30 Dec (D. Goodwin, E.
Haney, R. Webb); 3 at Fort George Island (Duval) 1 Jan (K. Dailey); up to 3 at Arch¬
bold Biological Station 5 Feb-EOS (D. Sherer, R. Windsor, J. Greer).

90

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Chimney Swift: 3 at Eastman/Taminco Sanctuary (Santa Rosa) 22 Feb (L. Kelly, B. Fur-
low); 8 at the University of West Florida (Escambia) 27 Feb (A. Holzinger).

*Vaux’s Swift: 5 at Gainesville throughout the season (A. Kratter et al.).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 3 at Ormond Beach (Volusia) 1 Dec-28 Feb (M. Wilson).
Black-chinned Hummingbird: 1 at Alachua through 7 Feb (R Stine, F Bassett).

Rufous Hummingbird: 1 female and 1 immature male at Castellow Hammock Park (Mi-
ami-Dade) 1 Dec-EOS (m. obs.); 1 at a Winter Park feeder (Orange) 5-6 Jan for the
fifth season (K. Hamblett, S. Simmons, R. Merrigan); 1 at Polk 18 Feb (fide K. Dailey).
Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Up to 2 at Castellow Hammock Park 1 Dec-EOS (m. obs.); 1
at a Pensacola residence (Escambia) 21 Dec-24 Jan (D. Timmons, K. Keigley).

King Rail: 2 at International Paper Wetlands 30 Dec (J. Callaway, B. Callaway).
Virginia Rail: 2 at Okeeheepkee Prairie Park (Leon) 20 Feb (R. Cassidy).

Sora: 3 at New World Avenue (Duval) 7-21 Jan (K. Dailey, D. Foster).

Purple Swamphen: Singles at Lake Apopka NSRA through 10 Dec, 14-16 Jan (+A. Horst,
D. Miller), and 23 Feb (H. Robinson); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 28-31 Jan (L.
Davis et al.).

Limpkin: 1 at Lake Ford (Elagler) 1 Jan (A. Bobbitt).

Sandhill Crane: Up to 10,700 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP throughout the season (D.
Ewing, B. Ewing, S. Ewing et al.); 2 at New World Avenue 7 Jan (K. Dailey, D. Foster);
420 (in 10 fiocks moving north in 1.5 hours) at The Villages 7 Feb (J. Dinsmore); 1 at
Mayo Clinic (Duval) 20-24 Feb (M. Weeks, K. Dailey).

Whooping Crane: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP throughout the season (M. Manetz
et al.); 1 at Micanopy (Alachua) throughout the season (A. Zions, A. Lamoreaux, M.
Manetz); 1 adult at Elbe Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife SP, Homosassa Springs
(Citrus) 13 Dec (D. Hewitt); 1 immature southeast of Inverness 19 Dec (K. Spilios),
this same crane was with two adults east of Inverness 12 Jan-EOS (C. Nelson, K.
Spilios); 1 adult at Double C Bar Ranch, Kenansville (Osceola) 25 and 27 Jan (J
Eager).

Black-necked Stilt: 1 at Orlando Wetlands Park 20 Dec (+P. Hueber, B. Anderson et al.);
1 at Scarborough Ranch 30 Dec (D. Goodwin, E. Haney, R. Webb); 3 at Lake Apopka
NSRA (La^e) 27 Jan (P. Hueber, R. Mulholland).

American Avocet: 8 at CR 721 Teal Pond (Highlands) 1 Dec (D. Simpson); up to 3 at
Paynes Prairie Preserve SP through 8 Dec (M. Manetz et al.); 7 at Fred Howard Park
(Pinellas) 13 Dec (-i-K. Spilios); 1 at Lady Lake (Lake) 15 Dec (L. Felker); 1 at Weedon
Island’s Duke Energy ponds (Pinellas) 17 Dec (-i-M. Burns et al.); 17 at Scarborough
Ranch 30 Dec (-i-D. Goodwin, E. Haney, R. Webb); 1 at The Villages 3-5 Jan (S. Mc-
Marlin, A. Horst); up to 24 at White Shell Bay (Duval) 21 Jan (K. Dailey).

American Oystercatcher: 48 at Little Tiger Island (Nassau) 7 Dec (P. Leary).
Black-bellied Plover: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 15 Dec (H. Robinson); 1 at Scarborough
Ranch 30 Dec (-i-D. Goodwin, E. Haney, R. Webb).

American Golden-Plover: 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 26-27 Feb (S. McNemar, M.
Swan et al.).

Piping Plover: 16 at Big Bird Island (Duval) 17 Dec (P. Leary).

Whimbrel: Up to 6 at Fred Howard Park 17-24 Jan (-i-B. Lane).

Long-billed Curlew: 1 at Lake Ingraham, Everglades NP (Monroe) 12 Jan-13 Feb (-i-D.

Tufty); 1 at Flag Island (Eranklin) 1 Feb (J. Murphy).

Red Knot: 98 at Big Bird Island 17 Dec (P. Leary).

Stilt Sandpiper: Up to 4 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP throughout the season (M. Ma¬
netz, A. Lamoreaux et al.).

Dunlin: Up to 3 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP throughout the season (M. Wilson, A.

Lamoreaux et al.); 2 at Tallahassee (Leon) 10 Dec (R. Cassidy).

Purple Sandpiper: 2 at Huguenot Memorial Park (Duval) 16 Dec (fide K. Dailey); 1 at
Fort Pierce Inlet SP jetty (Indian River) 17 Dec (+E. Bowles et al.); 4 at Ponce de

Field Observations

91

Leon Inlet 14 Dec (M. Brothers); 1 at Jetty Park, Cape Canaveral 30 Jan-14 Feb (T.
Ledford).

Pectoral Sandpiper: Up to 4 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 22 Dec-27 Feb (D. Ewing, S.
Ewing, B. Ewing et al.); 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 18 Feb (M. Swan); 38 at N
Escambia 27 Feb (B. Duncan, L. Duncan).

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1 at Crandon Park Beach (Miami-Dade) 2 Dec-EOS (-i-S. Juan;
m. obs.).

Spotted Sandpiper: 1 at West Regional WTF, Vero Beach {Indian River) 12 Feb (T. Led¬
ford).

Red Phalarope: 1 at Green Cay Wetlands {Palm Beach) 23 Dec (-i-B. Ladd); 1 at Anastasia
SP {St. Johns) 1 Jan (L. Flesher); 1 at Cape San Bias {Gulf) 22 Feb was taken to a
rehab clinic where it died (B. Eells).

PoMARiNE Jaeger: 1 at Alligator Point {Franklin) 14 Dec (J. Murphy); 1 at Little Talbot
Island SP {Duval) 22 Jan (K. Dailey).

Parasitic Jaeger: 2 at Little Talbot Island SP 22 Jan (K. Dailey); 1 first-cycle on beach at
Daytona Beach Shores {Volusia) 13 Feb (-i-M. Brothers).

*Razorbill: 1 moribund individual collected at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR - North
Beach {St. Johns) 22 Feb (D. Reed), specimen to FLMNH.

*Sabine’s Gull: 1 first-winter at Sebastian Inlet SP {Brevard /Indian River) 23 Dec-27
Jan (-I-A. Chan, J. Eager, m. obs.).

*Black-headed Gull: 1 first-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 18 Dec (-i-M. Brothers).

Franklin’s Gull: 1 first-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 7 Dec and 2 Jan (-i-M. Brothers); 1
at St. Marks NWR 10 Dec (M. Smith); 1 first-cycle at Tomoka Landfill, Daytona Beach
{Volusia) 14 Dec (M. Brothers); 1 second-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 2 Jan-21 Feb
(-I-M. Brothers et al.).

Ring-billed Gull: 1 banded adult at Playalinda Beach, Canaveral NS {Brevard) Dec 2016
was banded near Montreal, Quebec, and has been recorded at Playalinda each winter
since it was banded in 2013 (B. Sicolo fide Jean-Franpois Giroux).

*“European” Herring Gull: 1 first-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 11 Jan (-i-M. Brothers;
details to FOSRC).

Herring Gull x Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 adult at Daytona Beach Shores 7 Dec (M.
Brothers); 1 second-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 21 Feb (M. Brothers).

*“Vega” Herring Gull: 1 adult at Daytona Beach Shores 23 Feb (-i-M. Brothers; details
to FOSRC).

Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull: 1 first-cycle “Nelson’s Gull” at Daytona Beach Shores 23
Feb (-I-M. Brothers).

*Thayer’s Gull: 1 at Daytona Beach Shores 7 Dec, 21 Dec, and 27 Feb (M. Brothers et
al.).

Iceland Gull: 1 at Flagler Beach {Flagler) 4 Feb (J. Giraulo et al.); single first-cycle birds
at Ponce Inlet 13 and 14 Feb (M. Brothers).

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 at Fort Island Gulf Beach {Citrus) 5 Jan (-i-M. Gardler, P.
Bazany et al.); 1-2 at Fort Pickens 20 Jan-14 Feb (L. Goodman, A. Holzinger et al.).

*Slaty-backed Gull: 1 first-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 23 Feb (-i-M. Brothers; details
to FOSRC).

Glaucous Gull: 1 first-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 7 Dec and 21, 23, and 27 Feb
(-I-M. Brothers et al.); 1 at Pass-A-Grille Beach {Pinellas) 25 Jan-7 Feb (-i-S. Davis, E.
Plage); 1 first-cycle at Ponce Inlet 14 Feb (M. Brothers); 1 at Guana Tolomato Matan¬
zas NERR {St. Johns) 28 Feb (-i-D. Reed).

Gull-billed Tern: 1 at Pine Island {Hernando) 28-29 Jan (-i-D. Love, A. Hansen, B. Hansen).

Common Tern: 12 at John’s Pass {Pinellas) 9 Dec (P. Plage); 1 at Newnans Lake 11 Dec-4
Jan (M. O’Sullivan et al.); 4 at Treasure Island Beach {Pinellas) 17 Dec (-i-B. Jenks, W.
Meehan); 1 at Fred Howard Park 27 Dec (-i-R. Smith, J. Gibbons); 1 at Outback Key
{Pinellas) 7 Feb (E. Plage); 178 at St. Vincent NWR {Franklin) 8 Feb (-i-J. Murphy).

92

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Royal Tern; 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 18 Dec (C. Bateman).

Red-throated Loon; 19 at Alligator Point 22 Dec (J. Murphy).

Cory’s Shearwater; 3 offshore Naples {Collier) 7 Dec (T. Marvel); 1 at South Pointe Pier
(Miami-Dade) 11-18 Dec (C. Sanchez; m. obs.); 1 at Honeymoon Island SP 17 Jan
provided the first winter Pinellas record (-i-E. Plage).

Audubon’s Shearwater; 1 at Cape San Bias 24 Jan (-i-E. Thompson).

Magnificent Frigatebird; 10 at Fort Pickens 4 Dec (W. Butler); 43 at St. Petersburg 17
Dec {fide R. Smith); up to 2 adult males at New Smyrna Beach {Volusia) 2 Feb (J.
Kendall) and 6 Feb (M. Cain fide L. Malo); 3 females or immature over Halifax River,
South Daytona Beach {Volusia) 7 Feb (M. Cain, K. Cain fide L. Malo); 1 at Fernandina
Beach {Nassau) 21 Feb (B. Stambaugh).

Brown Booby; 1 at John U. Lloyd Beach SP, Dania {Broward) 12 Jan (J. Eager); up to 13
at upper Tampa Bay {Pinellas) thru 22 Feb {fide K. Rieker); 1 immature at Ponce de
Leon Inlet 23 Feb (M. Brothers).

*Neotropic Cormorant; Up to 2 nesting adults at Wakodahatchee Wetlands {Palm Beach)
11 Dec-EOS (J. Eager, m. obs.); 1 at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park {Broward) 1 Dec-EOS
(A. Scheflow, m. obs.).

Double-crested Cormorant; 6 pairs were on nests at Lake Apopka NSRA {Orange) in
Jan with a 7th pair joining them in Feb, a first for that location (H. Robinson), and
only the second confirmed nesting location for that species in Orange (B. Anderson).

Anhinga; 1 at International Paper Wetlands 11 Jan-4 Feb (J. Callaway, B. Callaway); 1
at Pensacola 17 Dec (C. Brown, P. McCleod).

*Great White Pelican; 1 at J. N. Ding Darling NWR 29 Jan-1 Feb (J. Davis, -i-P. Hun¬
tington et ah).

American Bittern; 1 at Ringhaver Park {Duval) 18 Dec (E. Gilley); 1 at Little Talbot
Island SP {Duval) 24 Dec C+K. Dailey).

Reddish Egret; 2 at Dog Island {Franklin) 3 Jan (E. Thompson, J. Murphy).

White-faced Ibis; 1 at St. Marks NWR 28 Dec (M. Smith); 1 adult at Lake Apopka NSRA
24 Jan-9 Feb (H. Robinson, -i-P. Hueber, L. Mathis).

Turkey Vulture; 450 migrating south ahead of a cold front in N Escambia 27 Feb (B.
Duncan, L. Duncan).

Swallow-tailed Kite; 10 at Tate’s Hell SF {Franklin) 21 Feb (P. Wharton); 1 at Ocala 26
Feb (D. Mickelson); 2 at Fort De Soto Park 27 Feb (P. Mundus); 3 at Archer {Alachua)
28 Feb (P. Sandlin).

White-tailed Kite; 2 at Avon Park AFR {Highlands) 20 Dec (E. Angell); 1 at Kissimmee
Prairie campground {Okeechobee) 2 Jan (J. Mileyka).

Snail Kite; 2 female/juvenile on St. Johns River near Wekiva River {Seminole) 17 Dec
(-I-M. Acken et al.); 1 female-plumaged at Lake Apopka NSRA 27 Feb (H. Robinson).

Bald Eagle; 28 on the Choctawhatchee CBC {Okaloosa) 19 Dec {fide B. Duncan).

Broad-winged Hawk; 1 adult at Fort De Soto Park 3 Jan-18 Feb (E. Plage); 1 immature at
Sanibel Island {Lee) 1 Feb-EOS (D. Stokes, L. Stokes, -i-E. Warren); 1 adult at down¬
town St. Petersburg 25 Feb (-i-R. Smith); 1 light morph at Masaryktown {Hernando)
27 Feb (-I-D. Love).

Short-tailed Hawk; 1 dark morph at Walt Disney World {Orange) 14 Dec (J. Thornton);
1 light morph near Chuluota {Seminole) 26 Dec (B. Sicolo, C. Lahy) may have been
same individual that was seen at Orlando Wetlands Park and Seminole Ranch WMA;
1 light morph at Orlando Wetlands Park and Seminole Ranch WMA throughout sea¬
son (-I-P. Hueber, B. Anderson, m. obs.); 1 east of Brooksville 10 Jan (J. Mann, S.
Mann); 1 dark morph at Lake Jackson Boat Ramp in Prairie Lakes Unit of Three
Lakes WMA, Kenansville {Osceola) 27 Jan (J. Eager, B. Anderson et ah); 1 light
morph at Lake Marian Paradise Marina, Kenansville {Osceola) 27 Jan (B. Anderson,
J. Eager); 2 (one dark, one light) at Withlacoochee River southeast of Dunnellon near
site where a pair attempted a nest in 2016 (J. Lewis).

Field Observations

93

Swainson’s Hawk: 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 25 Feb (M. Swan); 1 at N Escambia 27
Feb (B. Duncan, L. Duncan).

