Twentieth Report of the California Bird Records Committee: 1994 Records Steven

Volume 28, Number 3, 1997

TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: 1994 RECORDS STEVEN. G.HOWELL •nd PETER PYLE, Point Reyes Bird Observatory, 4990 ShorelineHighway, Stinson Beach, California 94970

Thisreport covers 167 recordsof 75 speciessubmitted by 158 observers to the California Bird Records Committee (hereafter the CBRC or the Committee). The 130 records accepted, of 57 species, represent an acceptancerate of 77.8%. They pertainto 24 counties,with most being from San Francisco(16 acceptedrecords, all from SE Farallon I.), Los Angeles(15), Monterey (12), Marin (11), and Orange (11). The recordsin this report span the period 1978-1995, with the great majorityfrom 1994; recordsrelating to 1995 referto long-stayingbirds first found in 1994 or earlier. Three species(Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Dark-rumpedPetrel, Greater Shearwater)are addedto the state list on the basis of well-documentedrecords. Other highlightsof 1994 includea Roseate Spoonbill, a Whooper Swan, a Little Curlew, two Red-necked Stints, an adult Sooty Tern, a Ruby-throatedHummingbird, a singing Eastern Wood-Pewee, a Louisiana Waterthrush, an overwinteringadult male MourningWarbler, and two Field Sparrows. Committee News. At the January 1997 meeting in Cama.rillo,it was agreedthat the Secretaryneed not necessarilybe one of the ten voting membersof the Committeeand that the presentroles of Secretarywould be spreadbetween a votingChairperson, and a votingor nonvotingSecretary. Subsequently,Richard A. Ericksonwas electedChairperson and David V. Blue was electednonvoting Secretary. The Committee'smembership at the close of the 1997 meeting was Richard A. Erickson(Chairperson), Scott B. Terrill (Vice Chair), David V. Blue (nonvotingSecretary), Kimball L. Garrett, Steve N. G. Howell, Guy McCaskie,Joseph Morlan, Peter Pyle, Stephen C. Rottenborn, Mike San Miguel, and Daniel S. Singer. Potentialfirst-state records currently under review by the CBRC include the Shy Albatross(Diomeclea cauta), Parkinson'sPetrel (Procellariapar- kinsoni), Great-wingedPetrel (Pteroclromamacroptera), Bulwer'sPetrel

Western Birds 28:117-141, 1997 117 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

(Buiweria buiwerii), Black Vulture (Coragypsatratus), CrestedCaracara (Caracaraplancus), Common Ringed Plover (Cl•aradrius l•iaticula), Slaty- backedGull (Larus scl•istisagus), Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris), Swallow-tailedGull (Creagrusfurcatus), White-wingedTern (Cl•iidonias ieucopterus),Buff-collared Nightjar (Caprimuigus ridgwayi), Rose-throated Becard(Pacl•yrampl•us aglaiae) and Arctic Warbler (Pl•yiioscopusborea- lis). Recentlyaccepted first state records are of the IvoryGull (Pagopl•ila eburnea)and LanceolatedWarbler (Locustellaianceolata; Hickey et al. 1996), bringingthe statelist to 595 as of 18 January1997. CBRC Functions.All recordsreviewed by the CBRC (includingcopies of descriptions,photographs, videotapes, voice recordings,and Committee comments)are archivedat the WesternFoundation of VertebrateZoology, 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo, California 93012, and are availablefor public review. The CBRC solicitsand encouragesobservers to submit documentationfor allspecies on itsReview List (see Roberson 1993), aswell as speciesunrecorded in California.Please note that recordsformerly sent to Michael A. Patten shouldnow be directedto David V. Blue, CBRC Secretary,1013 HeritageDrive, Ridgecrest,CA 93555-5509. Documentation/Descriptions.It shouldbe notedthat mostrecords not acceptedachieved this status not becausethe Committeefelt a mistakehad beenmade but rather because the documentationprovided did not establish the identificationbeyond reasonable doubt. Many birdersdo not take field notesor lookcritically at birdsthey find, and many rely on camerasor other technologyto fill in the gaps.But if that film is damagedor lostthere is no documentation.We can only encourageobservers to train their mindsto describewhat they see and to practicewriting descriptionsand making sketches(even simpleor crude sketchescan be most helpful).Consider writingnotes and makingsketches for a familiarand commonbird like a House Sparrow(Passer domesticus). This species(it musthave someuse!) is a goodsubject for honingyour observationalskills, rather than tryingto developthem onlywhen confrontedwith a rarity. Personssubmitting photographs should send at leasta coversheet with the circumstancesof the observation,weather conditions, distance from the bird, etc., as well as the date and location.Records consisting of a photograph only are not lookedupon favorablyby CBRC members,some of whom rejectoutright any suchrecords! Therefore, if you take the time to send photos, the record will be enhancedgreatly, to your credit and to everyone'sbenefit, by an accompanyingwritten account (albeit brief) of the sighting. Legible writing is also appreciatedfor any record submittedto the CBRC--at leastone observerhas not been creditedin this report because we couldnot decipherhis/her handwriting! SeabirdDocumentation. Seabirds present a specialsituation deserving some comment.Erickson and Terrill (1996) noted brieflysome problems associatedwith recordsof pelagicbirds and here we discussfactors observersshould consider when documenting their sightings. The problemsof an unstableobservation platform and, usually,briefer views of a birdthan one might like, are compoundedby the fact that most seabirdratities are unfamiliarto the majorityof birders,who make at most one or two pelagic

118 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS trips a year. In suchinstances, photos can be a real boon in evaluatingan identification.At the same time, criticalwritten descriptionsand sketches can also be very useful,perhaps providing important information that a photo may not show. Certainbasic details of a seabirdobservation should accompany any such record (photographicor sight). A simple sketch (Figure 1) can serve to conveymuch of the important informationabout the bird's flight path relativeto your position,to the sun,and to the wind directionand strength. Flightpaths A and B (Figure1) clearlyrepresent two verydifferent observation scenarios,although a brief sentencesummarizing the circumstances couldmake both soundthe same:bird A is goingin the directionopposite to

FigureI. Diagramaticrepresentation of a boatand its heading, observer positions on the boat,the sun'srelative position (even if overcast),the directionand strength of the wind, and two birds'flight paths relative to an observerand the boat. These details shouldbe notedin descriptionsof seabirds.

119 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS the ship's,with the wind, and againstthe sun;bird B is goingwith the ship, againstthe wind, and in good light, and thereforecould be watchedfor longerand in far betterlight than birdA. Flightbehavior, while often of help in identification,is primarilyof use when synthesizedwith a numberof variablesand, like so many factors, dependsgreafiy upon an observer'sexperience. Relying upon a singleflight style, which may be touted as diagnosticby field guides,can lead to misidentifications.Flight manner may be brokeninto fourbroad categories that seabirdresearchers have recognizedand usedin data collectionfor many years (e.g., Spear and Ainley 1997a,b): direct flight (transitingor migration),non-directional flight ("milling"), feeding or foragingflight, and escapeflight (in response to beingdisturbed by a boator a predator,such as a jaeger).Each of thesecategories varies with wind strength,which can be calm(0-2 knots),light (3-9 knots),moderate (10-19 knots),or strong(20- 30+ knots).Crudely, this can mean4 flightmanners x 4 wind speeds-- 16 flightmanners. In addition,a bird'sflight direction relative to winddirection can alsoaffect greatly its flightmanner: the three main categorieshere are

Figure2. Birdflight paths relative to the wind:A, flyingwith the wind(rarely do birds fly with the winddirectly astern); B, acrossthe wind;C, into (or against)the wind.

120 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS into the wind, with the wind, and acrossthe wind (Figure2). Consequenfiy, I6 x 3 givesa minimumof 48 potentialflight styles for a singlebird! Many seabirdspecies show similar overall variations in flightmanner. For example,a Leach'sStorm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) feeding intoa lightto moderatewind often beats its wings fairly steadily, then banks backinto a glidewith the wind beforeturning and beatinginto the wind again(much as a tern doesover a lake).However, a Leach'sStorm-Petrel transitingacross or with a moderateto strong wind can travel by a progressionof long,shearing glides interspersed with shortbursts of brief flapping. Althoughevaluating a bird'sflight behavior often requires some compara- tive experience,noting its flight directionrelative to the wind, and wind speed,is fairlystraightforward. Another trick to practiceis noting how a bird holdsits wings,as viewedhead-on, and throughhow muchof an arc the wingsare flapped,especially relative to a horizontalplane. Our intentis not to discourageobservers from eversetting foot again on a ship(!) but to draw attentionto manyfactors that should be consideredin observingseabirds. As with describingand sketchinga House Sparrow, you can practicewith sketchesof flightdirection, wind speed, ship direction, etc., on thoselong stretchespunctuated by little but Sooty Shearwaters(Puffinus griseus) or Black Storm-Petrels(Oceanodroma melania). Format and Abbreviations:As in other recentCBRC reports,records are listedgeographically, from north to south,and/or chronologicallyby first date of occurrence. Included with each record is the location, county abbreviation(see below), and date span.The date spanusually follows that publishedin National Audubon Society Field Notes but, if the CBRC acceptsa datespan that differsfrom a publishedsource, the differingdates are italicized.Initials of the observer(s)responsible for first identifyingthe bird (if knownand if they have supplieddocumentation) are followedby a semicolon,then the initialsof additionalobservers submitting documentation, then the CBRC record number.All recordsare sight recordsunless indicatedothen•dse: initials followed by a dagger(•) indicatethe observer suppliedan identifiablephotograph; (7) indicatesvideotape; (õ) indicates a voice recording;and (#) indicatesa specimenrecord, followedby the acronym(see below)for the institutionhousing the specimenand that institution'sspecimen number. An asterisk(*) prior to a species'name indicatesthat the speciesis no longeron the CBRC ReviewList. The numberin parenthesesafter the species'name is the numberof recordsaccepted by the CBRC throughthis report.Two asterisks(**) after the species'total indicate that the numberof acceptedrecords refers only to a restrictedreview period or includesrecords acceptedfor statisticalpurposes only--see Roberson(1986) for more information. When individualbirds return to a locationafter a lengthyor seasonal absence,each occurrenceis reviewedunder a separaterecord number, and the Committeemembers indicate whether or not they believethe bird is the same individualas one accepted previously.Such decisionsfollow the opinionof the majorityof membersand, if a birdis considereda returning individual,the total numberof recordsremains unchanged.