Red-tailed Hawk: 1 “Krider’s” at Brown’s Farm Road {Palm Beach) 24 Dec (+S. Young);
1 second-year, rufous B. j. albieticola or B. j. umbrinus at North Duda Farms {Palm
Beach) 2 Jan (-i-A. Lamoreaux); 1 “Krider’s” at St. Marks NWR 10 Jan (J. Cavanagh).
Short-eared Owl: 1 being chased by Fish Crows at Fred Howard Park 13 Dec (-i-K. Spili-
os, C. Nelson); 1 at Fort Island Gulf Beach 5 Jan (M. Gardler, P. Bazany et ah).
Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 juvenile at Palm Harbor {Pinellas) 29 Dec (C. Burkard).
Hairy Woodpecker: 1 at Gold Head Branch SP {Clay) 16 Jan (J. Graham); 1 adult female,
St. Sebastian River Preserve SP Yellow Trail, Fellsmere {Brevard) 27 Feb (J. Eager).
Peregrine Falcon: 1 at Bystre Lake {Hernando) through 29 Jan (J. Mann et al.); 1 at
Gainesville 18 Dec (R. Rowan et al.); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 18 Dec-EOS (M.
Smith, L. Davis et al.).

Least Flycatcher: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 18 Dec (S. Collins, J. Mays); 1 near
Black Hammock Marina, Oviedo {Seminole) 26 Dec (P. Hueber, B. Anderson); 1 east of
Lake Jesup Park {Seminole) 26 Dec (S. Simmons); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA {Orange)
5 and 26 Jan (H. Robinson).

Ver mil ion Flycatcher: 1 adult female at Lake Apopka NSRA from fall 2016-5 Dec (H.
Robinson); 1 adult female on St. Johns River south of SR 46 bridge 26 Dec (D. Simp¬
son et al.); up to 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP throughout the season (L. Davis
et al.); 1 at International Paper Wetlands 11 Dec-4 Feb (J. Callaway, B. Callaway);

1 adult male at Orlando/Apopka Airpark, Zellwood {Orange) 15 Dec (G. Quigley); 1
at St. Marks NWR 28 Dec (M. Smith); 1 at County Road 304 {Flagler) 7-15 Jan (M.
Wilson).

Ash-throated Flycatcher: 1 at Moccasin Island, River Lakes CA, Viera from fall 2016-
EOS (m. obs.); up to 8 at Lake Apopka NSRA in Dec with at least 4 there in Jan and

2 in Feb (H. Robinson) including 2 at the Lust Gate entrance 27 Nov 2016-EOS (-i-P.
Hueber, m. obs.); up to 3 at Pa 3 mes Prairie Preserve SP 5 Dec-28 Feb (M. Manetz, E.
Scales et al.); 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 19-27 Dec (B. Duncan, L. Duncan, C.
Brown, M. Swan, m. obs.); 1 at Minneola {Lake) 30 Dec (J. Thornton); 1 at Hastings
{St. Johns) 22 Jan (J. Graham, C. Davis).

*La Sagra’s Flycatcher: 1 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP {Miami-Dade) 1 Dec (m. obs.).
Tropical Kingbird: 1 at STA 2 {Palm Beach) 11 Dec-EOS (m. obs.); 1 at Gate 15 - Royal
Palm, ENP {Miami-Dade) 2-19 Dec (K. Hamblett); 1 at Francis Taylor WMA {Miami-
Dade) 1 Dec-EOS (m. obs.); 1 adult at STA 5, Clewiston {Hendry) 14 Jan (J. Eager).
Western Kingbird: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 1 Dec (-i-R. Smith); 2 at Gulf Breeze 4-7 Dec (B.
Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at Lakeside Marina {Duval) 22 Dec (B. Richter); 1 at Guana
River WMA {St. Johns) 27 Dec (C. Elder, J. Wheat); 1 at Oldsmar {Pinellas) 8 Jan-11
Feb (B. Lane, -i-J. Clayton); 1 at Melbourne {Brevard) 18 Jan-EOS (m. obs.); 2 at Lake
Apopka NSRA 6 Jan (-i-P. Hueber).

Gray Kingbird: 1 at Bunche Beach, Fort Myers 5 Dec (-i-D. Paulson); 1 adult at STA 5,
Clewiston 14 Jan (J. Eager).

ScissoR-TAiLED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Newberry {Alachua) 2 Dec-25 Jan (L. Holt, B. Stewman
et al.); 1-2 at Fort De Soto Park 26 Dec-16 Jan (D. Clark, -i-M. Burns et al.); 1 female.
Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville {Brevard) 27 Dec-EOS (m. obs.); 1 adult at
Fort De Soto Park 22-23 Feb (-i-P. Clark).

Loggerhead Shrike: 1 at St. George Island SP {Franklin) 11 Feb (R. Cassidy).
*Thick-billed Vireo: 1 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 1 Dec-16 Feb (D. O’Malley, m. obs.).
Bell’s Vireo: 1 at West Miramar Water Conservation Area {Broward) 1 Dec-EOS (K.
Schneider).

Yellow-throated Vireo: 1 at Winter Springs {Seminole) 17 Dec (-i-B. Sicolo); 1 at Econ-
lockhatchee River, Little Big Econ SF {Seminole) 25 Jan (C. Bethancourt fide L.
Malo); 1 singing at John Chesnut Park {Pinellas) 23 Feb (-i-T. Mast).

94

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Waebling Vireo: 1 at a South Miami residential area (Miami-Dade) 24 Dec-22 Jan (-i-J.
Kaufman, m. obs.).

Horned Lark: 2 at Concord Rd, Bascom (Jackson) 12 Dec (-i-R. Geisler); 8 at Greenwood
(Jackson) 7 Jan (K. Nelson).

Purple Martin: 1 male at John Taylor Park (Pinellas) 5 Jan (-i-J. Clayton, S. Tavaglione);

I at Gainesville 13 Jan (A. Kratter); 1 at Gulf Breeze 26 Jan (B. Duncan).

Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 4 at Lake Maggiore 17 Dec (1. Gibbons et al.); 1 at Safety

Harbor (Pinellas) 25-27 Dec (-i-L. Roy); 2 at Tallahassee 19 Jan (R. Cassidy); 2 at Lake
Seminole Park 10 Feb (S. Aversa); 1 at Lake Belleview 11 Feb (-i-T. Leukering); 4 at
Taylor Park (Pinellas) 16 Feb (C. Gjervold); 6 at N St. Petersburg 22 Feb (R. Smith).
Bank Swallow: 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park (Alachua) 23 Feb (S. Wade).

Barn Swallow: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 5 Dec (H. Robinson); 1 at Okaloosa County STF
7 Dec (B. Purdy); 1 at Sand Key Park 27 Feb (Pinellas) (T. Young).

Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1 continued from 13 Nov at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (Pinel¬
las) 3-11 Dec (R. Smith et al.); 5 at Garcon Point 17 Dec (B. Duncan, L. Duncan, L.
Goodman, L. Langston); 1 at Taylor Park 3 Jan-Feb 19 (S. Aversa, -i-J. Clayton, m.
obs.); 2 at North Anclote River Nature Park (Pinellas) 11 Feb (-i-R. Smith et al.); 1 at
Cary SF (Duval) 11 Feb (D. Foster); 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR 14 Feb
(C. Elder).

Brown Creeper: 2 at Florida Caverns SP (Jackson) 12 Dec (R. Geisler).

Winter Wren: 1 at Tallahassee 1 Dec-28 Feb (F. Rutkovsky).

Red-whiskered Bulbul: 6 adults at SW 85 St in Snapper Creek Park subdivision, Miami
(Miami-Dade) 10 Dec (J. Eager).

Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1 at Lake Lotus Park, Altamonte Springs (Seminole) 2 Dec-12
Jan (-I-P. Hueber); 1 at Boca Ciega Millennium Park (Pinellas) 27-29 Dec (-i-T. Pipkin,
J. Clayton); 1 at Gator Creek Reserve (Polk) 2 Jan (C. Fredricks); 11 at Greenwood 3
Jan (M. Miller, J. Murphy); up to 3 at Oakland Nature Preserve (Orange) 29 Jan-EOS
(-I-P. Hueber, P. Meharg, m. obs.); 2 at Cary SF 19 Feb (K. Dailey, D. Foster).
Swainson’s Thrush: 1 at Alligator Point 11 Dec (-i-J. Murphy); 1 at Flamingo area of Ever¬
glades NP (Monroe) 27 Dec (A. Kearns).

Wood Thrush: 1 continued at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond (Duval) from 27 Nov
through 3 Dec (-i-S. Raduns); 1 at Wekiva River, Lower Wekiva River Preserve SP
(Seminole) 10 Dec (L. Malo, C. Palmer).

Hill Myna: 1 at Circle B Bar Reserve (Polk) 16 Dec-15 Jan (C. Fredricks et al.).
Scaly-breasted Munia: 70 at Pace (Santa Rosa) 6 Dec (D. Stangeland); 8 at W Pensacola
30 Dec (J. Lloyd); 20 at Big Lagoon SP (Escambia) 9 Jan (C. Tebay); 20 at W Pen¬
sacola 8 Jan (C. Coster); 11 at Gonzalez (Escambia) 19 Jan (P. Doggrell); 15 at E Gulf
Breeze 28 Feb (T. Shultz).

*Sprague’s Pipit: 6 at Apalachicola airport (Eranklin) 28 Dec (B. Kinzie, et al.).

Purple Finch: 1 at Carrabelle Beach 6 Dec (R. Cassidy); 1 at Alligator Point 11 Dec (J.
Murphy); 3 at Tallahassee 12 Dec-28 Feb (F. Rutkovsky); 6 at Cantonment 6 Jan-16
Feb (J. Callaway, B. Callaway, J. Yuhasz).

Pine Siskin: 1 at Gainesville 23 Feb-EOS (S. Robinson).

^Smith’s Longspur: 1 at Flamingo (Monroe) 24 Dec (-i-M. Stickel) would provide the first
state record pending FOSRC acceptance.

Louisiana Waterthrush: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 9 Dec (A. Horst); 1 at Dunedin Ham¬
mock Park (Pinellas) 28 Feb (J. Wells).

Northern Waterthrush: Up to 7 at Lake Apopka NSRA in Jan (H. Robinson).
Blue-winged Warbler: 1 male at Deering Estate (Miami-Dade) 19 Dec-EOS (Ra. Diaz).
Tennessee Warbler: 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park 12-17 Dec (-i-S. Tavaglione, m. obs.)
Nashville Warbler: Up to 3 at Gainesville 5 Dec-EOS (G. Kent, A. Kent, B. Ewing, L. Da¬
vis et al.); 1 in Gulf Breeze 16 Jan-24 Feb (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at Bystre Lake

II Feb (A. Lamoreaux, M. Mizak); 1 at Largo Nature Reserve 25 Feb (T. Leukering).

Field Observations

95

Hooded Warbler: 1 male at Kendalwood Park (Miami-Dade) 1 Dec-EOS (S. Paez, m.
obs.); 1 male at Richardson Historic Park and Nature Preserve (Broward) 1 Dec-EOS
(J. Eager, m. obs.).

American Redstart: 1 at Highlands Hammock SP (Highlands) 2 Jan (B. Onley); 1 at OR
29 (Highlands) 30 Dec (S. Mills, D. Simpson).

*Kirtland’s Warbler: 1 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 11-16 Feb (C. Borre, m. obs.).

Cape May Warbler: 1 at Nombre De Dios Grounds (St. Johns) 20-21 Dec (fide D. Reed et
al.); 1 female at Sebastian 1 Jan (G. Harber); 1 male at Melbourne 16 Jan (R. Paxton).

Northern Parula: 1 at Lonnie Wurn Boat Ramp (Duval) 26 Dec (C. Bailey-White); 1 in
Odom’s Mill (St. Johns) 29 Dec (fide K. Dailey); 1 at Westside Industrial Park (Duval)
2 Jan (fide K. Dailey); 1 at Fort Pickens 22 Jan (A. Holzinger).

Yellow Warbler: 1 at Gulf Breeze 8-21 Dec (M. Brower, C. Brower); 1 male at Walt
Disney World 16 Dec (D. Krikorian); 1 at Westside Industrial Park 8 Jan provided
the first winter Duval record (-i-J. Graham); 1 on St. Johns River at C. S. Lee Park
(Seminole) 27 Jan (G. Armistead et al. fide L. Male).

Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1 at Gainesville 2 Dec-EOS (E. Scales).

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Up to 1,800 at Sheffield Regional Park (Duval) 8 Jan (K. Dailey).

Prairie Warbler: 1 at Fort Pickens 14 Jan (A. Holzinger).

*Black-throated Gray Warbler: 1 male at Evergreen Cemetery, Ft. Lauderdale (Bro¬
ward) 1 Dec-EOS (m. obs.).

Black-throated Green Warbler: 1-4 at Sawgrass Lake Park 6 Dec-19 Feb (J. Clayton, S.
Tavaglione, m. obs.); 1 at Boca Ciega Millennium Park 10 Dec-4 Feb (R. Harrod, -i-R.
Smith, S. Fears); 1 at Gainesville 12 Feb-EOS (A. Zions).

Wilson’s Warbler: 1 at Tallahassee 2 Dec-28 Feb (-i-F. Rutkovsky).

Yellow-breasted Chat: 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA throughout the season (m. obs.); 1 at
Tallahassee 14 Dec (G. Griffin).

^Western Spindalis: 1 female at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 1 Dec-EOS (-i-Ro. Diaz, m.
obs.); 1 notably different female at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 2-14 Dec (-i-N. Frade,
m. obs.); 1 male “Bahamas Black-backed” at Deering Estate 1 Dec (Ra. Diaz); 1 fe¬
male at Crandon Park 9 Jan-7 Feb (S. Runyon, m. obs.).

*Bananaquit: 1 adult at Richardson Historic Park and Nature Preserve 31 Dec-13 Feb
(-I-M. Pearson, m. obs.).

Bachman’s Sparrow: 1 at Gold Head Branch SP (Clay) 22 Jan (J. Graham).

Clay-colored Sparrow: 1 at Brooker Creek Preserve (first found 24 Nov 2016) was still
present to 31 Dec (-i-T. Mast, m. obs.); 1 at Weedon Island Preserve (Pinellas) 17 Dec
(-I-M. Burns); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 18 Dec (D. Segal); 1 at Helen and Allan
Cruickshank Sanctuary, Rockledge (Brevard) 19 Feb (-i-C. Ferro).

Field Sparrow: 1 at Canal St., Oviedo (Seminole) 29 Dec-2 Jan (-i-K. Schmidt, P. Hueber).

Lark Sparrow: 1 adult at Fort De Soto Park 7 Jan-27 Feb (T. Young, -i-W. Tallyn, m. obs.);
1 at N Santa Rosa 11 Jan (T. True).

Grasshopper Sparrow: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 27 Dec-20 Feb (-i-J. Mangold, R. Smith).

Henslow’s Sparrow: 1 at Apalachicola National Forest (Liberty) 5 Dec (E. OrD.

Nelson’s Sparrow: 1 A. n. subvirgatus at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 11 Jan
(K. Dailey).

Fox Sparrow: Up to 5 ai Alachua 8-30 Dec (M. Manetz, A. Kratter et al.); 1 at Blackwater
River SF (Santa Rosa) 11 Dec (D. Stangland); 2 at Concord Road, Bascom 12 Dec (R.
Geisler); 1 at the Okaloosa County STF 19 Dec (B. Duncan, L. Duncan, C. Brown); 1
at Cantonment (Escambia) 7 Jan-16 Feb (J. Yuhasz).

Song Sparrow: 1 at Possum Branch Preserve 2 Dec (-i-T. Mast); 1 at Lake Seminole Park
17 Dec (J. Fisher); 1 at Lake Belleview 10-20 Feb (-i-K. Duncan, m. obs.).