121 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

Althoughthe CBRC doesnot formallyreview the age, sex,or subspecies of rarities,information on thesesubjects is oftenprovided during the review process.We have distilledmuch of this information into the following speciesaccounts, while accepting responsibility for ourinterpretations of the Committee'scomments. Intensive study of molt and age determinationof nonpasserineland birds (dovesthrough woodpeckersof AOU 1983 se- quence)and passerinesfor a forthcomingidentification manual (Pyle, in press)has refined our treatment of ageing/sexingbirds reported here. Observersshould recognize, however, that without considerablecompara- tive experience,precise ageing/sexing of many speciesoften may not be possiblein the field. The CBRC usesstandardized abbreviations for Californiacounties; those usedin thisreport are ALA, Alameda;COL, Colusa;CC, ContraCosta; DN, Del Norte; IMP, Imperial;INY, Inyo; KER, Kern; LA, Los Angeles;MRN, Marin; MER, Merced;MNO, Mono; MTY, Monterey;ORA, Orange; RIV, Riverside;SBE, San Bernadino;SD, San Diego;SF, San Francisco;SJ, San Joaquin;SLO, San Luis Obispo; SM, San Mateo; SBA, Santa Barbara; SCL, Santa Clara; SCZ, Santa Cruz; SIS, Siskiyou;SON, Sonoma;VEN, Ventura. Museumsthat house specimen records reported here, have allowed CBRC membersaccess to specimensin their care, or are otherwisecited, are abbreviatedas follows:CAS, California Academy of Sciences,San Francisco;LACM, LosAngeles County Museum of NaturalHistory; SBCM, San BernardinoCounty Museum, Redlands. Other museum collections used regularlyby Committeemembers include the Museumof VertebrateZool- ogy, Universityof California, Berkeley, the San Diego Natural History Museum,and the AmericanMuseum of NaturalHistory, New York.

RECORDS ACCEPTED

YELLOW-BILLED LOON Gaoia adamsii (56). Three different individuals(sub- sumedinto a singlerecord because of confusionover how many immatureswere seen,when andby whom)were in MontereyBay, MTY, duringmid November1994 to mid March 1995: an adult, initiallyin alternateplumage, 7 Nov 1994-26 Mar 1995, and singleimmatures 12 Dec 1994-19 Mar 1995 and 29 Dec 1994-19 Mar 1995 (SFB, ADeM, TE, LL$, GMcCh, JP, DR, SCR, DLS'•, RLT'•; 178-1994). A videotapeof all threebirds on 19 March 1995 helpedthe CBRC evaluatehow many birdswere involvedin this unprecedentedrecord. LIGHT-MANTLED SOOTY ALBATROSS Phoebetria palpebrata (1). A single bird at CordellBank, MRN, 17 Jul 1994 (RS'•; LL$, BDP, LT$, SBT'•, AW'•; 124- 1994; Figures3-4; photoin Natl. AudubonSoc. Field Notes48:985) furnishedthe firstNorthern Hemisphere record for thisbeautiful subantarctic albatross. The issueof possibleship assistance was raised and felt to be unlikely,given the historyof regular occurrenceby SouthernHemisphere albatrosses in the NorthernHemisphere, albeit mainly in the Atlantic Ocean. The A.O.U. (1983) has abbreviatedthis species' traditionalname, whichwe prefer,to "Light-manfiedAlbatross." DARK-RUMPEDPETREL Pterodroma phaeop3•gia (2). Singlebirds seen and well describedat 37 ø5.27'N, 123 ø56.04'W (69.2 n. milesSW of Pt Reyes,MRN), 3 May 1992 (SFB,JDr, CBH, RWH, Kilo, CHd, RN, GFW; 130-1992) and at 38 ø28.0'N,

122 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

1•22ø 27.1'W (approximately29 milesW of GraniteCanyon, MTY), 26 Jun 1994 (SCR'•; 121-1994; Figure 5), are the first acceptedrecords of this speciesfrom Californiawaters, where its occurrencehad beenanticipated (Pyle et al. 1993). Althoughthe provenanceof Californiabirds cannot be determined,the Hawaiian population(versus the Galapagos)seems more likely,cf. Spearet al. (1995). Sibley and Monroe(1993) treatedthese two formsas separatespecies, stating that they differ"in vocalizationsand morphology to a degreesuggesting specific status." This split is basedupon Tomkinsand Milne (1991), who did not, however,advocate specificstatus for the two formsand who properlynoted that furtherstudy is needed. Despitethe statisticalsignificance of differencesin certainmeasurements between Galapagosand Hawaiian forms (Tomkinsand Milne 1991: table 5), the overall differencesare slightin absoluteterms and unlikelyto be of useat sea.Also, while Tomkinsand Milne(1991: 33) citedLoomis (1918) as detailingplumage variation betweenthe Galapagosand Hawaiian forms, that author (p. 101-102) notedoverlap in both size and plumagebetween the two. Nonetheless,Hawaiian birds average larger(e.g., mean wing "length"of 312 mm versus291 mm in Galapagosbirds; Tomkinsand Milne 1991: table 5) and appear consistentlyto have an all-white forehead,which in Galapagosbirds is often (butnot always)marked with slightdark freckling.For nowthen, forehead pattern is aboutall that birdershave to go on, and an all-whiteforehead is equivocal!As with otherpetrels, however, critical appraisal of underwingpatterns might reveal some differences; such an examinationappears not to havebeen made, probably due largely to the traditionalpreparation of specimens, whichhave their wingstighfiy closed. *MURPHY'S PETREL Pterodroma ultima (118). Four individualbirds seen approximately15-20 milesW of CordellBank, MRN, 1 Jun 1986 (ADB, JMD'•, RAE, GSL, ML, GWW'•, DGY; 401-1986, 402-1986, 403-1986, 404-1986) and onebird approximately 15 milesW of CordellBank, MRN, 7 Jun 1986 (DDeS;406- 1986) have been acceptedas Murphy'sPetrels, although two of the records(402- 1986, 404-1986) were originallysubmitted as pertainingto Solander'sPetrel (P. solandrO.While Murphy'sPetrel has proved to be a regularvisitor to offshore Californiawaters, there are no acceptedstate records of Solander'sPetrel, a species of the westernPacific Ocean. See alsounder Records Not Accepted. GREATERSHEARWATER Puffinus gravis (1). One was in MontereyBay, MTY, 1-2 Oct 1994 (DLS;JMD'•, RAE, GMcCa, DR; 144-1994; photosin Natl. Audubon $oc. Field Notes 49:95); a searchon 3 Octoberfailed to find the bird. Despitethis bird'sbeing seen by numerousobservers, only three full descriptions and one set of photographswere received.Ironically, this specieswas removedrecently from the Californiastate list (Erickson and Terrfi11996) on thebasis of re-evaluationof a report from MontereyBay in February1979. MANX SHEARWATERPuffinus puffinus (9). This specieswas added to the state list on the basisof severalwell-documented records in 1993 (Ericksonand Terrill 1996), and the trendcontinued in 1994: one wasabout 5 milesW of Davenport, SCZ, 29 Aug 1994 (SFB;131-1994), up to threebirds were off Pt. Pinos,MTY, 21 Sep-5 Oct 1994 (JLD; ABu, RAE, GMcCa, JM, DR'•; 152-1994), two were off Morro Bay, SLO, at 35 ø 17.32' N, 121 ø 0.51'W on 2 Oct 1994 (JB, CHd, BSc'•; 140-1994), one was 3 milesSW of TableRock, SCZ, 17 Dec 1994 (SA, DLS; 36- 1995), andone was in MontereyBay, MTY/SCZ, 30 Dec 1994 (SFB,DLS; 2-1995). RED-TAILEDTROPICBIRD Phaethon rubricauda (12). An adultwas seenap- proximately160 n. milesWSW of San NicolasI., VEN, on 25 Jan 1994 (PP•; 52- 1994), andan immature84 n. milesW of SanNicolas I., VEN, on 29 Jan 1994 (PP; 53-1994). These paralleltwo Januaryrecords in 1993 (Ericksonand Terrill 1996),