Lincoln’s Sparrow: Up to 7 ai Alachua throughout the season (S. Wade, L. Davis et al.);
1 at Canal St., Oviedo 29 Nov-27 Feb (-i-S. Simmons, -i-S. Brown); 1 at Guana River
WMA 13 Dec (D. Reed, C. Elder); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA (Lake) 15 Dec (-i-G. Wil-

96

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Hams, R Hueber); at least 1 at Tosohatchee WMA 20 Dec (D. Simpson); 1 at Black
Creek Ravines CA (Clay) 31 Dec (J. Graham, C. Davis) and there 12 Jan (S. Raduns).

*Harris’s Sparrow: 1 adult male east of Brooksville (Hernando) 4 Jan-EOS (+M. Gardler,
m. obs.).

White-crowned Sparrow: 1 at St. Marks NWR 10 Jan (J. Cavanagh).

Dark-eyed Junco: 1 at Gainesville 17 Jan-28 Feb (M. Manetz et ah); 1 near Dade City
(Pasco) 27 Jan-EOS (H. Baal et al.).

Summer Tanager: 1 male Lake Apopka NSRA15 Dec (-i-E. Horn, S. Simmons); 1 female at
Merritt Island NWR 19 Dec (D. Simpson); 1 at Pensacola 19 Dec (J. Cobb); 1 at Pen¬
ney Farms (Clay) 28 Dec (fide K. Dailey); 1 at W Pensacola 3 Jan-24 Feb (J. Lloyd); 1
at W Pensacola 8 Jan (C. Coster); 1 male at Sawgrass Lake Park 14 Jan-18 Feb (-i-S.
Fears, M. Casey); 1 at W Pensacola 19 Feb (C. Hevshohn).

Western Tanager: 2 at a private residence in Mandarin (Duval) 11 Dec-18 Feb (fide
K. Dailey); 1 female at Lake Apopka NSRA 10 and 17 Jan (H. Robinson); 1 at Gulf
Breeze 3-5 Jan (B. Duncan); 1 at Fort Walton Beach (Okaloosa) 18 Jan (K. Jones); 1
female at Cedar Key 26 Jan-25 Feb (D. Henderson); 1 at Richardson Historic Park
and Nature Preserve 13 Feb (-i-P Hueber, L. Mathis, m. obs.).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 at Cantonment 2 Dec (J. Callaway, B. Callaway); up to 4 at
Gainesville 3 Dec-EOS (E. Martin, K. Brown, A. Kratter, B. Palmer); 1 at Telegraph
Creek Preserve (Lee) 4 Dec (-i-R. Kaskan); 1 at Gulf Breeze 10 Dec (D. Timmons); 1
male at Fort Myers (Lee) 24 Dec-EOS (D. McQuade, T. McQuade).

Blue Grosbeak: 1 at Gulf Breeze 9 Dec (R. Ludlow); 1 at Canal St., Oviedo 1 Jan (-i-K.
Schmidt); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA 10 Jan (H. Robinson); 1 at Fort Pickens 19 Feb
(P. Doggrell).

Indigo Bunting: 1 at Gulf Breeze 3-8 Dec (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 male at N St. Peters¬
burg 25-29 Jan (J. Clayton); 1 at Largo Nature Preserve 24 Jan (S. Aversa); 1 male at
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 28 Jan (P. Waton).

Painted Bunting: 3 at Ormond Beach throughout the season (M. Wilson); 1 female at
Sawgrass Lake Park 7 Dec (S. Tavaglione, J. Clayton); 2-3 at Boyd Hill NP 17 Dec-28
Jan (R. Smith, J. Gibbons, -i-P. Waton); 1 at Apalachicola (Franklin) 28 Dec (S. Jones,
et al.); 3 at an E Clearwater yard 1 Jan (R. Lane); 1 female at Fort De Soto Park 1 Jan
(T. Leukering); 2 at Eagle Lake Park (Pinellas) 5 Jan (S. Tavaglione, -i-J. Clayton); 1
female at a Palm Harbor yard feeder 9 Jan (J. Wells); 1 female at a backyard feeder
at Bardmoor (Pinellas) 16 Jan (W. Scott); 1-3 at Possum Branch Preserve (Pinellas)
15-21 Jan (K. Duncan, -i-J. Clayton et al.); 1 female at Sand Key Park 6 Feb (-i-K.
Duncan); 2 at Largo Nature Reserve 5 Jan-25 Feb (-i-J. Clayton, S. Tavaglione); up
to 16 individuals reported at various locations throughout Pinellas 1 Dec-EOS (fide
R. Smith).

Dickcissel: 1 SE of Brooksville 4 Dec (S. Spenceley); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 10
Dec-4 Feb (A. Zions et al.).

Eastern Meadowlark: 8 at Brooker Creek Preserve 31 Dec (E. Plage et al.).

Yellow-headed Blackbird: 1 male in Ibis Cove, Fleming Island (Clay) 5 Dec (S. Raduns);
80 at Sem-Chi Rice Plant (Palm Beach) 2 Jan (-i-A. Lamoreaux).

Rusty Blackbird: Up to 5 at Sheffield Regional Park 10-18 Dec (S. Raduns, m. obs.);
singles at Lake Jesup CA, Marl Bed Flats Tract 16 (G. Williams) and 26 (S. Collins)
Dec and 3 Jan (-i-S. Simmons); up to 74 at Gainesville 18 Dec-EOS (D. Richard, L.
Davis et al.); 90 at International Paper Wetlands 30 Dec (J. Callaway, B. Callaway).

Brewer’s Blackbird: 1 female at Ba 3 T)ort (Hernando) throughout season (J. McKay et al.).

Boat-tailed Grackle: 11 at Floridatown (Santa Rosa) 24 Dec (D. Stangeland) and 37
there 14 Jan (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 westoni at Huguenot Memorial Park 5 Feb
(-I-K. Dailey).

Orchard Oriole: 1 adult male at Gemini Springs SP (Seminole) 17 Dec (G. Bretz, S.
Simmons).

Field Observations

97

Baltimore Oriole; 1 at Weedon Island Preserve 17 Dec (+J. Swenfurth); up to 14 SE of
Brooksville 17 Dec-21 Jan (D. Grimes, C. Cock).

Literature Cited

Stefanova, L., D. Brouillette, and D. Zierden. 2016. Climate Summary for Florida - De¬
cember 2016. Florida Climate Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee.

Stefanova, L., D. Brouillette, and D. Zierden. 2017a. Climate Summary for Florida -
January 2017. Florida Climate Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee.

Stefanova, L., D. Brouillette, and D. Zierden. 2017b. Climate Summary for Florida - Feb¬
ruary 2017. Florida Climate Center. Florida State University, Tallahassee.

Acknowledgments

This report is dedicated to Murray Gardler who passed away 6 April 2017. Murray
was a long-time member of the FOS who not only volunteered his time serving various
roles over the years, but also contributed countless observations to these seasonal
reports. Murray found and reported the Harris’s Sparrow included in this report; that
bird caused a stir and was enjoyed by dozens of people.

Contributors: MaryAcken, Barbara Almario, Bruce Anderson, Emily Angell, George
Armistead, Miriam Avello, Steve Aversa, Harold Baal, Carol Bailey-White, Juanita
Baker, Fred Bassett, Craig Bateman, Pat Bazany, Mark Berney, Carlos Bethancourt,
Amber Bobbitt, Tamar Boorstin, Cara Borre, Greg Bretz, Cathy Brower, Michael Brower,
Cecil Brown, Karen Brown, Sherri Brown, Matt Bruce, Carol Burkhard, Mark Burns,
Will Butler, Kirra Cain, Melanie Cain, Brenda Callaway, Jerry Callaway, Meeghan
Casey, Rodney Cassidy, Jim Cavanaugh, Avery Chan, David Clark, Peter Clark, JoAnna
Clayton, Bruce Cochrane, Chris Cock, Steve Collins, Cindy Coster, Charles Crawford,
Kevin Dailey, Candice Davis, Judy Davis, Lloyd Davis, Steve Davis, Gigi DelPizzo, Rangel
Diaz, Robin Diaz, Jim Dinsmore, Perry Doggrell, Bob Duncan, Lucy Duncan, Jim Eager,
Barbara Eells, C 3 mthia Elder, Charlie Ewell, Ben Ewing, Dean Ewing, Sam Ewing, Susan
Fears, Linda Felker, Christopher Ferro, Judy Fisher, Lauren Flesher, David Foster,
Noah Frade, Cole Fredricks, Bruce Furlow, David Gagne, Murray Gardler, Reinhard
Geisler, Ivy Gibbons, John Gibbons, Earline Gilley, Jason Giraulo, Colin Gjervold, Larry
Goodman, David Goodwin, Jeffrey Graham, Jessica Greer, Gary Griffin, Debbie Grimes,
Karen Hamblett, Erik Haney, A1 Hansen, Bev Hansen, Greg Harber, Randy Harrod,
Dale Henderson, Carol Heushohn, Dianne Hewitt, Fred Hillman, Linda Holt, Andrew
Holzinger, Earl Horn, Alice Horst, Paul Hueber, Jim Hughes, Polly Huntington, Bonnie
Jenks, Kelly Jones, Steve Jones, Smith Juan, Richard Kaskan, Jeanne Kaufman, Amy
Kearns, Kay Keigley, Les Kelly, John Kendall, Adam Kent, Gina Kent, Barry Kinzie,
Alan Knothe, Andy Kratter, David Krikorian, David Kulp, B. J. Ladd, Alex Lamoreaux,
Bob Lane, Denise Lane, Liz Langston, Patrick Leary, Tom Ledford, Tony Leukering,
Joyce Lewis, Jan Lloyd, Darcy Love, Robert Ludlow, Lome Male, Mike Manetz, Larry
Manfredi, John Mangold, Jane Mann, Steve Mann, Len Manning, Elizabeth Martin,
John Martin, Tom Marvel, Tom Mast, Lori Mathis, Jonathan Mays, Jim McKay, Shelby
McLemar, Powers McLeod, Susan McMarlin, David McQuade, Tammy McQuade, Wendy
Meehan, Pam Meharg, Richard Merrigan, Deena Mickelson, Joseph Miley, Diana Miller,
Mike Miller, Susan Mills, Mark Mizak, Rosi Mullholland, Patrick Mundus, John Murphy,
David Muth, Charlene Nelson, Kris Nelson, Tom Olkowski, Dan O’Malley, Brooks Onley,
Earl Orf, Matt O’Sullivan, Stephen Paez, Bob Palmer, Carol Palmer, Dennis Paulson,
Robert Paxton, Meghan Pearson, Mitchell Petosky, Tal Pipkin, Eric Plage, Pete Plage,
Bruce Purdy, Callus Quigley, Steve Raduns, Diane Reed, Doug Richard, Bob Richter,

98

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Kenneth Rieker, Janna Rinehart, Dottie Rohbins, Harry Robinson, Scott Robinson, Rex
Rowan, Louise Roy, Shane Runyon, Fran Rutkovsky, Carlos Sanchez, Phil Sandlin,
Lillian Saul, Earl Scales, Jr., Allison Scheflow, Ken Schmidt, Ken Schneider, William
Scott, Debbie Segal, David Sherer, Thomas Shultz, Bob Sicolo, Scott Simmons, David
Simpson, Marvin Smith, Ron Smith, Steve Spenceley, Ken Spilios, Pete Stafford, Scott
Stafford, Bruce Stambaugh, Daniel Stangeland, Barbara Stewman, Monte Stickel, Pan
Stine, Don Stokes, Lillian Stokes, Joe Stuckey, Malcolm Swan, John Swenfurth, Wes
Tallyn, Sue Tavaglione, Carol Tebay, Ezra Thompson, Dana Timmons, John Thomson,
Tom True, Duke Tufty, Sidney Wade, Eary Warren, Doug Wassmer, Paul Waton, Ray
Webb, Marsha Weeks, Jim Wells, Paul Wharton, James Wheat, Graham Williams, Meret
Wilson, Rebecca Windsor, Danny Young, Sue Young, Travis Young, John Yuhasz, Adam
Zions, Steve Zoellner.

Report prepared by Kevin E. Dailey, state compiler (6661 Beatrix Drive,
Jacksonville, Florida 32226, <kedailey@yahoo.com>). Regional compilers are Bruce
H. Anderson (2917 Scarlet Road, Winter Park, Florida 32792, <scizortail@aol.com>),
Robin Diaz (200 Ocean Lane Drive #PB-1, Key Biscayne, Florida 33149, <rd4birds@
bellsouth.net>). Bob and Lucy Duncan (614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida
32561, <Town_Point@bellsouth.net>), Charlie Ewell (115 SW 51st Terrace, Cape Coral,
Florida 33991, <anhinga42@comcast.net>), Bev Hansen (6573 Pine Meadows Drive,
Spring Hill, Florida 34606, <bevalhansen@gmail.com>), John Murphy (766 Alligator
Drive, Alligator Point, Florida 32346, <southmoonunder@mchsi.com>), David Sherer
(123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960, <dlsherer@gmail.com>), and Ron Smith (1500 85th
Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33702, <rsmithbirds@gmail.com>).

Florida Field Naturalist 45(3):99, 2017.

OUR FOS FIELD OBSERVATIONS
COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR SKILLS

The FOS Field Observations Committee seeks volunteers
interested in joining the committee as regional compilers for counties
that are currently uncovered. The first region would include Suwannee,
Columbia, Gilchrist, Union, and Bradford counties. A second region
could be covered by one or several interested individuals: Polk, Osceola,
Hardee, De Soto, Glades, and Okeechobee counties. Responsibilities
would include soliciting and compiling notable field observations for
these counties at the end of each season. Interested individuals should
contact the state compiler listed at the end of the Field Observations
report in this issue.

99

BE A FRIEND OF FFN

Florida Field Naturalist is the journal of FOS, an important
communication vehicle for the Florida scientific and birding community.
Increasing costs need to be offset with a combination of member dues
and contributions.

Please consider a donation of $50, $100, $200 or more to FRIENDS
OF FFN. Your gift will allow FFN to improve its artwork, including
four-color photographs of rarities similar to the one of the state’s first
Varied Bunting, published in the February 2006 issue, and other
improvements in the content and appearance of our journal.

Contributions to FRIENDS OF FFN will be added to a special
endowment of FOS, the interest of which will be used to improve the
journal. Please write a check payable to the Florida Ornithological
Society and specify that the gift is for FOS Friends of FFN. Send
your check to the Treasurer: Charles H. Fisher, Jr., c/o Reilly, Fisher
& Solomon PA, 4950 W. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 610, Tampa, FL 33609.
Email: chflshercpa@hotmail.com

We thank the following generous donors for contributing to
FRIENDS OF FFN:

2013

Larry Hribar

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Wilfred Yusek

Larry Hribar

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Mary Landsman

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

John Murphy

Kevin & Marie Dailey

Robin Diaz

St Johns River WMD

Andrew Kratter

(In Memory of Judy Bryan)

Robert & Lucy Duncan

Richard L. West

Michael Brothers

Billi Wagner

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

William Post

Robert Budliger

John L. Wuepper

Tim Towles

Michael Brothers

Nancy Prine

Wade Nolan

Ann Paul

2014

Anthony White

Stephen Gross

Stuart R. Wilson

William Courser

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

David Hartgrove

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

John Murphy

Kevin & Marie Dailey

Robin Diaz

Robin Diaz

100

101

Todd Engstrom
David Hartgrove
Larry Hribar
Dennis Meritt
William Post
Nancy A. Prine

2015

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.
Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Todd Engstrom
David Hartgrove
Larry Hribar
Dennis Meritt
William Post
Nancy A. Prine

2016

Michael Brothers
James E. Cavanagh, Jr.
Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Bob & Lucy Duncan
Todd Engstrom
David Goodwin

David Hartgrove
Earl & Dorothy Horn
Barbara C. Kittleson
John Michael Murphy
Stephen Nesbitt
Will Post
Nancy A. Prine
Raymond G. Scory
Paul Sykes

2017

Michael Brothers

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

Silvio Crespo

Kevin & Marie Dailey

Rohin Diaz

Todd Engstrom

David Goodwin

David Hartgrove

Earl & Dorothy Horn

Fred & Charlotte Lohrer

Travis & Karen MacClendon

Dennis Meritt

John Michael Murphy

Ann Paul

Will Post

Walter K. Taylor

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE
FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

M. C. Bowman. 1978. Species Index to Florida Bird Records in Audubon
Field Notes and American Birds, Volumes 1-30, 1947-1967. Florida
Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 1. xii + 43 pages. $4.

J. A. Cox. 1987. Status and Distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay. Flor¬
ida Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 3. vii + 110 pages. $8.

R. W. Loftin, G. E. Woolfenden, and J. A. Woolfenden. 1991. Florida
Bird Records in American Birds and Audubon Field Notes (1947-
1989): Species Index and County Gazetteer. Florida Ornithological
Society Special Publication No. 4. xiv -i- 99 pages. $8.

R. W. Loftin. 1991. West Indian Bird Records in American Birds and
Audubon Field Notes (1947-1990): Species Index by Islands. Flor¬
ida Ornithological Society Special Publication No. 5. ix -i- 90 pages. $8.

W. B. Robertson, Jr. and G. E. Woolfenden. 1992. Florida Bird Species:
An Annotated List. Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication
No. 6. ix -I- 260 pages. FOS members: $15 soft cover, $20 hard cover;
Non-members: $18 soft cover, $23 hard cover.

G. E. Woolfenden, W. B. Robertson, Jr., and J. Cox. 2006. The Breeding
Birds of Florida. Florida Ornithological Society Special Publication
No. 7. ii -I- 142 pages. $12.

J. S. Greenlaw, B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and
Woolfenden Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List. Florida Or¬
nithological Society Special Publication No. 8. viii -i- 435 pages. $24.

To order Special Publications: Please send a check payable to
the Florida Ornithological Society to the Treasurer:

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c/o Reilly, Fisher & Solomon PA
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102

Florida Field Naturalist

ISSN 0738-999X

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Editor: Scott Robinson, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida,
RO. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: srobinson@fl mn h.ufl.edu
Managing/Copy Editor: Tom Webber, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of
Florida, P.O. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: twebber@flmnh.ufl.edu
Associate Editor (for bird distribution): Bruce Anderson, 2917 Scarlet Road,
Winter Park, FL 32792. Email: scizortail@aol.com

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Florida Field Naturalist is a refereed journal emphasizing biological field studies
and observations of vertebrates, especially birds, in or near Florida and the nearby West
Indies. We welcome submission of original manuscripts containing new information from
these areas. We encourage electronic submission of manuscripts. Please consult
recent issues of the journal and the FOS website (http://www.fosbirds.org/content/ffn-
article-submission-guidelines) for style, noting especially that manuscripts should:

(1) be double-spaced throughout, including table- and figure captions;

(2) include the scientific name at the first mention of each species;

(3) include capitalized standard English names for all birds, but lower
case for English names of other organisms;

(4) use metric units for all measurements;

(5) use the form “7 June 2003” for all dates;

(6) use the 24-hour clock for all indications of time (e.g., 0800, 1400);

(7) use the following abbreviations: s (second), min (minute), h (hour);

(8) use active voice where at all possible.

Submit manuscripts, and books for review, to the Editor, Scott Robinson.
Field observations should be sent to a regional compiler of the Field Observations
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submit-observation). Reports of birds for which the FOS Records Committee requires
documentation (see http://fosbirds.org/content/records-committee) should be sent to the
Secretary of the Committee, Andrew W. Kratter, Florida Museum of Natural History,
P.O. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800; Email: kratter@flmnh.ufl.edu.

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 3 September 2017 Pages 71-102

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

First verified breeding record of the Ruddy Duck {Oxyura jamaicensis)

in Florida

Lorraine Margeson .71-78

Recent occurrences of unusually plumaged kingbirds {Tyrannus) in
Florida: Hybrids or little-noticed natural variants?

Stu Wilson .79-86

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Winter Report: December 2016-February 2017

Kevin E. Dailey .87-98

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Field Observations Committee needs your skills.99

Friends of FFN.100-101

FOS Special Publications.102

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 4 November 2017 Pages 103-125

FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Founded 1972
OFFICERS

President: Adam Kent, 222 SE 12th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641. Email: kestrelkent®
yahoo.com

Vice President: Ann Paul, 11586 W Bayshore Drive, Crystal River, FL 34429. Email:
apaul@auduhon.org

Secretary: Cole Fredricks, 325 Ruby Lake Loop, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Email:
cfredricks@tampabay.rr.com

Treasurer: Char te r H. Fisher, Jr., 4806 W Beach Park Drive, Tampa, FL 33609. Email:
chflshercpa@hotmail.com

Editor, Florida Field Naturalist: Scott Robinson, Florida Museum of Natural History,
PC. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: srohinson@fl mn h.ufl.edu

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2018

Todd Engstrom, 309 Carr Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Email: engstrom@bio.fsu.edu
Whitney Gray, 620 S Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Email: whitney.gray@
myFWC.com

Erin Ragheb, 1105 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601. Email: erin.ragheb@
myFWC.com

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2019

Jim Eager, 350 Fillmore Avenue, Apt. F-18, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Email: beachbirder@
bellsouth.net

Graham Williams, 530 Rosedale Avenue, Longwood, FL 32750. Email: grahamevanwilliams@
gmail.com

Directors, Serving Until Spring 2020

Christopher Ferro, 2607 Pepper Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32935. Email: lonelybirder43@
gmail.com

Dan O’Malley, FWC, 8535 Northlake Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33412.
Email: Dan.Omalley@myFWC.com

Honorary Members

Samuel A. Grimes 1979; Helen G. Cruickshank 1980; Oliver L. Austin, Jr. 1982
Pierce Brodkorb 1982; William B. Robertson, Jr. 1992; Glen E. Woolfenden 1994

Ted Below 1999; Fred E. Lohrer 2009

All persons interested in Florida’s natural history, especially its abundant bird life,
are invited to join the Florida Ornithological Society by writing to the Treasurer. Annual
membership dues are $25 for individual members, $30 for a family membership, $15
for students, $45 for contributing members, and $40 for institutional membership;
add $5 for overseas delivery. One-time contributions for life membership are $400 for
individuals and $500 for families. All members receive Florida Field Naturalist.

Notice of change of address, claims for undelivered or defective copies, and requests
for information about advertising and subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer.

Florida Field Naturalist is published quarterly (March, May, September, and
November) by the Florida Ornithological Society. It is printed by E. O. Painter Printing
Co., PO. Box 877, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130. The permanent address of the Florida
Ornithological Society is Division of Birds, Florida Museum of Natural History, 1659
Newell Dr., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. The Florida Ornithological
Society web site is at www.fosbirds.org

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON NEUTRAL PH PAPER

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 4 November 2017 Pages 103-125

Florida Field Naturalist 45(4):103-109, 2017.

ELEVEN RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE
EXOTIC AVIFAUNA OF FLORIDA

Bill Pranty^ and Valeri Ponzo^

^8515 Village Mill Row, Bayonet Point, Florida 34667

Email: billpranty@hotmaiLcom
‘^725 Center Road, Sarasota, Florida 34240

Email: anihirdbrain@gmail.com

Greenlaw et al. (2014) list 161 species of birds of exotic or unknown
provenance that had been recorded in Florida via photographic and/
or specimen evidence through June 2013. Between July 2013 and
December 2016, 11 new exotic species have been documented in the
state. Here, we provide details on these new species. BPA data refer to
files in the Bill Pranty Archive, Pranty’s collection of ornithologically
significant photographs and video-recordings.

Common Emu {Dromaius novaehollandiae): one found free-
roaming near Fruitville Road and Interstate 75 in the Deer Hollow
area of Sarasota, Sarasota County, 23 October 2013, was featured
in an article in a local newspaper (Anonymous 2013; BPA 6110-d,
photographer uncredited). The emu was captured and taken into
captivity by Sarasota County Animal Services; we do not know its final
disposition. There is one previous report of the species in Florida but
no previous record (Greenlaw et al. 2014). Common Emu is endemic to
Australia.

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata): two unhanded adults
in the Edgewater area, Volusia County, in July-August 2014 (BPA
8542a-c, M. Brothers, 15 July 2014; BPA 8543, B. Pranty, 19 July
2014, Fig. 1) were featured in an article in a local newspaper (Pulver
2014; BPA 8544a-c, photographs by J. Tiller). The geese frequented
the Hacienda del Rio retirement community in Edgewater, where

103

104

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Figure 1. Two Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata) at the Hacienda del
Rio retirement community, Edgewater, Volusia County, Florida, 19 July 2014.
Photograph by Bill Pranty.

one of the geese, tamer than the other, often joined residents in
the community swimming pool! On 19 July, BP transcribed the
vocalization as a high-pitched, quiet hoot. Presumably it was these
same two individuals who were photographed on the New Smyrna
River off Edgewater, 22 July 2014 (BPA8982, E. Atkins), where they
landed on a boat and rode it to shore. The geese were so tame that
they were picked up by hand and moved off the boat (E. Atkins in litt.).
Due to fears from some Hacienda del Rio residents about catching
a disease from the geese, the tame goose reportedly was captured
by an employee of the retirement community and transported to
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where it was then (illegally!)
released. However, the goose had returned to Hacienda del Rio the
following day, after presumably having flown from the refuge. The
non-tame goose eventually disappeared (E. Gudalewicz in litt.) and
the remaining, tame goose was captured and was placed in captivity
at East Coast Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Port Orange; we do
not know its final disposition. This was the first report and record of
the species in Florida (Creenlaw et al. 2014). Magpie Coose is native
to New Guinea and Australia.

Blue-winged Goose {Cyanochen cyanoptera): one tame, unhanded
adult was discovered in early 2012 in a residential area at Stuart,
Martin County (BPA 8959a-d, L. Wishney, 8 January 2015; BPA
8946a-d, B. Pranty, Fig. 2, 16 April 2015; P. Procko in litt.). The goose

Pranty and Ponzo—New Florida Exotics

105

Figure 2. Blue-winged Goose {Cyanochen cyanoptera) at Stuart, Martin County,
Florida, 16 April 2015. Photograph by Bill Pranty.

was pinioned, with the distal end of its right wing missing (BP and VP
pers. obs.). It survived at least through August 2016 (P. Procko in litt.).
This is the first report and record of the species in Florida (Greenlaw
et al. 2014). Blue-winged Goose is endemic to Ethiopia.

California Quail {Callipepla californica): one male photographed
at Loxahatchee, Palm Beach County, 28 February 2015 (BPA8751, L.
Leon) was not seen again. This was the first report and record of the
species in Florida (Greenlaw et al. 2014). California Quail is native from
southwestern British Columbia and Utah south to Baja California.

Great White Pelican {Pelecanus onocrotalus): one unhanded
individual was photographed among a flock of American White
Pelicans (P. occidentalis) along the wildlife drive at J. N. “Ding”
Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Lee County,
Florida, 28 February-1 March 2016 (BPA 8980a-i, T. McQuade, 28
February 2016; BPA 8981a-c, B. Hill, 1 March 2016); presumably
this same individual reportedly was observed at the refuge on 1
February 2017 (eBird data). There is one previous report of the
species in Florida but no previous record (Greenlaw et al. 2014).
Great White Pelican breeds locally in southwestern Asia and much
of Africa. Northern populations migrate to winter farther south.

106

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Although the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee is
reviewing this record (A. W. Kratter in litt.) as a potential natural
vagrant based on vagrancy to Europe (Jigeut et al. 2008), we consider
this individual to be an escapee from a private collection. The record
of an unhanded Pink-backed Pelican (P. rufescens) photographed
at Marco Island, Collier County, Florida, 29 December 2001—an
individual presumed to have wandered from its private “owner” at
Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida (Bowman 2004, Greenlaw
et al. 2014)—perhaps is instructive.

Onychognathus species: one individual, either a Red-winged
Starling (O. morio) or a Tristram’s Starling (O. tristramii), was
photographed at Brickell Key, Miami, Miami-Dade County, 8 June
2014 (BPA 8801a-b, L. Siqueira). The images are of low resolution
(taken with a cell phone camera) and the specific identification cannot
be made with certainty. There is one previous report of Red-winged
Starling in Florida but no previous report of Tristram’s Starling
(Greenlaw et al. 2014). Red-winged Starling is resident in central and
southern Africa, while Tristram’s Starling is endemic to the Sinai and
Arabian peninsulas.

Silver-beaked Tanager {Ramphocelus carbo): one unhanded
male at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County,

Figure 3. Silver-beaked Tanager {Ramphocelus carho) at Boyd Hill Nature
Preserve, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, 30 August 2015. Photograph
by Valeri Ponzo.

Pranty and Ponzo—New Florida Exotics

107

29-30 August 2015, discovered by JoAnna Clayton, was seen by dozens
of observers, including both of us (BPA 8976a-b, 30 August 2015, V.
Ponzo, Fig. 3). The tanager was very vocal, uttering a single, sharp,
metallic whit! call; several calls were captured in a video recording (BPA
8975, 30 August 2015, B. Pranty). Although it usually remained hidden
in thick vegetation, the tanager flew toward us, perched conspicuously,
and called repeatedly when we played back the recording of its own
calls. The tanager fed on fruits of flrebush (Hamelia patens) and
beautyberry {Callicarpa americana; BP and VP pers. obs.) and once
captured and swallowed a dragonfly (E. Plage in litt.). This was the
first report and record of the species in Florida (Greenlaw et al. 2014).
Silver-beaked Tanager is resident over much of the northern half of
South America.

Gouldian Finch {Erythrura gouldiae): one avicultural morph
(having green upperparts, a white breast, and a yellow belly) was
found ill or injured at Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County, 14 May 2013.
Taken to Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital, the bird succumbed and its
carcass was donated to the Florida Museum of Natural History (UF
50182, specimen; BPA 7932a-b, A. W. Kratter, are photographs of the
specimen). There is one previous report of the species in Florida but no
previous record (Greenlaw et al. 2014). Gouldian Finch is endemic to
northern Australia.

Saffron Finch {Sicalis flaveola): singles have been found at four
locations recently, at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, 26 April 2015
(BPA8905a-b, M. Burns) and 7 February 2016 (BPA8977a-c, R. Smith);
at Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, 20 April 2016 (BPA8978a-b, J.
Clayton); and at Kissimmee Lakefront Park, Osceola County, 6 August
2016 (BPA 8979a-c, B. Lupa). There are three previous reports of
the species in Florida but no previous record (Greenlaw et al. 2014).
Saffron Finch is native to the northern half of South America; an exotic
population is found in Jamaica.

Black-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes): one was
photographed at Leffis Key Preserve, Manatee County, 26-29 August
2013 (BPA6147a-c, S. Wilson, 29 August 2013). This is the first report
and record of the species in Florida (Greenlaw et al. 2014). Black-
rumped Waxbill is native to sub-Saharan Africa; exotic populations are
breeding in Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe.