123 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS suggestingthat this speciesmay be regularin winter far offshoreof southern California. MASKEDBOOBY Sula dactylatra(7). A yellow-billedadult flew past SE Farallon I., SF, 9 Aug 1994 (PP;DWH; 181-1994), about90 minutesafter the observershad foundan immatureBrown Booby! A first-yearbird was seen 3 milesS of WhitePoint, LA, 30 Apr 1994 (MSM, SLWt; 84-1994). The distribution of the different forms of Masked Boobies in the eastern Pacific Oceanpresents an interestingpattern, noted in part by Pattenand Erickson(1994), andmore than one speciesmay be involved(R. L. Pitmanand J. R. Jehl,Jr., unpubl. data).Yellow-billed birds nest in Hawaii(5. d. personata),off westernMexico and on ClippertonI. (5. d. californica),and off Chileon SanAmbrosio, San Felix,and Easter islands[subspecies unknown; attributed incorrectly to granti by Johnson(1965) and Pattenand Erickson(1994)]. Birdsnesting on the Galapagosand MalpeloI. (5. d. granti) are orange-billed,and adultsand subadultsare separatedreadily at seafrom yellow-billedbirds. On Clippertonand Mexico'sRevillagigedo Islands, small numbers of granti nestamong the manycalifornica and mate assortatively, with little or no interbreeding(Pitman and Jehl unpubl. data). Yellow-billedbirds are morepelagic than granti, whichfavors more inshore waters for feedingand occurscommonly off SW Mexico(Howell and Engel1993, Pitman andJehl unpubl. data); granti also has been recorded in the Gulfof California(Tershy andBreese 1997) andoff the Pacificcoast of BajaCalifornia (Pitman and Jehl unpubl. data).Anyone lucky enough to seean adultor near-adultMasked Booby in California should make an effort to determine the bird's bill color. BROWN BOOBY $ula leucogaster(44). Singlefirst-year birds were at SE Farallon I., SF, 9 Aug-4 Sep 1994 (DWH, PPt; JM; 182-1994) and at the Angel's Gate entranceto LosAngeles harbor, LA, 14 Aug 1994 (JKA,KL$; 129-1994), continu- ing the trend of autumnrecords noted in 1993 by Ericksonand Terrill(1996). RED-FOOTED BOOBY $ula sula (11). A sickbrown-morph bird found on the beachnear Daly City, SM, 13 Jun 1994, waspicked up deadthere the nextday (RB, KC; JM; 101-1994; #CAS 85273). TRICOLOREDHERON Egretta tricolor(14'*). An immatureat the NW cornerof the Salton Sea, RIV, 2 Jan-12 Feb 1994 (GMcCa, MAP; 1-1994) was considered probablydifferent from a bird at the mouthof the WhitewaterR., 1 Oct 1993 (21- 1994; Ericksonand Terrill 1996). One and probablytwo adults,plus two begging juveniles,were at Ramer Lake, IMP, 6-14 Aug 1994 (GMcCa, MAP; 126-1994), implyingthat this speciesnested there amid the large heronnj.Three alternate- plumagedadults at ObsidianButte, IMP, 16 Jul 1994, withone adult seen there again on 23 Jul and 14 Aug 1994 (GMcCa,KLG, MAP; 107-1994), may have involved one or more of the Ramer Lake adults. REDDISH EGRETEgretta rufescens(68). Singleadults were at SealBeach NWR, ORA, 24-30 Apr 1994 (JFt,DRW; 82-1994), at BolsaChica, ORA, 29 Apr-31 May 1994 (BED, RAE, DRW; 113-1994), and at PointFirmin, LA, 1 May 1994 (KL; 97- 1994). Singleimmatures were at ObsidianButte, IMP, 4 Sep 1994 (KLG;202-1994) and at FamosaSlough/San Diego R. mouth,SD, 5 Nov 1994-15 Apr 1995 (SEF, MAP; 3-1995). An adultat ChulaVista, SD, 28 Aug-23 Dec 1994 (GMcCa; 155- 1994) is considereda returningbird (with a deformedbill) that firstappeared at the S end of San DiegoBay in 1982 (seeErickson and Terrill 1996). All acceptedstate recordshave been of dark-morphbirds and are presumedto be of the northwest Mexicanrace E. r. dickeyi,in whicha whitemorph is unreported. YELLOW-CROWNEDNIGHT-HERON INycticoraxviolaceus (16). An adultat La Jolla, SD, 22 Jan 1994-26 Feb 1995 (PEL, SBT$; 60-1994) is consideredthe same

124 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

,.,• o ..,...

Figure3. Light-mantledSooty Albatross,Cordell Bank, Marin Co., 17 Jun 1994. Givensuch a view, thisspecies is unmistakable:note the smooth-lookingpale bodyin contrastto the darkhood andwings and, in particular,the pale blueline along the side of the lower mandible. Photo by Scott B. Terrill

as that first seen near there in October 1981 (Binford 1985, Ericksonand Terrill 1996). It is easy to "overlook"returning birds and assume(often wrongly)that someone else will document them: this bird barely made the report, and the Committeegreafiy appreciates the four-linedescription and two poor photographs submitted! ROSEATE SPOONBILL Ajaia ajaja (5**). An immature at Fig Lagoon, 2 mi. SW of Seeley,IMP, 27-30 Dec 1994 (GMcCa, MAP•', BDS: 207-1994) was the first recordedin Californiasince 1983. Committeereview of thisspecies began only after 1977. WHOOPER SWAN Cygnuscygnus (2). An adultwas at LowerKlamath NWR, SIS, 24 Nov 1991-18 Jan 1992 (RE; JA, SFB, JLD, SEF, FG, CM•', GMcCa, DLR, DRY', JS, MMT•', LT, SBT: 197-1991). Califomia'sfirst Whooper Swan was an adultnear Grimes, COL, in January 1984 (Roberson1986). Subsequentlate-winter reports, all of a singleadult, in California(Klamath Basin and SacramentoValley, 1992/1993 through1995/1996) and early-winterreports from Oregon(Summer Lake Wildlife Area, Nov-Dec 1994 and Nov-Dec 1995, presumablyen route to pointssouth) may be recurrencesof thissingle bird. EMPEROR GOOSE Chen canagica(59). A first-yearbird was at Bodega,SON, 26 Dec 1994-6 Jun 1995 (JAMcD; KFC, EG•', GMcCa, JM, BDP, DR, SCR, DSg, EGS: 5-1995).

125 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

Figure 4. Light-mantledSooty Albatrosswith Black-lootedAlbatross (Diomedea nigripes),Cordell Bank, Marin Co., 17 Jun I994. A uniquecombination: note the distinfiydifferent shapes of thesetwo albatrossgenera. Photo by Scott B. Terrill

Figure5. Dark-rompedPetrel, 29 milesW GraniteCanyon, MontereyCo., 26 Jun 1994. On the upperparts,note the long, taperedtail and long wings,typical of the Dark-rumpedand Juan Fernandez(Pterodroma externa) petrels.The view of the underpartsshows the dark underwingbar, dark hood,and long-wingedappearance, diagnosticof the Dark-rumpedPetrel. Photos by Stephen C. Rottenborn

126 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

KING EIDERSomateria spectabilis (33). An immaturemale at RedondoBeach, LA, 28 May 1992 (JKAI';130-1994) was considered probably the same individual as that at SealBeach, ORA, 13-31 Dec 1991 and at BelmontShores, LA, 9-17 Jan 1992 (213-1991).The discussionof thisquestion revealed how little we knowabout the (winter)molt of immatureKing Eiders; a betterunderstanding of the extentand timingof moltscould lead to a re-evaluationof the same-bird question. MISSISSIPPIKITE Ictinia mississippiensis (26). A birdin first-basicplumage was seenalong the Owens River, 9 milesW ofWestgard Pass, INY, 26 May1994 (HK;96- 1994). ZONE-TAILEDHAWK Buteo albonotatus(48). In spring,single adults were reportedover Valyermo, LA, 25 Apr1994 (MSM; 83-1994) and over California City, KER, 26 May 1994 (GTo;98-1994). Birdsconsidered to be returningadults, at Goleta,SBA, 24 Aug 1994-16 Jan 1995 (ZL;ABi, SEFI',PEL, CM, GMcCa;128- 1994)and Laguna Hills, ORA, 17 Dec1994-22 Jan1995 (JEP;SEFI', GMcCa; 17- 1995), andsingle juveniles at EastHicks Canyon, ORA, 12 Sep 1994 (KFC;171- 1994)and over Kit CarsonPark, Escondido, SD, 19 Nov 1994 (GMcCa;175-1994) aretypical of the patternin recentyears, with a fewbirds occurring through autumn andwinter in southernCalifornia. Descriptions of these birds varied in qualityfrom poor(mosfiy) to good,and the descriptions of one supposedly returning wintering bird vacillatedbetween characters more typical of a juvenileto thoseof an adult(despite this, the recordwas accepted)!Observers confronted with a Zone-tailedHawk are cautionedto notethe tail pattern carefully and, if possible,to sketchit. We notehere that,con tra Clarkand Wheeler (1987), followed by Erickson and Terrill (1996), Zone- tailedHawks are not sexed reliably by tail patterns, although there is a tendencyfor the sexesto differ (American Museum of Natural History specimens examined critically by Howelland sexed by unequivocal measurements). Also see Records Not Accepted.

r,'c• !

Figure6. CurlewSandpiper, Edwards Air ForceBase, Los Angeles Co., 23 Jul1994. Sketch by Rimball L. Garrett

127 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

UPLAND SANDPIPER Bartrarnia Iongicauda(14). One at TwentyninePalms, SBE, 28 Sep 1994 (EACh-:25-2995) was the latest for Californiaby a week. Unfortunately.no writtendetails accompanied the photograph.causing one member to rejectthe record(see the introductionto this report). Lg-TLE CURLEW Numenius minutus (4). An adultat Carmel R. SB, MTY, 6-28 Sep 1994 (BHI: JLDf. EGf, DPH, LL:•, JM• DEQ, DRf, SCR. LT, SBT, BJWf: 137- 1994; photo in Natl. Audubon $oc. Field Notes 49:97) was consideredby only three Committeemembers to be the same bird as that at the Santa Maria R. estuary in August1993 (125-1993: Ericksonand Terrill 1996) and thusis treatedhere as a new record. BAR-TAILEDGODWIT Limosalapponica (17). Singlefirst-year birds showing the charactersof the expectedrace baueri were at MoonglowDairy, Moss Landing, MTY, 5-8 Sep 1994 (RC, DRf: BJW; 139-1994) and at Palo Alto Baylands,SCL, 9-24 Sep 1994 (NL, MM, JM, MMRf, SCR, SBT: 138-1994: photo in Natl. Audubon $oc. Field Notes 49:97). LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta (6). A juvenilewas found at BolinasSewer Ponds, MRN, on 22 Sep 1994, and what was consideredto be the samebird, moltinginto first-basicplumage, was seen there again 9-10 Oct 1994 (TE•';SNGH: 204-1994). RED-NECKEDSTINT Calidris ruficollis(8). Singlealternate-plumage adults were at the Santa Clara R. estuary,VEN, 29 Jun-2 Jul 1994 (DDj•', SEF, PEL, NL, JM, MAP: 103-1994) and at the SantaMaria R. estuary,SBA, 11-15 Jul 1994 (BHnf: AME, RST'•: 110-1994). Unlike the Little Stint. for which four of the six acceptedCalifornia records have beenof juveniles,all of the acceptedRed-necked Stints have been adults in alternate plumage[despite the effortsof Veit(1988), the identificationof a moltingone-year-old

Figure 7. Adult Sooty Tern at BolsaChica, Orange Co., 10 Aug 1994. Photo by Peter t'(napp

128 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

Figures8 and 9. Immaturemale Ruby-throatedHummingbird, SE FarallonI., SF, 7 September1994. In particular,note the short bill and deep emerald-green,buff- fringed upperparts.including the crown. The blackishlores, whitish throat and underparts,and white postocularspot (versusline) eliminate Anna's, Costa's, and other similarNorth American hummingbirds. Photos by Steve N. G. Howell

129 A B

Ruby-throated& Othersmall Blaek-ehinned hummingbirds Figure10. Shapeof the closedprimaries on A, Archilochushummingbirds (Ruby- throatedand Black-chinned);B, Calypte hummingbirds(Anna's and Costa's).With goodviews in the field,the relativelynarrow inner six primariesof Archilochusare visible. Sketch by Steve N. G. Howell, from Pyle (in press)

Ruby- throated

Black- chinned

Figure 11. Differencesin the shapesof primary 6 (numbereddistally) of Ruby- throatedand Black-chinnedHummingbirds, by age and sex. Note that the shapeof thisprimary (blunt in females,pointed in males)can be usedto sexautumn immatures (distinguishedfrom adultsby their fresh,buff-tipped upperparts). The "step"on the innerweb, in combinationwith a more pointedtip, is helpfulin distinguishingadult female and immature male Ruby-throatedsfrom the Black-chinned;the feather shapesare more similar,however, in immaturefemales. Sketch by Steve N. G. Howell, from Pyle (in press)

130 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS birdcollected at the southend of SaltonSea 17 Aug 1974 (M½Caskie1975) remains problematicaland the CBRC has not acceptedthe recordl. We suspectthat this difference reflects an identification dilemma rather than a difference in the status of the age classesbetween these species. CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferruginea (18). One, starting its molt into alternateplumage, was at the mouth of the WhitewaterR., SaltonSea, RIV, 16-26 Apr 1994 (TC, PAG, GMcCa: GCH, MAP; 76-1994: #SBCM 54281): on the last date it wasshot by GCH and provedto be a femalewith ovarymeasuring 1.8 x 2.5 min. An alternate-plumagedadult was at Piute Ponds,Edwards Air Force Base, LA, 23-24 Jul 1994 (NBB•',KLG, MSM; GM•'; 108-1994; Figure6). LITTLE GULL Larus rainutus (53). An adultand two first-winterbirds were among a flock of Bonaparte'sGulls (L. philadelphia)at the Niland Marina, SE corner of SaltonSea, IMP, 24 Jan-/7 Feb 1994; the two iramatureswere stillpresent 24 Feb, with one found dead there on 26 Feb (KLG•', PAG, MH, PEL, GMcCa, KCM, MAP; #LACM 107890; 47-1994). In addition,a first-winterbird wasat Long Beach,LA, 16 Jan 1993 (KL: 99-1994), an alternate-plumagedadult flew past Hayward Shoreline,ALA, 18 Apr 1994 (RJR: 104-1994), and a second-winterbird was off La Jolla, SD, 18 Nov 1994 (GMcCa: 176-1994). LESSERBLACK-BACKED GULL Larusfuscus (7). An adultwas at DohenySB, ORA, 27 Dec 1994-29 Jan 1995 (JEP;SEF'•, JRG•', KLG'•, EG•', RAH-•, CJ'•, CM'•, GMcCa, JM, MAP, MSM, BDS; 206-1994; photo in Natl. Audubon Soc. Field Notes 49:198). Like othersaccepted from California(four of them from the Salton Sea and all adults),this bird showed the charactersof the Britishrace graellsii. SOOTY TERN Sterna fuscata (2). An adult at BolsaChica EcologicalReserve, ORA, 30 Jul-10 Aug 1994 (DRW; NBB, BED, RAE, RAH, PK•'; 109- 1994: Figure 7) constitutesthe secondstate record. Ericksonand Terrill (1996) detailedthe checkeredrecent history of reportsof dark-backedterns from the BolsaChica area.

Figure 12. Black-backedWagtail, Crescent City, Del Norte Co., 7 Sep 1994. The extensivelywhite wings and black mottling on the backof thisbird distinguish it readily from the White Wagtail(Motacilla alba). Photo by Gary $. Lester

131 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

THICK-BILLED MURRE Uria lornvia (33). Singleindividuals were seen approxi- mately2.8 milesoff the PalosVerdes Peninsula, LA, 21 May 1994 (KLG; HK, KL•'. AS; 92-1994), off Pt. Pinos,MTY, 5 Oct 1994 (NBB•',JLD•'; 179-1994), and flying pastSE FarallonI., SE with a flockof 20 Common Murres(U. aalge)on 1 Nov 1994 (PP; 183-1994). The LosAngeles record is the firstsouth of MontereyCounty and adds to the pattern of late spring and summer vagrant alcids (Parakeet, Cyclorrhynchuspsittacula; Least, Aethia pusilia; Crested, A. cristata, auklets; Horned Puffin, Fratercula corniculata) from central and southern California and Baja California.The Farallonrecord parallels a similar,but not accepted,record of a bird flyingpast the islandwith a flock of Common Murreson 29 Oct 1988 (214- 1988). RUDDY GROUND-DOVE Colurnbina talpacoti (59). Three birds at Furnace Creek Ranch, INY, 14-31 May 1994 (GMcCa, MAP; 88-1994) were considered most likely to have been three of the five birdsfound at this site Oct-Nov 1993 (Ericksonand Terrill 1996). BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD Cynanthus latirostris (46). Singleswere at Goleta, SBA, 1 Jan 1994 (PEL, CM, GMcCa; 11-1994) and 25 Dec 1994-28 Jan 1995 (SEF,RAH, PEL, CM, GMcCa; 7-1995), andat Iron MountainPumping Plant, SBE, 29 Oct-5 Nov 1994 (MAPt, BDS; 161-1994). An adult male at a feeder in Camarillo, VEN, 9 Oct 1994-5 Feb 1995 (PEL, CM; 8-1995) was consideredthe same male seen there in Nov and Dec 1993 (197-1993; Ericksonand Terrill 1996).