Red-collared Widowbird (Euplectes ardens): one male in
alternate plumage was found dead along SW 187th Street, Miami,
Miami-Dade County, 2 December 2015 (BPA 8974, R. Goldenstar).
The carcass was supposed to be donated to the Florida Museum of
Natural History but it never arrived (A. W. Kratter in litt.). There is
one previous report of the species in Florida but no previous record

108

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Table 1. Continent(s) of origin of birds of exotic and unknown provenance that
have been recorded in Florida (n = 171 species). Percentages exceed 100% be¬
cause some species are native to more than one continent. Sources: Greenlaw
et al. (2014) and this paper.

Continent

# of Species

% of Species

Eurasia

55

32

Africa

50

29

South America

46

26

North America

40

23

Australia

20

11

Antarctica

0

0

(Greenlaw et al. 2014). Red-collared Widowbird is resident in central
and southern Africa.

Greenlaw et al. (2014) provide information on 161 species of exotic
or unknown provenance recorded in Florida, as follows: 139 exotics
(14 species in the Main List, 124 [not 125] species in Appendix B, Part
I, and one species-pair in Appendix B, Part I); 18 species of unknown
provenance (Appendix A, Part I); and four exotics from Gran don Park,
Miami-Dade that were only briefly mentioned because they were
considered “personal property” (Appendix B, 264-265). This paper
describes documentation gathered for 11 additional exotic species
between mid-2013 and 2016, for a total of 172 species of birds of exotic
or unknown provenance that have been veriflably recorded outside
of captivity in Florida. The trend of ca. four new exotic species being
recorded in Florida each year (Pranty 2004) seems to continue. With
literally hundreds of species found in captivity in the United States
(e.g.. Banks and Clapp 1972; Greenlaw et al. 2014, Appendix B, Part
II; <softbillsforsale.com>), the pool of additional exotic birds available
to escape or be released in Florida is quite large, extending well beyond
the expected families such as waterfowl, gamebirds, parrots, and
“flnches.” Geographically, Florida’s veriflable exotic avifauna originates
worldwide, with all continents except Antarctica being represented
(Table 1).

Acknowledgments

We thank Eric Atkins, Robin Diaz, Jon Greenlaw, Elsie Gudalewicz, Andrew Kratter,
Larry Manfredi, Eric Plage, Paula Procko, Ron Smith, Roberto Torres, and Linda Wish-
ney for providing photographs or other information. Ed and Elsie Gudalewicz graciously
showed us and Brian Ahern the Magpie Geese and provided information on their history
at Edgewater. Paula Procko graciously hosted us and provided the history of the Blue¬
winged Goose at Stuart. Ron Smith and Eric Plage assisted us in observing the Silver-
beaked Tanager at St. Petersburg. Brian Ahern and Eva Dupuis kindly loaned their
cameras to BP to help document some of these species. Bruce H. Anderson and Kevin
Dailey improved drafts of this paper.

Pranty and Ponzo—New Florida Exotics

109

Literature Cited

Anonymous. 2013. Sarasota sheriff seeks wandering Emu’s owner. Tampa Bay Online,
23 October 2013. <tbo.com/news/fiorida/sarasota-sheriff-seeks-owner-of-wandering-
emu-20131023>.

Banks, R. C., and R. B. Clapp. 1972. Birds Imported into the United States in 1969. Spe¬
cial Scientific Report—Wildlife No. 148. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington,
D. C.

Bowman, R. 2004. Fourteenth report of the Florida Ornithological Society Records Com¬
mittee: 2001-2002. Florida Field Naturalist 32:7-33.

Greenlaw, J. S., B. Pranty, and R. Bowman. 2014. The Robertson and Woolfenden Florida
Bird Species: An Annotated List. Special Publication No. 8, Florida Ornithological
Society, Gainesville.

JiGUET, F., A. Doxa, and a. Robert. 2008. The origin of out-of-range pelicans in Europe:
wild bird dispersal or zoo escapes? Ibis 150:606-618.

Pranty, B. 2004. Florida’s exotic avifauna: A preliminary list. Birding 36:362-372.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(4):110-112, 2017.

RED-EYED VIREO {Vireo olivaceus) PLUNGES INTO
POND IN APPARENT FORAGING MANEUVER

Ken F. Tracey

5662 Fieldspring Ave., New Port Richey, Florida 34655
Email: kftracey@verizon.net
Jon S. Greenlaw

10503 Mistflower Lane, Tampa, Florida 33647

On 30 April 2017, KFT visited the Brooker Creek Preserve & Environmental
Education Center, Tarpon Springs, Pinellas County, Florida. There is a small woodland
pond and a walkway between two of the nature center buildings. At 12:30pm four Tufted
Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) were flying near and along the pond edge and landed in
some low brush on the pond bank. KFT focused a Canon EOS Rebel T5 digital camera
with a 300 mm lens on a titmouse perched low on the pond bank. As he watched through
the viewfinder a Red-eyed Vireo flew into the camera’s field of view and perched low
on a small branch. As KFT took photographs it peered intently at the pond, dove head
first into the water (Fig. lA) and completely submerged (Fig. IB). It then appeared at
the surface (Fig. 1C) and flew away (Fig. ID).This small pond had numerous whirligig
beetles (Gyrinidae) of unknown species on its surface. The assumption is that the Red¬
eyed Vireo and the Tufted Titmice were attracted to the pond by this prey opportunity.
After the Red-eyed Vireo flew off, two Tufted Titmice settled on a perch beside the spot
where the vireo dove into the water. A titmouse was leaning from a perch on the bank
watching the activity (Fig. 1 A, B, C). The titmice did not try to capture the beetles while
under observation. Although it was assumed that the Red-eyed Vireo was diving for prey,
the photographs do not confirm that any prey was captured by the bird.

A similar observation of a Red-eyed Vireo diving into a woodland brook was reported
by Arthur B. Williams on 16 July 1934, in Ohio (Williams 1940). Apart from his vireo
repeatedly diving several times into the water, his description of the diving vireo in Ohio
is very similar to observations reported here. He wrote, “The bird would work down a
small branch overhanging the pool until it was about eight inches [20 cm] above the
water. Here attention was fixed at a certain spot in the water below, and shortly the
bird would dive in head first as a kingfisher does.” Williams (1940) reported watching
the vireo he observed eating something apparently captured from the water. Evidently
the vireo in Ohio nearly submerged during one of its dives, implying that in the other
instances, it remained mostly at the surface. Instead, one of KFT’s photographs (Fig. IB)
shows that the bird was entirely submerged from the momentum of the plunge.

A recent life history review of the Red-eyed Vireo (Cimprich et al. 1996) mentioned
Williams’ report and treated it as an “apparent” case of diving into water after prey. As
noted, the individual in Ohio was observed eating items after diving. Thus, we assume
that potential prey was the stimulus that elicited the behavior in both cases; if not, then
the behavior represents equally unusual bathing behavior in the species. The behavior
better fits foraging in Red-eyed Vireos (see below) than species-typical bathing. The
behavior of these two individual vireos resemble a form of plunge-diving that is practiced
routinely during foraging by some kingfishers (Alcedinidae). What is surprising is that
the behavior occurred at all. The titmice in the present case appeared to be intently
interested in the insect activity on the surface of the pool, but they did nothing to take

110

Notes

111

Figure 1. Red-eyed Vireo {Vireo olivaceus) at Brooker Creek Preserve, 30 April
2017. (A) The vireo lands on a twig and watches the pond along with a Tufted
Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) on the bank. (B) The vireo has plunged into
pond with a titmouse intently watching and leaning down from its perch. The
swirl in the photograph indicates where it is completely submerged. (C) The
vireo emerges from the pond. (D) The vireo flies away.

advantage of the opportunity. Evidently, the vireo arrived after a titmouse was already
watching the pool at the same site, and reacting to an apparent foraging opportunity,
plunged directly into the water from a pool-side perch (Fig. 1).

Red-eyed Vireos chiefly are foliage-searching insectivores that specialize on seeking
food in a distinct arboreal, structural compartment, the outer small hranch/foliage zone
of broad-leaved dominated forests of eastern and north-central North America (James
1976, Holmes et al. 1979, Cimprich et al. 2000). They commonly forage in mid- to upper
levels of canopy tree crowns in a forest, but they also come down into the subcanopy and
understory layers less frequently where similar food resources are exploited in smaller
broad-leaved, woody species (James 1976, Robinson 1981, Cimprich et al. 2000). Low
foraging of this sort is especially notable at forest edges and internal canopy breaks
formed by tree-fall gaps, stream or pool margins, and margins of logging road corridors
(JSG, unpubl. data, northern Maine). This vireo is noteworthy among most foliage
insectivores in its distributional range in that it often practices sally-hover maneuvers
to capture stationary prey on foliage that lies beyond reach (Robinson and Holmes 1982).
Sally-hover maneuvers, as an aerial tactic to access and capture prey, predominate in
this species, and in Philadelphia Vireos (V philadelphicus), in northern forests where

112

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

they breed (Holmes et al. 1979, Robinson and Holmes 1982; JSG pers. obs.). As variable-
distance searchers, Red-eyed Vireos commonly sally to foliage 1 m or less away from
a perch, but less frequently up to about 2 m (Robinson and Holmes 1982). We suggest
the sallying food-capture maneuvers that Red-eyed Vireos commonly practice, coupled
with an absence of fear about entering water (perhaps due to bathing experience), may
explain the seemingly odd aquatic plunging behavior as an opportunistic foraging tactic
initiated by an individual bird. The sallying maneuver is species-typical, and perhaps
quite old in an evolutionary sense in the genus; only the aquatic substrate at which
the behavior was directed is surprisingly unusual. The titmice, which sally-hover only
occasionally (JSG pers. obs.), merely behaved as watchers.

Literature Cited

CiMPRiCH, D. A., F. R. Moore, and M. P. Guilfoyle. 2000. Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus).
In Birds of North America, No. 527 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds). The Birds of North
America, Inc. Philadelphia.

Holmes, R. T., R. E. Bonney, Jr., and S. W. Pacala. 1979. Guild structure of the Hubbard
Brook bird community: a multivariate approach. Ecology 60:512-520.

James, R. D. 1976. Foraging behavior and habitat selection of three species of vireos in
southern Ontario. Wilson Bulletin 88:62-75.

Robinson, S. K. 1981. Ecological relations and social interactions of Philadelphia and
Red-eyed vireos. Condor 83:16-26.

Robinson, S. K., and R. T. Holmes. 1982. Foraging behavior of forest birds: the relation¬
ships among search tactics, diet, and habitat structure. Ecology 63:1918-1931.
Williams, A. B. 1940. Red-eyed Vireo captures food under water. Auk 57:114.

Florida Field Naturalist 45(4):113-122, 2017.

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Spring Report: March-May 2017. —This report consists of significant bird
observations compiled by the Field Observations Committee (FOC). Electronic
submissions to the FOC should be in the following format: species, number of individuals,
age and sex of the bird(s), color morph if applicable, location (including county), date,
observer(s), and significance. Seasons are winter (December-February), spring (March-
May), summer (June-July), and fall (August-November). Submit observations to regional
compilers within two weeks after the close of each season, or to the state compiler within
one month. Addresses of the compilers follow this report.

Sight-only observations are considered “reports” while only those observations
supported by verifiable evidence (photographs, video or audio recordings, or specimens)
are called “records.” Species for which documentation is required by the FOC and by
the FOS Records Committee (FOSRC; <fosbirds.org/official-fiorida-state-bird-list>) are
marked here with an asterisk (*). A county designation (in italics) accompanies the first¬
time listing of each site in this report. Abbreviations in this report are: AFB = Air Force
Base, AFR = Air Force Range, EOS = end of season, MCSF-BI = Marine Corps Support
Facility-Blount Island, m. obs. = many observers, NERR = National Estuarine Research
Reserve, NP = National Park, NSRA = North Shore Restoration Area, NWR = National
Wildlife Refuge, SF = State Forest, SP = State Park, STA = Stormwater Treatment Area,
STF = sewage treatment facility, WMA=Wildlife Management Area, and N, S, E, W etc.,
for compass directions. Bold-faced entries denote birds newly reported or verified in
Florida, or record numbers. -i-Photographs or video- or audio-recordings archived by the
FOC are identified by a plus (-I-).

SUMMAKY OF THE SPRING SEASON

The 2017 spring season will perhaps be best remembered by an unprecedented
number of Caribbean vagrants, most of which are listed as State review species. FOSRC
review species noted in this report include a continuing pair of Brants, American Black
Duck, two Harlequin Ducks in different locations. Common Merganser, Least Grebe,
Inca Dove, Vaux’s Swifts, Bahama Woodstar, Hudsonian Godwit, two Ruffs, Long-tailed
Jaeger, Thayer’s Gull, Elegant Tern, Red-billed Tropicbird, Pacific Loon, Red-footed
Booby, Neotropic Cormorant, Great Cormorant, two Cuban Pewees, Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, LaSagra’s Flycatcher, Loggerhead Kingbird, three Fork-tailed
Flycatchers, Thick-billed Vireo, Cuban Vireo, Yellow-green Vireo, Bicknell’s Thrush,
at least five different Bahama Mockingbirds, Lapland Longspur, Kirtland’s Warbler,
at least fourteen Western Spindalis, five Bananaquits, American Tree Sparrow, and
Harris’s Sparrow.

Species Accounts

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: 107 at Rabon Road {Jefferson) 25 Mar (M. Smith, R. Emond);
60 at Lake Jackson {Leon) 2 May (R. Cassidy); 101 at foiu- Escambia and Santa Rosa
locations (m. obs.); 83 at Brooker Creek Preserve {Pinellas) 17 May (-i-J. Clayton).
Greater White-fronted Goose: 1 at Walnut Hill {Escambia) 16 Mar (J. Yuhasz).

Snow Goose: 2 at Rabon Road 6-19 Mar (C. Miller).

Ross’s Goose: 1 at Carrabelle {Eranklin) 5-8 Mar (-i-J. Murphy); 1 at the Okaloosa County
Water and STF {Okaloosa) 11 Mar (M. Swan, B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at St. Marks
NWR (Wakulla) 11 Mar (J. Cavanagh).

113

114

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

*Brant; 2 continued at Canaveral National Seashore, Apollo Beach (Volusia) through 6
Mar (m. ohs.).

Canada Goose: 1 at Newnans Lake (Alachua) 8 Apr (L. Gaudette); 2 at Newnans Lake 6
May (K. Miller).

Gadwall: 2 at Perdue Pond Wildlife Area (Duval) through 27 Mar (D. Foster).

American Wigeon: 2 at Lake Tohopekaliga, Brinson Park (Osceola) 7 May (C. Fredricks).

*American Black Duck: Up to 3 continued at Perdue Pond Wildlife Area through 5 Mar
(D. Foster, m. ohs.).

Northern Shoveler: 250 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin (Duval) 7 Apr (K. Dailey et al.); 20
at Carrahelle Beach (Franklin) 23 Apr (R. Cassidy).

Canvasback: 1 continued at Perdue Pond Wildlife Area through 5 Mar (D. Foster, m. ohs.).

Common Eider: 1 at Ketcham Park (Brevard) 25 Mar (A. Stutz); 1 at Huguenot Memorial
Park (Duval) and later 1 mile up river 6 May-EOS (R. Rowan, L. Royce, +K. Dailey,
m. ohs.); 1 at Snook Islands Natural Area (Palm Beach) 29 May (L. Quinlan).

*Harlequin Duck: 1 at Squid Lips Bar and Grill (Indian River) through 14 Mar (P. Man¬
sfield); 1 male at Fernandina Beach marina (Nassau) 21 May-EOS (-i-C. Sasser, m.
ohs.).

Surf Scoter: 1 at Vilano Boat Ramp (St. Johns) 26 Apr (J. Marchionno); 1 at Gulf Breeze
(Santa Rosa) 6 May (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at St. Marks NWR 22 May (D. Mor¬
row).