Figure 13. MourningWarbler with MacGillivray'sWarbler (Oporornis tolrniei), SE Farallon1., San FranciscoCo., 13 Sep 1994. Note the narrow,broken eyering and yellow median chest of the Mourning versusthe thicker eye- crescentsand dusky medianchest of the MacGillivray's. Photo by Steve N. G. Howell

132 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD Archilochus ½olubris (3). An immature male was at SE FarallonI., SF, 7 Sep 1994 (SNGHt; 184-1994; Figures8, 9). A criticalprecursor to findinga Ruby-throatedHummingbird is to becomethoroughly familiarwith the Black-chinned(A. alexandri),Anna's (Calypte anna), Costa's(C. ½ostae),Calliope ($tellula calliope),and $elasphorushummingbirds. Under favor- ableconditions, the relativewidths of the innersix primaries(narrow in Archilochus, widein the othergenera; Figure 10) can oftenbe seenon a perchedbird, helping to narrowthe choicedown to Ruby-throated/Black-chinned.Separation of the Ruby- throatedand Black-chinnedhummingbirds in the fieldis oftenrelatively straightfor- ward givengood views and criticalfield experiencewith one or both species.The glitteringupperparts of bothspecies change from a bluerto moregolden green with wear,but the Ruby-throatedis consistentlymore of an emeraldgreen, a markin itself that mightdraw attention to a vagrantin California(e.g., Figures 8, 9). The forecrown of the Black-chinnedis consistentlydusky grayish, not showingany distinctgreen tones,while that of the Ruby-throatedtypically is green but, on wornbirds (mainly on the Mexicanwintering grounds), can be duskylike a Black-chinned's.Thus, a green forecrownshould be diagnosticof the Ruby-throated,although the greenfeathers are tippedwith buff, and so lessobvious, in fresh-plumagedimmatures (e.g., Figure8). The shorterbill of the Ruby-throatedis useful(e.g., Figure 9), particularlyif the bird's sexcan be determined,while the shapeof the primariescan be usefulon birdsin the hand(Phillips 1975, Pyle,in press;Figure 11). Differencesin the timingof primary molt can alsobe usefulwith birdsseen in winter (Baltosser1995, Pyle et al. 1997), when crown colorcan be equivocal:in general,the Black-chinned'smolt is abouta month advancedover that of the Ruby-throated(reflecting the former's earlier breedingseason), females and adultsmolting earlier than malesand immatures. EASTERNWOOD-PEWEE Contopus virens (3). One washeard singing and tape recordedat a campground2 milesE of BigPine Mt•, SBA, 24 Jun-9 Jul 1994 (JTHõ, CP, GTi; SEF,PEL, JEL, RL; 111-1994). The repeatedfull songwas diagnostic, and the appearance,including pale underpartsand a completelyyellow lower mandible, was also indicative.The only other acceptedrecords for Californiaare of a bird capturedand bandedon SE FarallonI., SF, on 15 Jun 1975, and one singingnear Manteca,SJ, 18 Aug-17 Sep 1983. DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus tuberculifer(34). Individualswere on the PalosVerdes Peninsula, LA, 1-17 Jan 1994 (MHt; KL, CM; 55-1994), at the Carmel R. mouth, MTY, 11 Nov 1994 (DPH; 186-1994), in HuntingtonBeach, ORA, 28 Nov 1994 (JEP;RAE; 177-1994), and in FountainValley, ORA, 28 Dec 1994•-15 Jan 1995 (CM, GMcCa, JEP, SBTt; 9-1995). SCISSOR-TAILEDFLYCATCHER T•rannus forficatus (92). A female in first alternateplumage was collected by EAC at HarperDry Lake,SBE, 18 May 1992 (38- 1995; #SBCM 53745), a femaleor immaturemale was at LakeHodges, SD, 4-17 Jan 1994 (GMcCa;48-1994), a probablemale was near Oasis, MNO, 28 May 1994 (BED; 117-1994), and a birdof unknownage and sex was at McGrathSB, VEN, 28 May 1994 (WW; 205-1994). NORTHERN WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe (7). Individuals,probably in first basicplumage, were nearNicasio, MRN, 27 Sep 1992 (JEt, DSf; 258-1992) and in La Mirada,LA, 5 Nov 1994 (WSSt; RPt, BP,JAJ, MSM; 167-1994). The latteris the first record for southern California. VEERY Catharusfuseescerts (9). One wasat PointReyes NS (FishDocks), MRN, 4 Jun 1992 (SNGH; 144-1992). GRAY-CHEEKEDTHRUSH Catharus minimus (17). Two were on SE FarallonI., SF, one on 20 Sep 1994 (PPt; 189-1994) and the other on 21 Sep 1994 (SNGH;

133 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

PP; 190-1994). The former, in first basic plumage, was caught and measured; photographsof it appearin McLaren(1995). The secondbird was seen to lacka band and, unlikethe firstbird, did not havebuffy tips to the greatercoverts, which resulted in its age beingleft unknown.Both birdswere too largeand too gray for Bicknelrs Thrush(C. bicknelli),which is unrecordedin the west;see Curson (1994), McLaren (1995), and Knox (1996). GRAY CATBIRDDurnetella carolinensis (68). Birdsin firstbasic plumage were caught,banded, and measuredon SE FarallonI., SF, on 25 Sep 1994 (PP].;191- 1994), 28 Sep-10 Oct 1994 (PP].;SNGH].; 192-1994), and 2 Oct 1994 (PP].;44- 1995). BLACK-BACKEDWAGTAIL Motacilla lugens(5). An individualin adult basic plumage,probably a male,was foundin CrescentCity, DN, 6-7 Sep 1994 (KCK].; GSL].; 143-1994; Figure12). WHITE-EYEDVIREO Vireo griseus(33). Singingmales were near Corona,RIV, 18 May 1994 (MAP; 85-1994) and at GalileoHill, KER, 28 May 1994 (JFs;93- 1994). One of unknownage and sex was caughtand bandedat the Big Sur OrnithologyLab, AndrewMolera SP, MTY, 4 Jun 1994 (CHo].; 105-1994). YELLOW-THROATED VIREO Vireoflavifrons (55). One wasnear DesertCenter, RIV, 14 May 1994 (BES].;95-1994). A singingmale near Weldon,KER, 7-30 Jul 1994 (DVB]., GMcCa; 125-1994) was the firstto be recordedin Kern County. PHILADELPHIAVIREO Vireophiladelphicus (96). One wasat Los Osos,SLO, 19-20 Oct 1994 (KAH; 173-1994). YELLOW-GREENVIREO Vireo flavoviridis(39). Singleindividuals were at the CarmelR. mouth,MTY, 14-20 Oct 1992 (RC; BG; 310-1992), at Wilmington,LA, 16-17 Oct 1994 (MH]'; KL]'; 165-1994), and on SE FarallonI., SF, 17 Oct 1994 (PP; 193-1994). Plumageand/or eyecolor suggested that all threebirds were immature. BLUE-WINGED WARBLER Verrnivorapinus (20). A singingmale was at the Point ReyesBird Observatoryheadquarters near Bolinas,MRN, 18 May 1994 (PP; 102-1994). A probablemale (but possibly an adultfemale in basicplumage) was at L. Palmdale,LA, 31 Aug 1994 (CHd, NM, CDY; 132-1994). GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER Verrnivora chrysoptera (51). A male was at Oasis,MNO, 8 May 1992 (BSi;172-1992). A malewas in Wilmington,LA, 27 May 1994 (PB; NBB, KL]'; 94-1994). An adultfemale in basicplumage was in Arroyo Grande, SLO, 1-3 Oct 1994 (SM; JLD, CM, JM, SBT; 159-1994). YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER Dendroica dorninica (74). A male or adult femalein basicplumage, evidently of the "white-lored"subspecies (D. d. albilora)was near Pescadero,SM, 29 Sep-5 Oct 1994 (BTM; AME, BDP, RST; 194-1994). PINE WARBLERDendroica pinus (51). A probableimmature male was in Santa Barbara,SBA, 1 Jan-6 Feb 1994 (RAH; SEE PEL, CM, GMcCa; 12-1994). WORM-EATING WARBLER Helrnitheros verrnivorus(75). A bird found wintering in SantaBarbara, SBA, 1 Jan-12 Mar 1994 (PEL;SEF, CM, GMcCa; 13-1994) returned for its second winter, 24 Oct 1994-18 Mar 1995 (SEE BHn, PEL, GMcCa; 34-1995). Individualswere in Death ValleyNM (Scotty'sCastle), INY, 14 May 1994 (PAG, GMcCa; 90-1994), at Twentynine Palms, SBE, 18 Jul 1994 (SIT]'; 148-1994), in Wilmington,LA, 15-16 Oct 1994 (MH, KL; 26-1995), andat Westminster,ORA, 1-6 Nov 1994 (JEP;RAE, GMcCa, MAP, BDS; 166-1994). An adultwas caught,banded and measuredon SE FarallonI., SF, 21-24 Sep 1994 (PP]'; 195-1994).

134 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH $eiurus motacilla (7). One was at Galileo Hill, KER, 16-18 Sep 1994 (JTH; MOC, JLDg, MTHg, GMcCa; 153-1994). A photographof thisbird appearedin Natl. Audubon $oc. Field Notes (49:102). *KENTUCKY WARBLER Oporornisformosus (106). One was at Galileo Hill, KER, 22-23 Sep 1994 (MTHg; 196-1994). Becauseof its relativeabundance in the state,highlighted by the springand summer of 1992 (Pattenand Marantz1996), this specieshas been removedfrom the CBRC reviewlist. CONNECTICUT WARBLER Oporornisagilis (74). A male (PPg;SNGHg; 197- 1994) and a female(SNGH; PPg; 198-1994) in firstbasic plumage were caught, banded,and measuredon SE FarallonI. SF, both 18-20 Sep 1994. MOURNING WARBLER Oporornis philadelphia (93). Individualscaught, banded,and measuredincluded a maleat Big Sur OrnithologyLab, AndrewMolera SP, MTY, 31 May 1994 (JDa; 106-1994), an immaturemale on SE FarallonI., SF, 29 Aug 1994 (PPg;45-1995), and an immature,probably a female,at the latter locationon 13 Sep 1994 (SNGHg; 199-1994; Figure 13). Another bird, an adult female,was seenon the sameisland on 25 Sep 1994 (SNGH, PP; 200-1994). In southernCalifornia, an immature male was observednear Trona, SBE, 17 Sep 1994 (MAP; GMcCa; 134-1994) and an adultmale was present at NewportBeach, ORA, 31 Dec 1994-25 Feb 1995 (BED; SEF, CM, GMcCa, MAP; 11-1995). The latter is only the secondwintering Mourning Warbler recorded in North America, the only previousrecord involving one in Wilmington,LA, 26 Dec 1981-28 Jan 1982 (Binford 1985). SCARLETTANAGER Piranga olivacea (89). An adultmale at leasttwo yearsold wasnear Milpitas, SCL, 13-31 July1994 (SCRg;JM, SBT; 122-1994). Malesin first basicplumage were in Morro Bay SP, SLO, 2-13 Nov 1994 (SJH; KAH; 174-1994), and on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, LA, 6-15 Nov 1994 (KLg; 29-1995). A photographof the latter individualappeared in Natl. Audubon $oc. Field Notes (49:103). PAINTED BUNTING Passerinaciris (46). An adult-plumagedmale was at Hole-in- the-Wall,SBE, 2-5 Sep 1993 (BHog;JN; 137-1993). Birdsin supplementalplumage were near Cantil, KER, 10 Sep 1994 (MTHg; 201-1994), and in Death ValleyNM (FurnaceCreek Ranch), INY, 25-27 Aug 1994 (GMcCa;158-1994). The adultmale wasslightly faded, provoking concern that it had escapedfrom captivity.However, it was in the processof a normalmolt (whichcage birds may or may not show)out of worn plumage,and sincethe localityand date of occurrencewere consistentwith other recordsof this speciesin California,it was acceptedon the fourthand final round. FIELD SPARROW $pizella pusilia (5). Individualsshowing the charactersof the westernsubspecies, $. p. arenacea,were in Martinez,CC, 4 Jan-12 Apr 1994 (DSW; GF, EGg, JLg, CM, JM, BDP, DR, MMR, SBT; 14-1994), and in Huntington Beach, ORA, 20 Jan-13 Mar 1994 (RAH, GMcCa, JCWg; 56-1994). LE CONTE'S SPARROW Ammodramus leconteii (26). A basic-plumagedbird was at Death ValleyNM (FurnaceCreek Ranch),INY, 5 Nov 1994 (DG, BGPg; 172- 1994). A photographof thisindividual appeared in Natl. Audubon$oc. Field Notes (49:103). COMMON GRACKLE Quiscalusquiscula (34). One wasat CottonwoodSprings Oasis,RIV, 17 Apr 1993 (DEQ; 73-1993). Maleswere at PanamintSprings, INY, 29 May 1994 (SBTg;123-1994) and at GalfieoHill, KER, 29 Oct 1994 (CDY; MTHg; 164-1994). All were BronzedGrackles, Q. q. versicolor,the only form of the Common Grackle recorded in California.

135 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED: IDENTIFICATION NOT ESTABLISHED

SOLANDER'S PETREL Pterodromasolandri. Singlebirds seen approximately 15 miles W of Cordell Bank, MRN, 7 Jun 1986 (405-1986, 407- 1986) were insufficienfiydocumented to allowspecific identification. In largepart thisreflects the inadequateand misleadingidentification information then available concerning the appearanceat sea of Solander'sPetrel vis-•-vis Murphy's Petrel. Field-identification criteriafor darkPterodroma were subsequenfiy elucidated by Baileyet al. (1989) and Spear et al. (1992). *MURPHY'S PETRELPterodroma ultima. Singlebirds seen approximately 9-17 milesW of CordellBank, MRN, 7 Jun 1986 (408-1986, 409-1986) were subsumed into the complexof confusingand inadequatelydescribed Pterodroma discussed aboveunder Solander's Petrel. Also see Records Accepted. WEDGE-TAILEDSHEARWATER Puffin us pacificus. A dark-morphbird was seen 2 milesW of Table Rock, SCZ, 18 Dec 1993, on the Santa Cruz CBC (66-1994). This recordwas rejected6:4 on the secondround. Some committee members (including thosewith the mostseabird experience) accepted the record,while othersfelt that detailsprovided by one observersuggested the bird was not seenlong enoughto confirmthe identification.Clearly, sightings of certainpelagic birds will alwaysbe troublesome. MANX SHEARWATERPuffinus puffinus. A recordof a bird seen brieflyover BodegaCanyon, SON, 5 Nov 1994 (47-1995) was unconvincing. *TUFTED DUCK Aythyafuligula. A birdreported 8 Sep-5 Oct 1991 at Hayward Shoreline,ALA (4-1992) was poorlydocumented. MISSISSIPPIKITE Ictinia mississippiensis.Descriptions of a bird reportedover Torrance,LA, 30 Apr 1994 (114-1994) and of two overRancho Park Golf Course, LA, 3 May 1994 (91-1994) were unconvincing. COMMON BLACK HAWK Buteogallusanthracinus. One was reportedfrom Highway195 nearthe N endof theSalton Sea, RIV, 13 Jun 1994 (116- 1994). This intriguingreport did not conveyenough detail for Committeemembers to accepta secondstate record of this extremerarity. ZONE-TAILED HAWK Buteo albonotatus. One was reportedfrom the Pacific CoastHighway in LosAngeles, LA, 9 May 1994 (169-1994);a photographdoes not supportthe record,suggesting a Red-tailedHawk (B. jamaicensis)to at leasttwo Committeemembers. Single birds reported over Highway 67 nearSantee, SD, 4 Nov 1992 (56-1993) and overPalomar Airport Road,Carlsbad, SD, 23 Aug 1993 (34- 1994) werenot seenor describedin enoughdetail to ruleout otherspecies, although the latterreceived a 5:5 vote.See commentsunder this species in RecordsAccepted. CRESTEDCARACARA Caracara plancus. An intriguingreport of one6 krnSW of Coachella,RIV, on 9 Jan 1994 (18-1995)failed to gainacceptance largely because it was second-hand. GYRFALCON Falco rusticolus.One reportednear Midway, ALA, 27 Nov-14 Dec 1993 (5-1994) raisedinteresting issues: some membersthought it was an immaturegray-morph Gyr, others thought that the possibilityof an escapecould not be eliminated,while others felt thatthe descriptiondid not eliminatethe possibilityof an escapedhybrid! The record was rejected on the grounds of identification6:4 onthe secondround. Sadly, the incidenceof captivefalcons is unlikely to decrease(e.g., an escapedadult Gyr hadalso been frequenting the samearea as the rejectedbird during the sameperiod!), so any largefalcon thought to be a Gyrfalconshould be studied carefullyand alsochecked for signsof captivity.