White-winged Scoter: 1 at Ponte Vedra Beach (St. Johns) 2 Mar (T. Rodriguez); 1 at St.
Vincent NWR (Franklin) 8 May (-i-J. Murphy).

Black Scoter: 1 at Huguenot Memorial Park 1 Apr (K. Dailey); 1 at Vilano Boat Ramp
26 Apr (J. Marchionno); 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR (St. Johns) 23 May
(D. Reed, C. Elder); 1 at Fort Pickens (Escambia) 24-31 May (C. DiSalvo, P. DiSalvo,
M. Brower).

Bufflehead: 1 female at The Villages (Sumter) 9-16 Apr (L. Felker); 1 at Newnans Lake
14-15 May (L. Davis, M. Manetz, et al.).

*CoMMON Merganser: 1 at Okaloosa Veterans Park (Okaloosa) 26 Mar (-i-B. Purdy).

*Least Grebe: 1 at Yamato Scrub Natural Area (Palm Beach) 1 Apr-EOS (V. Schwartz,
C. Weher; + B. Trentler).

*Inca Dove: 1 at Gulf Breeze 9-13 May (B. Duncan, -i-L. Duncan, -i- M. Brower, P. Sykes).

Black-billed Cuckoo: 1 at St. George Island SP (Franklin) 24 Apr (L. Gridley, J. Cava-
nagh); 1 at Molino (Escambia) 10 May (J. Yuhasz).

Smooth-billed Ani: 2 at Adams Key, Biscayne NP (Miami-Dade) 23 May (L. Manfredi).

Groove-billed Ani: 1 at Black Creek Trail - C-IW (Miami-Dade) 1-21 Mar (m. ohs.); up to
2 at Lake Apopka NSRA (Lake) 3 Mar-14 Apr (m. ohs.); 1 at Fort Pickens 26 Mar-12
Apr (K. Herriger, A. Herriger, D. Stangeland, m. ohs.).

Chuck-will’s-widow: 20 at Eglin AFB (Okaloosa) 14 Apr (G. Floyd).

Eastern Whip-poor-will: Up to 5 at Archhold Biological Station (Highlands) 4-12 and 25
Mar (D. Sherer); 1 at Fort George Island (Duval) 12 Mar (K. Dailey, M. Dailey); 1 at
Alligator Point (Franklin) 17 Mar (J. Murphy); 1 at Weedon Island Preserve (Pinel¬
las) 23-25 Mar (M. Burns, E. Plage).

*Vaux’s Swift: Up to 4 at Gainesville (Alachua) through 9 Mar (A. Lamoreaux et al.).

*Bahama Woodstar: 1 at Maritime Hammock Sanctuary (Brevard) 14-18 May (-i-M. Har¬
ris, m. ohs.).

King Rail: 2 off Heckscher Drive (Duval) 12-18, 26 Mar (M. Dailey, K. Dailey).

Sora: 1 at Possum Branch Preserve (Pinellas) 14 May (-i-R. Smith).

Purple Gallinule: 2 discovered 21 Feb still present with two young at Lake Seminole
(Pinellas) 21 May (-i-J. & 1. Gibbons, C. Yilmaz); 1 at Seminole Woods (Flagler) 7-8
Apr (m. ohs.); 2 adults with 4 downy young at Eastman/Taminco Sanctuary 24 Apr
(L. Kelly, B. Fulow); 1 at Taylor Park (Pinellas) 12 Mar-23 May (K. Nelson et al.); 1
found deceased at Three Rooker Bar (Pinellas) 13 May (C. Yilmaz et al.); 1 at Lake

Field Observations

115

Belleview {Pinellas) 19 May (+K. Duncan); 1 at Largo Nature Reserve (Pinellas) 25-
29 May (+K. Duncan); 1 at Eastport Wastelands (Duval) 29 May provided just the
second county record in over thirty years (+K. Dailey).

Sandhill Crane: 4 (2 adults with 2 colts) at Gate Parkway and Baymeadows Road (Du¬
val) 4 May (+B. Loyacano) provided just the second Duval breeding record; 8 at New
World Avenue (Duval) 24 May (C. Davis).

Whooping Crane: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP (Alachua) through 14 Apr (K. Pochy
et al.).

American Avocet: 67 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 24 Mar (J. Martin) and 350 there 7 Apr
(K. Dailey, et al.); 18 at W Pensacola 23 Apr (A. Forster); 6 at Opal Beach (Escambia)
6 May (M. Brower).

American Golden-Plover: 1 at Route 305 sod fields (Flagler) 5 Mar (+M. Brothers); 1 at
MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 24 Mar (J. Martin); 1 at Merritt Island NWR (Brevard) 6 Apr
(A. Whitlock); 5 at County Road 305 (Flagler) 3 May (R. Wallace).

Semipalmated Plover: 650 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 7 Apr (K. Dailey, et al.); up to 6 at
Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 19 Apr-13 May (J. Donsky et al.); up to 3 at Newnans
Lake 4-24 May (R. Rowan et al.).

Upland Sandpiper: 2 at Canoe Creek Road sod fields (Osceola) 16 Apr (T. Donovan).

Whimbrel: Up to 4 at Fred Howard Park (Pinellas) through 13 Mar (-i-P. Graber, L. Go¬
mez); 1 at Moore Haven, Lake Okeechobee (Glades) 28 Mar (D. Essian); 4 at Fort De
Soto Park (Pinellas) 18 Apr (-i-K. Duncan).

Long-billed Curlew: Up to 2 at 2-D Spoil Island area (Hillsborough) 1-23 Mar (E. Plage);
1 at Flag Island (Franklin) 20 Mar (J. Murphy).

*Hudsonian Godwit: 1 at St. Marks NWR 23 May (D. Morrow).

Marbled Godwit: 4 adults at East Gator Creek Rd., Merritt Island NWR, Titusville (Bre¬
vard) 9 Mar (J. Eager); 1 at Huguenot Memorial Park 25-26 Mar (-i-K. Dailey); 12 at
W Pensacola (Escambia) 23 Apr (A. Forster).

Ruddy Turnstone: 1 at Newnans Lake 12 May (L. Davis, R. Rowan, M. Manetz).

*Ruff: 1 at Newnans Lake 21-27 Apr (R. Rowan, M. Bruce, et al.); 1 at Circle B Bar Re¬
serve (Polk) 14-17 May (C. Fredricks, m. obs.).

Stilt Sandpiper: Up to 38 at Newnans Lake 1 Apr-14 May (M. Bruce, R. Terrill, et al.); 18
at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 7 Apr (K. Dailey, et al.); 6 at Six Mile Landing (St. Johns)
23 Apr (-I-K. Dailey); 3 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 15 May (K. Dailey, et al.).

Dunlin: 1 at Scarborough Ranch (Highlands) 7 Mar (J. Carlisle, S. Mackenzie); up to 2 at
Paynes Prairie Preserve SP through 30 Mar (M. Manetz, et al.).

Purple Sandpiper: 1 remained at Lighthouse Point Park (Volusia) through 26 May (M.
Brothers, m. obs.).

Least Sandpiper: 1250 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 7 Apr (K. Dailey, et al.).

White-rumped Sandpiper: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 21 Apr (M. Manetz); up to 16
at Newnans Lake 22 Apr-24 May (B. Tarbox, R. Terrill et al.); up to 4 at Big Talbot
Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 6-27 May (-i-K. Dailey); 4 at Fort George Island 14 May
(-I-K. Dailey); 3 at Heritage River Road Wetlands (Duval) 14-18 May (K. Dailey); 6 at
MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 15 May (K. Dailey, et al.); 6 at Fort De Soto Park (-i-B. Ahern,
R. Harrod); 8 at Fort De Soto Park 25 May (-i-R.Smith); 9 at Carrabelle Beach 28 May
(R. Cassidy); 2 at the Pinellas County Dump 29 May (-i-R. Smith, et al.).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 1 at the Okaloosa County Water and STF 23 Apr (B. Purdy);
1 at River Lakes Conservation Area, Moccasin Island (Brevard) 9 May (P. Marvin).

Pectoral Sandpiper: 1 at Hague (Alachua) 18 Mar (G. Israel); 1 at Kathryn Abbey Hanna
Park (Duval) 2-9 Apr (-i-K. Dailey, m. obs.); up to 2 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 19
Apr-3 May (J. Donsky, et al.); 1 at Lake Maggiore (Pinellas) 6 May (-i-R. Smith); 14 at
Tom Renick County Park (Volusia) 23 May (H. Robinson).

Semipalmated Sandpiper: Up to 65 at Newnans Lake 21 Apr-24 May (R. Rowan, M. Bruce,
et al.).

116

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Long-billed Dowitcher: Up to 440 at Newnans Lake 1 Apr-14 May (M. Bruce, J. Mays, et
al.); 350 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 7 Apr (K. Dailey, et al.).

American Woodcock: 1 at Carrabelle 7 May (R. Cassidy).

Solitary Sandpiper: 2 at Jefferson County Recycling Center {Jefferson) 22 Apr (M. Smith,
R. Emond).

Lesser Yellowlegs: Up to 107 at Newnans Lake 1 Apr-15 May (M. Bruce, et al.).

Wilson’s Phalarope: 1 at the Okaloosa County Water and STF 6 May (B. Purdy); 1 at
Circle B Bar Reserve 15 May (C. Terry).

Red-necked Phalarope: 3 at 3-D Spoil Island {Hillsborough) 15 May (E. Plage); 2 offshore
Lee 27 May (D. McQuade, T. McQuade, E. Warren).

Parasitic Jaeger: 1 offshore Lee 27 May (D. McQuade, T. McQuade, E. Warren).

*Long-tailed Jaeger: 1 offshore Lee 27 May (D. McQuade, -i-T. McQuade, E. Warren).

Laughing Gull: 5 at Lake Placid {Highlands) 17 May (F. Lohrer).

*Thayer’s Gull: Up to 2 at Daytona Beach Shores {Volusia) 1-16 Mar (m. ohs.).

Glaucous Gull: 1 at Frank Rendon Park {Volusia) 1-28 Mar (m. ohs.); presumably the
same bird seen since mid-October 2016 was at Sunset Beach {Pinellas) 5 Mar (-i-P.
Waton), at Indian Shores {Pinellas) 20 Mar (-i-W. Meehan) and at Dunedin Causeway
{Pinellas) 24 May (-i-B. Cochrane); 1 first-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores {Volusia) 15
Mar-6 Apr (-i-M. Brothers, m. ohs.); 1 at Helen Cooper Floyd Park {Duval) 8 Mar-14
Apr (D. Pridgen, K. Dailey, m. ohs.); then a different one at nearby Huguenot Memo¬
rial Park 15 Apr (-i-K. Dailey).

“Nelson’s” Gull (Herring x Glaucous): 1 first-cycle at Daytona Beach Shores 15 Mar (M.
Brothers).

Brown Noddy: 1 at Jetty Park {Brevard) 4 May (M. Harris, et al.).

Black Noddy: 1 at Garden Key, Dry Tortugas NP {Monroe) 9-27 Apr (M. Maerz, S. Wilson;
m. ohs.); 1 at Garden Key, Dry Tortugas NP 14 May (D. Simpson).

Sooty Tern: An adult first reported at Dunedin Causeway 23 Feb was probably the same
bird at Honeymoon Island SP {Pinellas) 7 Mar (-i-P. Brady); 1 at St. George Sound
{Franklin) 9 Apr (E. Thompson); 233 offshore Lee 27 May (D. McQuade, T. McQuade,
E. Warren).

Bridled Tern: 8 offshore Lee 27 May (D. McQuade, T. McQuade, E. Warren).

Least Tern: 2 at Huguenot Memorial Park 25 Mar (-i-K. Dailey).

Gull-billed Tern: 2 adults at East Gator Creek Rd., Merritt island NWR, Titusville 9
Mar (J. Eager); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 6 Apr (-i-K. Duncan); 1 at Huguenot Memo¬
rial Park 8 Apr (-i-K. Dailey); 3 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 15 May (K. Dailey); 2 at
Heritage River Road Wetlands 14-27 May (K. Dailey); 2 at Gandy Beach {Pinellas)
31 May (-i-J. Clayton).

Caspian Tern: 1 at Newnans Lake 25 May (L. Davis).

Black Tern: 12 at four S Pinellas locations 6 May (-i-R. Smith).

Roseate Tern: Singles at Tom Renick County Park 2 and 20 May (H. Robinson).

Common Tern: 1 at Huguenot Memorial Park 1 Apr (-i-K. Dailey); 4 adults at Outback
Key {Pinellas) 26 Apr (-i-E. Plage); 25 at Three Rooker Bar 13 May (-i-C. Yilmaz); 1 at
Newnans Lake 14 May (L. Davis).

Arctic Tern: 1 at Boynton Beach Inlet Park {Palm Beach) 15 Apr ( K. Miller, M. Gomes);
1 at Ponce de Leon Inlet {Volusia) 17 Apr (+M. Brothers); 1 at Juno Beach Park {Palm
Beach) 20 Apr (L. Gardenhire); 2 at C-102 Canal “Quarry Lake” {Miami-Dade) 22-23
Apr (R. Torres, m. obs.); 1 at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson SP {Broward) 22 Apr (M.
Berney); 1 at Cutler Wetlands {Miami-Dade) 23 Apr (N. Frade, m. obs.); 1 at Guana
Tolomato Matanzas NERR 2 May (-i-C. Elder); 1 at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson
SP 2 May (J. Lagan, D. Lagan); up to 4 at Jetty Park 3-5 May (M. Harris et al.); 1 at
Bathtub Beach {Martin) 18 May (R. Netherton); 1 at Tom Renick County Park 20 May
(H. Robinson); 1 at Boynton Beach Inlet Park 22 May (D. Essian); 2 at Lighthouse
Point Park 22-25 May (M. Brothers, m. obs.).

Field Observations

117

Sandwich Tern; 250 at St. George Island 9 Apr (R. Cassidy); 1 at Newnans Lake 14 May
(L. Davis).

*Elegant Tern: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 7 Mar (+D. Olsen, C. Olsen).

*Red-billed Tropicbird: 1 at Gulf Breeze 18 Mar-EOS (C. Wheeler, +K. Lewis, +L. Dun¬
can, -i-L. Goodman, m. obs.)

*Pacific Loon: 1 at Fort Pickens 23 Mar-28 May (-i- P. Doggrell, D. Stangeland, J. Yuhasz,
m. obs.); 1 at Gulf Breeze 15 May (B. Duncan).

Common Loon: 1 at Lake Placid 12-16 Mar (-i-L. Manning); 1 at Westside Industrial Park
{Duval) 14 May (D. Foster); 1 at Fort Island Gulf Beach (Citrus) 14 May (G. Leavens,
J. Leavens).

Sooty Shearwater: 1 at Playalinda Beach (Brevard) 17 May (-i-M. Harris).

Storm-Petrel sp.: 1 offshore Lee 27 May had no banding on the rump and was noted as a
possible Swinhoe’s (D. McQuade, T. McQuade, E. Warren).

Brown Booby; 1 at Castaway Cove (Indian River) 1 Apr (W. Johnson); up to 16 at Philippe
Park (Pinellas) 16 May (B. Lane, m. obs.); singles at Tom Renick County Park 6, 20,
and 24 May (H. Robinson).

*Red-footed Booby; 1 immature at Long Key, Dry Tortugas NP (Monroe) 14 May (D.
Simpson).

*Neotropic Cormorant: 1 at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park (Broward) 1 Mar-EOS (m. obs.); 1
at Wakodahatchee Wetlands (Palm Beach) 1 Mar-EOS (m. obs.).