136 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

WlLSON'S PLOVER Charadrius wilsonia.A birdseen in flightat Ormond Beach, ORA, 31 Aug 1994 (163-1994) mayhave been of thisspecies but membersfelt the sightingwas too brieffor a positiveidentification to be accepted. LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta. A birdreported as a Little Stint wasseen at San JoaquinMarsh, Irvine, ORA, 11 Sep 1994 (141-1994). Detailswere inadequate to supportthis difficult identification; for example,the observersdid not determinethe age of the bird, alwaysa criticalfirst step with an odd-lookingshorebird. We recommendthat observersbecome fully conversantwith the age classesof the commonershorebirds in fall becauseage-related plumage differences are often greaterthan differencesamong species.Thus, apparent"oddballs" can be basic- plumagedadults with a flockof juvenilesof the samespecies, or viceversa. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERCalidris fuscicollis.A bird that may well have been this specieswas seen at BodegaBay, SON, 20 Sep 1994 (160-1994). The descriptionssubmitted, however, did not fully establishthe bird's identification, particularlyin lightof the brevityof the sightingand the extremerarity of thisspecies in Californiain autumn.As with the Little Stint (above),the age of this birdwas not determined.The recordwas rejected6:4 on the firstround. BLACK-HEADEDGULL Larus ridibundus.A possiblesighting of one in flightat the SantaMaria R. mouth,SBA, 29 Apr 1994 (87-1994) wastoo briefto establish such a rare occurrence. WHITE-FRONTED SWIFT Cypseloidesstoreri. This record was submittednot becauseanyone really thought there was much likelihood that a White-frontedSwift, itselfa controversialtaxon (Navarro et al. 1992, Howell 1992, 1993, Petersonand Navarro 1993, Howell and Webb 1995) and one highlyunlikely to reach North America,was involved, but rather to refutean unseasonallylate reportof the Black Swift(C. niger)from California.The birdin questionwas over Furnace Creek Ranch, INY, 2 Nov 1974 (62-1995; Garrettand Dunn 1981). The observersubmitting the record providedno contemporaneousfield notes, and the CBRC member with perhapsthe greatestfield experiencewith neotropicalswifts thought that other descriptions(which did includecopies of originalfield notes) were concordantwith the BlackSwift. The conspicuouslyprotruding "spines" reported on thisbird's tail by one observerwere atypicalfor either a White-frontedSwift or a Black Swift; as the undescribedmolt of the latterpresumably occurs on the (unknown)winter grounds, a NovemberBlack Swift in worn plumagemight show an apparenfiy"spiny" tail. Anotherobserver's field notes said, "Slow languid flight, fairly large. All black,white forehead."This description is fine for a BlackSwift, and the slowlanguid flight should eliminatethe heavy-bodied,fiuttery White-fronted Swift (Howelland Webb 1995, Howell et al. in press).Needless to say, the recordas a White-frontedSwift was rejected,and, while the originalidentification as a BlackSwift has been challenged, a decisionabout the matteris beyondthe scopeof thisCommittee. GREATER PEWEE Contopuspertinax. The descriptionof a bird at Whittier NarrowsNature Area, LA, 9 Oct 1994 (156-1994) fit a WesternWood Peweebetter than a Greater Pewee. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER Empidonax flaviventris. One was described fromSE FarallonI., SF, 25 Aug 1992 (251-1992). The observerswere distractedby a Red-facedWarbler (Cardellina rubrifrons)and a documentaryfilm team on the islandthat day and thuswere unableto captureand measurethe bird. The record failed on the fourth and final round becausetwo memberswere uneasyabout acceptingsight-only records of non-vocalizingindividuals of thisspecies, in combina- tion with this bird's abnormallydark lower mandible(which would have been abnormalfor similarspecies of Empidonaxas well).

137 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

ALDER FLYCATCHER Empidonax alnorum. The CBRC is not yet ready to acceptas Alder Flycatchersmigrant "Traill's" Flycatchers giving "peek" call notes, suchas one at GalileoHill, KER, 11 Sep 1994 (185-1994). See Patten et al. (1995) for furtherdiscussion on thistopic. RED-THROATED PIPIT Antbus cervinus.A pipit observednear Port Hueneme, VEN, 13 Oct 1991 (225-1991) wasnot heardcalling, and the plumagedescription fell shortof eliminatingother potentially occurring pipits. SPRAGUE'S PIPIT Antbus spragueii.The descriptionof a bird seenat Merced NWR, MER, 15 Jan 1994 (20-1994) did not eliminateseveral species of sparrows foundon thisrefuge in winter. GRAYCATBIRD Dumetella carolinensis. A birdobserved at MossLanding, MTY, 27 Sep 1993 (73-1994) wasglimpsed from a distanceof 70 to 80 yards. BLUETHROATLuscinia svecica. A birdseen near Olema, MRN, 9 Apr 1994 (78- 1994), was identifieddue its greatersimilarity to a field-guidepicture of thisspecies thanto anyother species in the guide.Beginners are cautionedthat this method does not produceaccurate identifications. The Committeeunanimously felt that the bird wasnot a Bluethroatand wasprobably a Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus). YELLOW-THROATEDVIREO Vireo flavifrons. A bird heardsinging and seen brieflyin San Rafael,MRN, 28 April 1992 (181-1992) wasconsidered probably of thisspecies by the Committee,but the description'sbeing written several months after the encountercaused the record'srejection in the end. PHILADELPHIA VIREO Vireo philadelphicus.Descriptions of birdsobserved at BuenaVista L. RecreationArea, KER, 5 May 1994 (118-1994) and at the CarmelR mouth, MTY, 2 Oct 1994 (145-1994) betterfit other speciesof vireos.The former wouldhave been the earliestspring record in the stateby 18 days. WORM-EATINGWARBLER Helmitheros •ermivorus. Details concerning a bird at RedondoBeach, LA, 26 May 1992 (192-1992) wereunconvincing. KENTUCKYWARBLER Oporornis formosus. The describedsong of a birdheard near Chilao, San Gabriel Mts., LA, 15 Jun 1992 (199-1992) was correctfor this species,but the plumagedescription left too muchto be desired. SCARLET TANAGER Piranga olivacea. A bird photographedat Twentynine Palms,SBE, 18 May 1994 (27-1995) wasalmost unanimously considered a Summer Tanager(P. rubra cooperi) by the Committee.A maleobserved briefly at PointLoma, SD, 24 Aug 1994 (28-1995) wasin transitionalgreen and red plumage. This plumage wouldnot be foundon a migrantScarlet Tanager, and it wasfelt unlikely that the bird had summeredat this well-birderlocale. Alternatively,a male Summer Tanager moltingfrom firstalternate (green) to adultbasic (red) plumage would be far more likelythere on this date.

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED: NATURAL OCCURRENCE QUESTIONABLE

RUDDY GROUND-DOVE Columbina talpacoti. A male at the Fillmore Fish Hatchery,VEN, 24-25 Nov 1978 (REW;31-1981) was rejectedon the basisof its possiblybeing an escapee.The coastallocation and earlydate (1978), somewhat predatingthe spreadof thisspecies in the 1980s asan autumn-wintervagrant to the interiorsouthwestern USA, werefactors which also contributed to the 7:3 rejectionof this record. GRAY SILKY-FLYCATCHERPtilogonys cinereus. One near Poway,SD, 10-12 Mar 1994 (BB;NBB•', JC, RAH•', GMcCa, MAP, MBS•', MMT•', SW,JOZ; 75-1994)

138 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS had a badlyfrayed tail and unevenprimary tips, suggestingthat it had been in captivity.As thisspecies is commonlykept as a cagebird in nearbyMexico, it was unanimouslyconsidered a probable escapee by the CBRC. PAINTEDBUNTING Passerinaciris. An adult-basicmale in Del Mar,SD, 23 Feb 1994 (PAG;80-1994) was observed at a feeder.The originof birdsof thisage/sex groupat feedersin the winterare routinelyquestioned by the CBRC, andthis one was--unanimously.