*Great Cormorant; 1 at Gulf Harbors (Pasco) 8 Apr (B. Pranty).

American White Pelican; 108 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 7 Apr (K. Dailey).

Brown Pelican: 3 at Gainesville 14 Apr (M. Bruce, T. Anderson, B. Shea); 21 at Lake
Istokpoga (Highlands) 21 Apr (M. McMillian); 1 at Newnans Lake 5-7 May (L. Gaud-
ette, D. Segal).

American Bittern: 1 at Taye Brown Regional Park (Duval) 29 Mar (J. Graham, C. Davis);
1 at Fort De Soto Park 15 Apr (-i-J. Clayton et al.); 1 juvenile at Orlando Wetlands
Park (Orange) 26 May (J. Eager).

Least Bittern; 1 at Imeson Center (Duval) 19 May (-i-K. Dailey, M. Dailey).

Great Blue Heron; 1 killed 2 others at Sweetwater Wetlands Park (Alachua) 20 May (K.
Chaney, B. Price).

Great Blue Heron (White Morph): 1 at Cross Creek (Alachua) 4 May (A. Keitt).

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron; 1 at Fort Pickens 5 Mar (D. Stangeland).

Glossy Ibis; 1 at Eastman/Taminco Sanctuary (Santa Rosa) 27 Mar-7 Apr (L. Kelly, B.
Furlow, L. Goodman); 1 at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park 2 Apr (fide K. Dailey).

White-faced Ibis: 1 at Circle B Bar Reserve (Polk) 6 Mar (P. Brannon); 1 at Lake City spray
fields (Columbia) 13 Apr (J. Hintermister, et al.); 1 at Winding Waters Natural Area
(Palm Beach) 15 May (-i-M. Ely); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA (Ora^ige) 28-29 May (m. obs.).

Roseate Spoonbill: 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 15 Mar (J. Russo); 1 at Escambia 9
Apr (D. Brand, K. Brand); 1 juvenile at Lake Istokpoga 21 Apr (M. McMillian); 1 at
Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 25 Apr-3 May (R. Rowan, et al.); up to 4 at Newnans Lake
5-27 May (J. Hintermister, et al.).

Swallow-tailed Kite: 59 at Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties 6-11 Mar (m.
obs.).

White-tailed Kite: 2 at Avon Park AFR (Highlands) 26 Mar (-i-H. Folmar); 1 at Buck
Island Ranch (Highlands) 11 Apr (J. Fitzpatrick).

Snail Kite: 1 east of Inverness (Citrus) 6 May (J. Hoch); 1 at St. Johns River Road (Volu¬
sia) 20 May (-i-R. Armaly).

Mississippi Kite; A pair returned to site of last year’s nest at NW Citrus 4 May (S. Levins).

Bald Eagle; 6 at MCSF-BI Dayson Basin 7 Apr (K. Dailey).

Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 at Gulf Breeze 8 May (M. Brower).

Short-tailed Hawk: 4 at Taylor Park (Pinellas) 6 Mar (-i-T. Leukering, et al.); 3 pairs con¬
firmed nesting in Pinellas late March 2017 (fide R.Smith); up to 3 at Newnans Lake

118

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

31 Mar-30 Apr (H. Adams, et al.); 1 at Intracoastal Waterway near 202 (St. Johns) 1
Apr (-I-M. Harrell).

Swainson’s Hawk: 1 at Archbold Biological Station 22 Mar (R. Bowman).

Belted Kingfisher: 1 adult male at Big Talbot Island SP - Spoonbill Pond 20 May (-i-K.
Dailey); 1 at Honeymoon Island SP 20 May (-i-C. Yilmaz); 1 at Sawgrass Lake Park
22 May (J. Clayton); 1 male at Largo Nature Reserve (Pinellas) 29 May (R. Smith).
Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 adult at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP (Miami-Dade) 7-8 Apr
(-I-M. Avello, m. obs.); 1 adult at Honeymoon Island SP 25 Apr (-i-J. McGinity, J. Zelik).
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1 at Gulf Breeze 17 May (M. Brower, C. Brower).

Hairy Woodpecker: 2 at Cross Creek 2 Apr (M. Manetz, B. Hall); 1 at the Escambia
County Utility Authority (Escambia) 19 Apr (J. Callaway, B. Callaway); 1 feeding
chick at Beachville (Suwannee) 19 May (A. Kent, B. Simons).

Crested Caracara: 1 SE of Brooksville (Hernando) 20 Apr (D. Grimes).

American Kestrel: An unsuccessful nesting at Gainesville 5 Mar-28 Apr (G. Parks, T.

Webber) was the first attempt in the city limits in over 50 years.

Merlin: 2 in Pinellas (Boyd Hill NP and Fort De Soto Park) 6 May established a new
spring “late date” for the county (-i-R. Smith, J. Clayton).

Peregrine Falcon: 1 at Lake Talquin (Gadsden) 1 Mar (T. Rodriguez); 1 at Paynes Prairie
Preserve SP through 20 Mar (J. Mays, et ah).

Monk Parakeet: 1 at an Atlantic Beach feeder (Duval) 3 Mar (D. Pridgen).

Nanday Parakeet: 1 at Crystal River (Citrus) 11 Mar (P. Bazany).

White-winged Parakeet: 1 at Clearwater 10-19 May (-i-M. Hornsby) provided the second
Pinellas record.

*CuBAN Pewee: 1 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 8 Apr (-i-S. Runyon, N. Salino); 1 at Pine
Tree Park, Miami Beach (Miami-Dade) 5 May (F. Schena, +S. Runyon).
*Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: 1 at Charles Deering Estate (Miami-Dade) 8-10 Mar (M.
Avello, -i-Ra. Diaz).

Acadian Flycatcher: 3 at Thomas Creek (Duval) 22 Apr (-i-K. Dailey, M. Dailey); 1 at Boca
Ciega Millennium Park (Pinellas) 25 May (C. Gjervold).

Eastern Phoebe: 1 at Bald Point SP (Franklin) 4 May (S. Parrish).

*Say’s Phoebe: 1 at Lake Belleview Park 14 May represents the only Apr-May record for
Florida (-i-K. Duncan).

Vermilion Flycatcher: 1 female at Little Big Econ WMA (Seminole) 4 Mar (-i-G. Wil¬
liams); 1 at Fort Walton Beach (Okaloosa) 13 Mar (T. Perkins); up to 2 at Paynes
Prairie Preserve SP through 17 Mar (L. Gaudette, J. Russo, et al.).

Ash-throated Flycatcher: 1 at River Lakes Conservation Area, Moccasin Island (Bre¬
vard) 7-29 Mar (W. Kennedy); 1 at Okaloosa County Water and STF 11-14 Mar (B.
Duncan, L. Duncan, et al.).

Great Crested Flycatcher: 1 at Gainesville 19 Mar (M. Bruce).

*La Sacra’s Flycatcher: 1 at Long Key SP 21 Apr (-i-N. Frade).

Tropical Kingbird: 1 at STA-2 (Palm Beach) 1 Mar-EOS (m. obs.).

Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird: 1 at St. George Island SP 29 Apr (S. Parrish, -i-J. Murphy),
details to FOSRC; 1 at Fort Pickens 1 May (B. Duncan, L. Duncan).

Western Kingbird: 1 at the Okaloosa County Water and STF 6 May (B. Purdy).

Gray Kingbird: 1 at Tierra Verde 29 Mar (E. Plage); 1 at Buck Island Ranch 11 Apr (-i-J.

Fitzpatrick); 1 at Theodore Roosevelt Area (Duval) 7 May (-i-K. Dailey et al.).
*Loggerhead Kingbird: 1 at Hialeah Water Treatment Plant (Miami-Dade) 9 Apr (-i-L.
Manfredi).

ScissoR-TAiLED FLYCATCHER: 1 at Space Coast Regional Airport (Brevard) 4-23 Mar (m.
obs.); 1 at Tierra Verde 22 Apr (-i-E. Plage et al.); 1 at St. Vincent NWR 16 May (S.
Cerulean, J. Murphy).

*Fork-tailed Flycatcher: 1 at Bear Cut Preserve, Crandon Park (Miami-Dade) 23-25 Apr
(-I-R. Galvez; m. obs.); 1 juvenile at Herbert Hoover Dike, Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston

Field Observations

119

{Hendry) 17-24 May (W. Biggs, m. obs.); 1 at Lake Apopka NSRA {Orange) 28 May-
EOS (m. obs.).

*Thick-billed Vireo: 1 at Crandon Park 24 Apr-2 May (m. obs.).

Bell’s Vireo: 1 at “Sonn/’ McCoy Indigenous Park {Monroe) 11 Apr (C. Goodrich, L.
Dunn).

*CuBAN Vireo: 1 at “Sonny” McCoy Indigenous Park 10 Apr (C. Goodrich, L. Dunn).
Yellow-throated Vireo: 1 at St. Marks NWR 19 Mar (J. Cavanagh).

Philadelphia Vireo: 1 at Dixie’s Park {Brevard) 5 May (A. Whitlock).

*Yellow-green Vireo: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 8-9 May (-i-J. Gibson, -i-P. Branon, et al).
Black-whiskered Vireo: 3 at Sebastian Inlet SP {Indian River and Brevard) 8 Apr (M.
Brothers, M. Harris); 1 adult at Lori Wilson Park, Cocoa Beach {Brevard) 8 Apr (J.
Eager); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 13 Apr (J. Rosenfeld, -i-J. Clayton, m. obs.); 1 at W
Largo 18 Apr (-i-T. Knuth); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 8-10 May (-i-J. Gibson).

Tree Swallow: 2 at Lake Maggiore 6 May (R. Smith).

Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 2 at Lake Placid 14 May (F. Lohrer).

Bank Swallow: 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 5 Mar (M. Manetz); 1 at Sweetwater
Wetlands Park 7-8 Apr (L. Davis et ah); 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 14 Apr (J.
Mays); 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 3 May (R. Rowan).

Cliff Swallow: 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 3-6 Mar (L. Davis, T. Anderson); 1 at
Okaloosa County Water and STF 15 Mar (S. McNemar); 1 at Hague 1 Apr (J. Don-
sky); up to 2 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 4-11 Apr (D. Segal, J. Mays et ah); 4 at St.
George Island 8 Apr (R. Cassidy).

Cave Swallow: 1 at Lake Seminole Park 4 Mar (T. Leukering et ah); 2 at Fort De Soto
Park 14 May (E. Plage, -i-J. Clayton); 1 at Lake Maggiore 17 Mar (P. Plage, -i-P. Gra-
ber); 1 at Eastman/Taminco Sanctuary 24 Apr (L. Kelly, B. Furlow); 1 at Midway
{Gadsden) 5 May (R. Cassidy).

Barn Swallow: 2 building nests at Gainesville 4 Mar (R. Rowan); 10 at Scarborough
Ranch 7 Mar (J. Carlisle, S. Mackenzie).

Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1 at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary {Palm Beach) 16 Mar (-i-T. Dat-
ena); 1 at Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR 21 Mar (C. Elder, D. Reed); 1 first seen
3 Jan at Taylor Park was present through 4 Apr (K. Nelson); 1 last seen at Boyd
Hill Nature Preserve 11 Dec was discovered again 7 Apr (-i-R.Smith); 1 at St. George
Island SP 27-28 Apr (D. Meehan, D. Reed); 1 at Fort Pickens 7 May (B. Duncan, L.
Duncan).

House Wren: 1 SE of Brooksville 20 May (J. Mann, S. Mann).

Veery: 1 at Fort Caroline {Duval) 7 May (K. Dailey et ah).

Gray-cheeked Thrush: 1 at Gulf Breeze 16-17 Mar (W. Duncan, B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1
at Highlands Hammock SP {Highlands) 7 May (A. Griffin); 4 at Fort Caroline 7 May
(K. Dailey et ah).

*Bicknell’s Thrush: 1 at Cocoa Beach Nature Park {Brevard) 9 May (-i-M. Harris).
Swainson’s Thrush: 3 in Alachua 5-12 May (D. Segal, K. Collingwood, M. Manetz); 1 at
Fort Caroline 7 May (K. Dailey et ah).

Wood Thrush: 1 at Arlington {Duval) 12 May (-i-W. Nolan).

^Bahama Mockingbird: 1 at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological SP {Monroe) 20 Apr (M.
O’Brien, m. obs.); 1 at Channel Two Bridge, mile marker 74 {Monroe) 22 Apr (A.
Crittenden); 1 at Evergreen Cemetery {Broward) 22 Apr (R. Titus); 1 at Bear Cut
Preserve, Crandon Park 27-29 Apr (S. Juan; m. obs.); 1 at Boca Chita Key, Biscayne
NP {Miami-Dade) 23 May (L. Manfredi).

Cedar Waxwing: 4 at Inverness 23 May (D. Simpson).

American Pipit: 1 at Paynes Prairie Preserve SP 30 Mar (M. Manetz).

Pine Siskin: 1 at Gainesville through 5 Mar (S. Robinson); 1 at Gainesville 30 Apr (A.
Kratter).

American Goldfinch: 2 at a Clay residence through 5 May (D. Cusick).

120

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

*Lapland Longspur: 1 at Crooked Island {Bay) 26 Mar (+K. Christman).

Worm-eating Warbler; 1 at Bonner Park 26 Mar (K. Nelson); up to 6 at Fort De Soto Park
15-20 Apr (-I-J. Clayton, m. obs.).

Louisiana Waterthrush: 1 at Lori Wilson Park, Cocoa Beach 8 Apr (J. Eager).

Golden-winged Warbler: 1 at Fort Pickens 1 May (B. Callaway, J. Callaway).

Blue-winged Warbler: 1 adult male at Charles Deering Estate 1 Mar (m. obs.; wintering
bird); singles at Fort De Soto Park 12 Apr (K. Duncan, P. Brannon) and 2-7 May (-i-T.
Ford et ah); 1 at George C. McGough Park {Pinellas) 18 Apr (T. Young); 1 at W Largo
18 Apr (T. Knuth).

Prothonotary Warbler; 4 singing at Thomas Creek 22 Apr (-i-K. Dailey, M. Dailey).

Swainson’s Warbler: At least 14 different individuals seen at 6 different sites in Pinellas
26 Mar-20 Apr {fide R.Smith); 1 at Bonner Park 26 Mar (K. Nelson); 1 at McGough
Park 26-30 Mar (-i-K. Duncan et ah); 2 banded at Dunedin Hammock Park 26 Mar
(-I-J. McGinity et ah); 1 at Fort De Soto Park 29 Mar (E. Plage); 1 at Boca Ciega Mil¬
lennium Park 29 Mar (C. Gjervold); 1 at Gainesville 7-13 Apr (B. Ewing et ah); 1 at
Lori Wilson Park, Cocoa Beach 8 Apr (J. Eager); 1 at Honeymoon Island SP 12 Apr
(M. Morgante).

Nashville Warbler: 1 continued from the previous season at Gulf Breeze through 20
Apr (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at Gainesville through 29 Mar (G. Kent, A. Kent); 1 at
Gainesville 2 Apr (G. Kiltie); 1 at Country Club of Orange Park {Clay ) 9 Apr (C. Long);
1 at Fort De Soto Park 21-23 Apr {fide R. Smith).

Connecticut Warbler: Up to 2 at Rotary Park, Merritt Island {Brevard) 12-14 May (P.
Mansfield et ah).

Kentucky Warbler: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 2 Apr (-i-M. Burns et ah); 1 at High Springs
{Alachua) 5 Apr (T. Greenwald, M. Flowers); 2 at Boca Ciega Millennium Park 18 Apr
(C. Gjervold); 1 late at Fort De Soto Park 6 May (B. Ahern, R. Harrod).