CONTRIBUTORS

DougAguillard, Jonathan K. Alderfer,Steve Allison, Janice Anderson, Stephen E Bailey,Raymond Bandar, Peter Barnes, Alan D. Barron,Barbara Bell, Allyn Bissell (ABi),David V. Blue,N. BruceBroadbooks, Andreas Buchheim (ABu), Jared Burton, KurtE Campbell,Eugene A. Cardiff,Rita Caratello,Karen Cebra, Daniel Christian, MarkO. Chichester,Therese Clawson, Jim Coatsworth, Brian E. Daniels,J. Michael Danzenbaker,Jeff Davis (JDa), AI DeMartini,David DeSante (DDeS), Don Desjardin (DDj),John Drummond (JDr), Jon L. Dunn, K. Earnshaw,Todd Easterla, Alan M. Eisner,Ray Ekstrom, Theodore L. Eliot,Jr., Richard A. Erickson,Jules Evens, Krista A. Fahy,George Finger, Shawneen E. Finnegan,Jon Fisher (JFs), John Fitch (JFt), G. Bill Foster,James R. Gallagher,Sylvia R. Gallagher,Frank Gardner,Kimball L. Garrett,Bruce Gerow, Peter A. Ginsberg,David Goodward, Ed Greaves,Robert A. Hamilton,Keith Hansen (KHa), Joan T. Hardie,David P. Haupt,Karen A. Havelina, Carl B. Haynie, Gjon C. Hazard, Matt T. Heindel, Mitch Heindel, Sandra J. Heinemann,Bill Hill (BHI),Brad Hines (BHn), Robert W. Hirt, CraigHohenberger (CHo),Ken Hollinga (KHo), David W. Holmes,Charles Hood (CHd), Becca Hooker (BHo),Steve N. G. Howell,Curtis Johnson, Jerome A. Johnson,Howard King, Peter Knapp,Keith C. Kwan,Kevin Larson, Zev Labinger, Paul E. Lehman,Joan E. Lentz, GaryS. Lester,Nick Lethaby, Clarann Levakis, Leslie Lieurance, Roger Linfield, Mike Lippsmeyer,James Lomax, Gene Lynch, Gerald Maisel, Michael Mammoser, Curtis Marantz,Guy McCaskie (GMcCa), Gerry McChesney (GMcCh), John A. McDonagh, BertT. McKee,W. GrahamMetson, Jr., NinaMerrill, Steve Mlodinow, Kathy C. Molina,Joseph Morlan, Jack Nash, Rod Norden, Jeff Palden, Benjamin D. Parmeter, MichaelA. Patten,Rafael Payne, Cruz Phillips, James E. Pike,Brian G. Prescott,Bill Principe,Peter Pyle, DavidE. Quady,Marisol Quintana-Galetovic, William Reese, DanL. Reinking,Robert J. Richmond,Don Roberson, Michael M. Rogers,Stephen C. Rottenborn,Mike San Miguel,Marilyn Schmitz, Brad Schram (BSc), Debra L. Shearwater,David Shock (DSk), David Shuford (DSf), Brad Sillasen(BSi), Daniel Singer(DSg), Arnold Small, Brian E. Small,Brenda D. Smith,W. ScottSmithson, JohnSterling, Mary Beth Stowe, Ellen G. Strauss,Monte M. Taylor,Scott I. Taylor, RichardL. TernulloLinda Terrill, Scott B. Terrill,Ronald S. Thorn,Guy Tingos (GTi), GeraldTolman (GTo), Rich Trissel, Ron Vanderhoff, George E Wagner,Stan Walens, CharlieWalker, S. L. Warter,Richard E. Webster,Brian J. Weed,Walter Wehtje, GeorgeW. Welch,Alan Wight, Denise S. Wight,Douglas R. Willick,John C. Wilson, David G. Yee, CallynD. Yorke, JamesO. Zimmer.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Firstand foremost, we are most grateful to thecontributors listed above for taking thetime to documenttheir sightings and provide details to the Committee.Current or recent CBRC membersvoting on the recordsreported here includeRichard A. Erickson,Shawneen E. Finnegan,Kimball L. Garrett,Matthew T. Heindel,Howell, Gary S. Lester,Guy McCaskie,Joseph Morlan, Michael A. Patten,Pyle, Don Roberson,Mike San Miguel,Daniel S. Singer,and Scott B. Terrill.David V. Blue, Erickson,Garrett, Heindel, McCaskie, Morlan, Patten, San Miguel,Stephen C.

139 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

Rottenborn,and Singer reviewed an earlierdraft of thisreport and contributed much- appreciatedinput. Larry B. Spear and DavidG. Ainleyhave providedus both with unparalleledopportunities to studyseabirds and have contributedgreatly to our understandingof the problemsinvolved in identifyingbirds at sea;they and Robert L. Pitmanreviewed some seabird-related sections of this report. W. Lance N. Tickell providedhelpful commentary on the recordof the Light-mantledSooty Albatross. This is Contribution 38 of the California Bird Records Committee and Contribution 750 of the Point ReyesBird Observatory.

LITERATURE CITED

AmericanOrnithologists' Union. 1983. Check-listof NorthAmerican Birds, 6th ed. Am. Ornithol. Union, Lawrence, KS. Bailey,S. E, Pyle,P., andSpear, L. B. 1989. DarkPterodroma petrels in the North Pacific: Identification,status, and North American occurrence.Am. Birds 43:400-415. Baltosser,W. H. 1995. Annualmolt in Ruby-throatedand Black-chinnedhummingbirds. Condor 97:484-491. Binford,L. C. 1985. Seventhreport of the CaliforniaBird RecordsCommittee. W. Birds 16:29-48. Clark, W. S., and Wheeler,B. K. 1987. A Field Guide to Hawks, North America. HoughtonMifflin, Boston. Curson,J. 1994. Identificationforum: Separation of Bicknell'sand Gray-cheeked thrushes.Birding World 7:359-365. Erickson,R. A., and Terrill,S. B. 1996. Nineteenthreport of the CaliforniaBird Records Committee: 1993 records. W. Birds 27:93-126. Garrett,K., andDunn, J. 1981. Birdsof SouthernCalifornia: Status and Distribution. LosAngeles Audubon Soc., Los Angeles. Harrison,P. 1987. Seabirdsof the World,a photographicguide. C. Helm, London. Hickey,C. M., Capitolo,P., and Walker,B. 1996. Firstrecord of a Lanceolated Warbler in California. W. Birds 27:197-201. Howell,S. N. G. 1992. Recentornithological literature. Euphonia 1:45-46. Howell,S. N. G. 1993. More commentson White-frontedSwift. Euphonia2:100- 101. Howell,S. N. G., andEngel, S. J. 1993. Seabirdobservations off western Mexico. W. Birds 24:167-181. Howell,S. N. G., andWebb, S. 1995. A Guideto the Birdsof Mexicoand Northern CentralAmerica. Oxford Univ. Press,Oxford, England. Howell,S. N. G., Snetsinger,P. B., andWilson, R. G. In press.A sightrecord of the White-frontedSwift CFpseloidesstoreri in Michoacan,Mexico. Cotinga 7. Johnson,A.W. 1965. The Birds of Chile and Adjacent Regions ofArgentina, Bo•via, and Peru, vol. 1. Platt, BuenosAires. Knox,A. 1996. Grey-cheekedand Bicknelrs thrushes: Taxonomy, identification and the British and Irish records. Br. Birds 89:1-9. Loomis,L. M. 1918. Expeditionof the CaliforniaAcademy of Sciencesto the GalapagosIslands, 1905-1906. XlI. A reviewof the albatrosses,petrels, and divingpetrels. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th ser.,2(2):1-187. McCaskie,G. 1975. A Rufous-neckedSandpiper in southernCalifornia. W. Birds 6:111-113.

140 TWENTIETH REPORT OF THE CBRC: 1994 RECORDS

McLaren,I. A. 1995. Fieldidentification and taxonomy of BicknelrsThrush. Birding 27:358-365. Navarro S., A. G., Peterson,A. T., EscalanteP., B. P., and Benitez D., H. 1992. Cypseloidesstoreri, a newspecies of swiftfrom Mexico. Wilson Bull. 104:55-64. Patten, M. A., and Erickson,R. A. 1994. Fifteenthreport of the CaliforniaBird Records Committee. W. Birds 25:1-34. Patten,M. A., andMarantz. C. A. 1996. Implicationsof vagrantsoutheastern vireos and warblers in California. Auk 113:911-923. Patten,M. A., Finnegan,S. E., and Lehman,P. E. 1995. Seventeenthreport of the California Bird Records Committee: 1991 records. W. Birds 26:113-143. Peterson,A. T., and NavarroS., A. G. 1993. Systematicstudies on Mexicanbirds-- A response.Euphonia 2:98-99. Phillips,A. R. 1975. Why neglectthe difficult?W. Birds6:69-86. Pyle, P. In press.Identification Guide to North AmericanBirds, Part 1. Slate Creek Press,Bolinas, CA. Pyle,P., Spear,L. B., andAinley, D. G. 1993. Observationsof Dark-rumpedPetrels off Oregonand California.W. Birds24:110-112. Pyle,P., Howell, S. N. G., andYanega, G. M. 1997. Molt,retained flight feathers, and age in North American hummingbirds,in The Era of Allan R. Phillips:A Festschrift(R. W. Dickerman,compiler), pp. 155-166. Horizon Communica- tions,Albuquerque. Roberson,D. 1986. Ninth report of the CaliforniaBird RecordsCommittee. W. Birds 17:49-77. Roberson,D. 1993. Fourteenthreport of the CaliforniaBird Records Committee. W. Birds 24:113-166. Sibley,C. G., and Monroe, B. L., Jr. 1993. A Supplementto Distributionand Taxonomyof Birdsof the World.Yale Univ. Press,New Haven, CT. Spear,L. B., andAinley, D. G. 1997a. Flightbehaviour of seabirdsin relationto wind directionand wing morphology.Ibis 139:221-233. Spear,L. B., and Ainley,D. G. 1997b. Flightspeed of seabirdsin relationto wind speedand direction.Ibis 139:234-251. Spear, L. B., Howell, S. N. G., and Ainley, D. G. 1992. Notes on the at-sea identificationof some Pacificgadfly petrels(genus: Pterodroma). Colonial Waterbirds 15:202-218. Spear,L. B., Ainley,D. G., Nur, N., and Howell,S. N. G. 1997. Populationsize and factorsaffecting the at-seadistributions of four endangeredprocellariids in the tropicalPacific. Condor 97:613-638. Tershy,B. R., and Breese,D. 1997. The birdsof San Pedro M•rtir Island,Gulf of California, Mexico. W. Birds 28:96-107. Tomkins,R. J., and Milne, B. J. 1991. Differencesamong Dark-rumped Petrel (Pterodromaphaeopygia) populations within the GalapagosArchipelago. No- tornis 38:1-35. Veit, R. R. I988. Identificationof the SaltonSea Rufous-neckedSandpiper. W. Birds 19:165-169.

Accepted I May 1997

141