Hooded Warbler: Up to 20 singing at Thomas Creek 22 Apr (K. Dailey, M. Dailey).

*Kirtland’s Warbler: 1 at Maritime Hammock {Brevard) 8 May (C. Ferro).

Cape May Warbler: 1 at Lori Wilson Park, Cocoa Beach 8 Apr (J. Eager); 2 at Sawgrass
Lake Park 12 Apr (M. Burns et al.); up to 6 at Fort De Soto Park 11 Apr-8 May {fide
R. Smith).

Magnolia Warbler: Up to 8 around Jacksonville {Duval) 5-7 May {fide K. Dailey).

Bay-breasted Warbler; 1 at San Felasco Hammock {Alachua) 8 Apr (E. Martin); 1 at
Gainesville 7 May (S. Hofstetter).

Blackburnian Warbler: 1 male at Fort De Soto Park 7-9 Apr (-i-S. Tavaglione et al.).

Yellow Warbler: 1 at Lakewood {Duval) 6 May (M. Fethe); 1 at Fort Caroline 7 May (K.
Dailey et al.).

Chestnut-sided Warbler: 1 male at Fort De Soto Park 5-7 May (K. Nelson, S. Aversa, -i-J.
Clayton, m. obs.); 1 male at Hone 3 mioon Island SP 5 May (-i-C. Shavers).

Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1 wintered at Gainesville through 14 Apr (E. Scales); 1
female SE of Brooksville 23-24 May (J. Mann).

Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park 16 May (J. Bailey).

Black-throated Green Warbler: 1 at Bolles High School {Duval) 6 May (B. Moyer).

Wilson’s Warbler: 1 at Tallahassee {Leon) 1 Mar-10 Apr (F. Rutkovsky, J. Cavanagh).

Yellow-breasted Chat; 1 at Guana River WMA {St. Johns) 21 Apr (C. Elder et al.); 13 at
Orchard Pond Road {Leon) 26 May (R. Cassidy).

*Western Spindalis: 1 female at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 8 Mar (-i-Ro. Diaz); 1 sing¬
ing male (black-backed race) at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 15-29 Apr (-i-M. Avello); 1
female at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 16 Apr (m. obs.); 1 at Castaway Cove {Indian
River) 21-29 Apr (W. Johnson); 1 male (black-backed race) at Windley Key Fossil Reef
Geological SP 21-23 Apr (D. Segal, m. obs.); 1 at Long Key SP 22 Apr (A. Whitlock);
1 male at Plantation Preserve {Broward) 24-25 Apr (S. Kaplan, m. obs.); 2 males at
Elliott Key, Biscayne NP {Miami-Dade) 28 Apr (L. Manfredi, m. obs.); 2 at Gulfstream

Field Observations

121

Shores, North Key Largo {Monroe) 2-11 May (m. obs.); 2 at Lantana Nature Preserve
{Palm Beach) 7-11 May (m. obs.); 1 female at Elliott Key, Biscayne NP 23 May (L.
Manfredi).

*Bananaquit: 1 female-type at DeSoto Inn {Broward) 1-12 Mar (m. obs.); 1 at North
Shore Open Space Park {Miami-Dade) 14-22 Mar (-i-S. Runyon); 1 at Bear Cut Pre¬
serve, Crandon Park 22 Apr-10 May (m. obs.); 1 at Boca Chita, Biscayne NP 22 Apr (T.
Pope, K. Marvel); 1 at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP 6 May (N. Salino).

^American Tree Sparrow: 1 at Flamingo, Everglades NP {Monroe) 27 May (-i-A. Kent).
Clay-colored Sparrow: 4 at Twin Oaks Conservation Area {Osceola) 7 Mar (C. Irwin); 1
at DuPuis {Martin) 6-22 Mar (P. Grannis); 1 at Melrose {Alachua) 17 Mar-3 Apr (K.
Collingwood).

Field Sparrow: Fledglings at Beachville {Suwannee) 19 May (A. Kent, B. Simons).

Lark Sparrow: 1 at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic SP {Monroe) 30 Mar (C. Goodrich).
Grasshopper Sparrow: Up to 2 at Reddie Point Preserve {Duval) 4-6 Apr (-i-T. Rohtsalu,
m. obs.).

Henslow’s Sparrow: 2 at Hal Scott Regional Preserve Park, Orlando {Orange) 25 Mar
(J. Eager).

Fox Sparrow: 1 at Fort De Soto Park 12 Apr (-i-P. Brannon) was the first Pinellas record.
Lincoln’s Sparrow: 1 at Honeymoon Island SP 22 Apr (-i-J. McGinity); 1 at a St. Johns
residence 26 Apr (C. Elder).

*Harris’s Sparrow: 1 adult continued at Kettering Rd., Brooksville {Hernando) through
26 Mar (J. Eager, G. DelPizzo, D. Richard, m. obs.).

White-crowned Sparrow: 3 males and 2 females at Kettering Rd, Brooksville 12 Mar (J.
Eager).

Scarlet Tanager: 1 at a Clay residence 5 May (S. Raduns).

Western Tanager: 1 at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort {Orange) 23 Mar (S. Ansell).
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 wintered at Gainesville through 9 Mar (A. Kratter); 1 at Ar¬
cher {Alachua) 19 May (B. Senn); 1 at Hone 3 mioon Island SP 1 Apr (-i-L. Margeson); 1
at a Duval residence through 14 May (L. Royce).

Blue Grosbeak: 1 at Fort Pickens 2-8 Mar (J. Callaway, B. Callaway).

Dickcissel: 1 at Ponce Preserve {Volusia) 9 May (-i-D. LaGrange).

Yellow-headed Blackbird: Up to 50 at Sem-Chi Rice Mill {Palm Beach) 5 Mar-22 Apr (m.
obs.); 5 at Florida Crystals Rice Mill {Palm Beach) 22 Apr (m. obs.); 1 at Gulf Breeze
28 Apr (B. Duncan).

Rusty Blackbird: Up to 35 at Gainesville through 13 Mar (T. Anderson et ah).

Brewer’s Blackbird: 2 females at Reiser’s Dairy, DeLeon Springs {Volusia) 16-18 Mar (M.
Brothers); 1 female at Bayport through 22 Mar (W. Meehan) marked this bird’s sixth
winter in Hernando; 1 at Okaloosa County Water and STF 23 Apr (G. Floyd, -i-M.
Swan); 1 in Pace {Santa Rosa) 6 May (L. Kelly).

Boat-tailed Grackle: 1 westoni at Huguenot Memorial Park 4 Mar (K. Dailey).

Shiny Cowbird: 1 at Viera Wetlands {Brevard) 16 Apr (P. Marvin); 1 at Gulf Breeze 27
Apr-1 May (B. Duncan, L. Duncan); 1 at Alligator Point {Franklin) 28 Apr-EOS (-i-J.
Murphy).

Bronzed Cowbird: 1 at Gulf Breeze 25 Apr (W. Duncan, B. Duncan).

Orchard Oriole: 1 at Bystre Lake {Hernando) 17 May (J. Mann, S. Mann).

Contributors: Howard Adams, Brian Ahern, Trina Anderson, Steve Ansell, Regina
Armaly, Tom Auer, Miriam Avello, Steve Aversa, Jeffrey Bailey, Patricia Bazany, Mark
Berney, Reed Bowman, Patrick Brady, Dan Brand, Kate Brand, Peter Brannon, Michael
Brothers, Cathy Brower, Michael Brower, Matt Bruce, Mark Burns, Brenda Callaway,
Jerry Callaway, Jay Carlisle, Rodney Cassidy, Jim Cavanagh, Sue Cerulean, Kim
Chaney, Kevin Christman, JoAnna Clayton, Bruce Cochrane, Keith Collingwood, Alyssa
Crittenden, Debbie Cusick, Kevin Dailey, Marie Dailey, Tuly Datena, Candice Davis,

122

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Lloyd Davis, Gina DelPizzo, Rangel Diaz, Robin Diaz, Peggy Doggrell, Jennifer Donsky,
Cathy DiSalvo, Phil DiSalvo, Terry Donovan, Bob Duncan, Kathy Duncan, Lucy Duncan,
Will Duncan, Lee Dunn, Jim Eager, Cynthia Elder, Madeleine Ely, Robert Emond, David
Essian, Ben Ewing, Pete Grannis, Linda Felker, Christopher Ferro, Martha Fethe,
John Fitzpatrick, Mary Ellen Flowers, Graham Floyd, Hunter Folmar, Tony Ford,
Ann Forster, David Foster, Noah Frade, Cole Fredricks, Bruce Furlow, Rafael Galvez,
Lawrence Gardenhire, Laura Gaudette, Ivy Gibbons, John Gibbons, Jerry Gibson, Colin
Gjervold, Marcello Gomes, Louise Gomez, Larry Goodman, Carl Goodrich, Pamela
Graber, Jeffrey Graham, Tedd Greenwald, Larry Gridley, Ann Griffin, Debbie Grimes,
Brad Hall, Mitchell Harris, Randy Harrod, Andrew Herriger, Kate Herriger, John
Hintermister, Jon Hoch, Steve Hofstetter, Mardy Hornsby, Casey Irwin, Glen Israel,
Will Johnson, Smith Juan, Steve Kaplan, Alan Keitt, Les Kelly, Wayne Kennedy, Adam
Kent, Gina Kent, Grace Kiltie, Tammy Knuth, Andy Kratter, David Lagan, Jana Lagan,
David LaGrange, Alex Lamoreaux, Gary Leavens, Janet Leavens, Sharon Levins, Ken
Lewis, Fred Lohrer, Connie Long, Becky Loyacano, Tony Leukering, Stuart Mackenzie,
Margeaux Maerz, Mike Manetz, Larry Manfredi, Jane Mann, Steve Mann, Len Manning,
Phyllis Mansfield, Joe Marchionno, Lorraine Margeson, Elizabeth Martin, John Martin,
Keeli Marvel, Paul Marvin, Johnathan Mays, Jim McGinity, Michael McMillian, Shelby
McNemar, David McQuade, Tammy McQuade, Deirdre Meehan, Wendy Meehan, Carol
Miller, Karl Miller, Kenny Miller, Mike Morgante, Don Morrow, Brent Moyer, John
Murphy, Kris Nelson, Roy Netherton, Wade Nolan, Mike O’Brien, Cristen Olsen, David
Olsen, Geoff Parks, Steve Parrish, Tom Perkins, Eric Plage, Pete Plage, Keith Pochy,
Terry Pope, Bill Pranty, Bill Price, Donald Pridgen, Bruce Purdy, L. Quinlan, Steve
Raduns, Diane Reed, Douglas Richard, Harry Robinson, Scott Robinson, Tom Rodriguez,
Thomas Rohtsalu, Jon Rosenfeld, Rex Rowan, Lesley Royce, Shane Runyon, JoAnne
Russo, Fran Rutkovsky, Nicola Salino, Chip Sasser, Earl Scales, Jr., Frank Schena,
Victor Schwartz, Debbie Segal, Beth Senn, Carl Shavers, Barbara Shea, David Sherer,
Bob Simons, David Simpson, Marvin Smith, Ron Smith, Daniel Stangeland, Aaron
Stutz, Malcolm Swan, Paul Sykes, Bryan Tarbox, Sue Tavaglione, Ryan Terrill, Cathy
Terry, Ezra Thompson, Russ Titus, Roberto Torres, Brandon Trentler, Robert Wallace,
Eary Warren, Paul Waton, Tom Webber, Chuck Weber, Carol Wheeler, Audrey Whitlock,
Graham Williams, Sam Wilson, Cuneyt Yilmaz, Travis Young, John Yuhasz, Jennifer
Zelik.

Report prepared by Kevin E. Dailey, state compiler (6661 Beatrix Drive, Jacksonville,
Florida 32226, <kedailey@yahoo.com>). Regional compilers are Kevin E. Dailey, Robin
Diaz (200 Ocean Lane Drive #PB-1, Key Biscayne, Florida 33149, <rd4birds@bellsouth.
net>). Bob and Lucy Duncan (614 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561,
<Town_Point@bellsouth.net>), Jim Eager (350 Filmore Ave., Apt F-18, Cape Canaveral,
Florida, 32920, beachbirder@bellsouth.net), Charlie Ewell (115 SW 51st Terrace, Cape
Coral, Florida 33991, <anhinga42@comcast.net>), Bev Hansen (6573 Pine Meadows
Drive, Spring Hill, Florida 34606, <bevalhansen@gmail.com>), John Murphy (766
Alligator Drive, Alligator Point, Florida 32346, <southmoonunder@mchsi.com>), David
Sherer (123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960, <dlsherer@gmail.com>), and Ron Smith
(1500 85th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33702, <rsmithbirds@gmail.com>).

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Please consider a donation of $50, $100, $200 or more to FRIENDS
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FRIENDS OF FFN:

2013

Silvio Crespo, Jr.

Larry Hribar
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2014

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St Johns River WMD
(In Memory of Judy Bryan)
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123

124

FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST

Kevin & Marie Dailey
Robin Diaz
Todd Engstrom
David Hartgrove
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2015

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.
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Kevin & Marie Dailey
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2016

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Todd Engstrom

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2017

Michael Brothers

James E. Cavanagh, Jr.

Silvio Crespo

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Robin Diaz

Todd Engstrom

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Earl & Dorothy Horn

Fred & Charlotte Lohrer

Travis & Karen MacClendon

Dennis Meritt

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Ann Paul

Will Post

Walter K. Taylor

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125

Florida Field Naturalist

ISSN 0738-999X

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Editor: Scott Robinson, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida,
RO. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: srobinson@flmnli.ufl.edu
Managing/Copy Editor: Tom Webber, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of
Florida, P.O. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800. Email: twebber@flmnh.ufl.edu
Associate Editor (for bird distribution): Bruce Anderson, 2917 Scarlet Road,
Winter Park, FL 32792. Email: scizortail@aol.com

INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Florida Field Naturalist is a refereed journal emphasizing biological fleld studies
and observations of vertebrates, especially birds, in or near Florida and the nearby West
Indies. We welcome submission of original manuscripts containing new information from
these areas. We encourage electronic submission of manuscripts. Please consult
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article-submission-guidelines) for style, noting especially that manuscripts should:

(1) be double-spaced throughout, including table- and flgure captions;

(2) include the scientiflc name at the first mention of each species;

(3) include capitalized standard English names for all birds, but lower
case for English names of other organisms;

(4) use metric units for all measurements;

(5) use the form “7 June 2003” for all dates;

(6) use the 24-hour clock for all indications of time (e.g., 0800, 1400);

(7) use the following abbreviations: s (second), min (minute), h (hour);

(8) use active voice where at all possible.

Submit manuscripts, and books for review, to the Editor, Scott Robinson.
Field observations should be sent to a regional compiler of the Field Observations
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submit-observation). Reports of birds for which the FOS Records Committee requires
documentation (see http://fosbirds.org/content/records-committee) should be sent to the
Secretary of the Committee, Andrew W. Kratter, Florida Museum of Natural History,
P.O. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800; Email: kratter@flmnh.ufl.edu.

Florida Field Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

VoL. 45, No. 4 November 2017 Pages 103-125

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

Eleven recent additions to the exotic avifauna of Florida

Bill Pranty and Valeri Ponzo .103-109

NOTES

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) plunges into pond in apparent foraging
maneuver

Ken F. Tracey and Jon S. Greenlaw . 110-112

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Spring Report: March-May 2017

Kevin E. Dailey .113-122

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Friends of FFN.123-124

FOS Special Publications.125