SEVENTEENTH REPORT of the California BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: 1991 RECORDS

WESTERN BIRDS

Volume 26, Number 3, 1995

SEVENTEENTH REPORT OF THE CAliFORNIA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: 1991 RECORDS

MICHAEL A. PATTEN, P.O. Box 51959, Riverside,California 92517-2959 SHAWNEEN E. FINNEGAN and PAUL E. LEHMAN, P.O. Box 379, Cape May, New Jersey08204-0379

A conciseoverview of the California Bird RecordsCommittee (hereafter "CBRC" or "the Committee")has not been publishedin many years,save for a brief sketchby Patten (1991). Therefore,this report beginswith a bit of historyand background,if only to inform the newestgeneration of field ornithologistswho may not be entirely familiar with the Committee's functionsand goals. Followingconcerted effort by C. J. Ralph and others, the CBRC was establishedin 1970, the first recordscommittee in North America. Origi- nally it was called the "Rare Bird Committee" of the California Field Ornithologists,and its initialintent, as statedby Alan M. Craig (1970), was to "ascertainwhich of the multitudinousobservations [made in California] are acceptablebeyond any reasonabledoubt." Some 4000 recordslater, this goal still stands,but rather than limiting itself to the review of sight records,the CBRC now reviewsall recordsof vagrantbirds reported in California, be they sight, sound, photographic,or specimenrecords. In general,records are reviewedonly for speciesthat averagefour or fewer occurrencesper year in Californiaand have been recordedfewer than 100 times. The Committeesolicits information on all reportsof specieson its ReviewList, and any speciespotentially new to California,and encourages observersto supportthe Committee'sreview process by submittingwritten reports, photographs,tape recordings,and other documentationto the CBRC's secretary.With the exceptionof the KentuckyWarbler (Oporornis formosus),post-1994 recordsof which are no longer reviewedby the CBRC, the currentReview List remainsunchanged since the 16th report (Heindeland Garrett 1995). Copiesof the ReviewList, the currentstate list, and the CBRC's by-lawsare availablefrom the secretary,Patten, at the address above.

Western Birds 26:113-143, 1995 113 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

The CBRC consistsof ten voting members, one of whom acts as secretary.The secretaryis responsiblefor catalogingall the documentation received,for ensuringthat each record is circulated through the Committee, and for compilingthe final record once it has completedcirculation. Recordsare circulatedby mail to all membersof the Committee,each of whom reviewsdocumentation constituting a givenrecord. Each member is responsiblefor assessingwhether or not the informationprovided is sufficientto supportthe identificationof the reportedspecies. For this reason,it is importantfor observersto includeas many detailsas possible, no matterhow trivialthey may seem. The majorityof recordsnot accepted by the CBRC receivethis verdict because documentation was not thorough enoughto supportthe identification,not becausethe identificationwas necessarilyincorrect. In some instancesthe more tenuousquestion of natural occurrence is the issue. In these instances each member reviews availableinformation and judgeswhether a bird has more likelyarrived underits own poweror with deliberateaid from humans.Records span the continuumbounded by thesescenarios, and individualphilosophy of Com- mittee membersplays a substantialrole in the decision-makingprocess. Records for which information is insufficient to the extent that natural occurrenceis uncertainmay be placed on the SupplementalList. See Heindel and Garrett (1995) for a discussionof the natural-occurrenceissue. All informationreviewed by the CBRC, includingwritten documentation, photographs,videotapes, voice recordings, and commentsof itsmembers, is placedin a permanentarchive at the WesternFoundation of Vertebrate Zoology(439 CalleSan Pablo,Camarillo, California 93012-8506). In this way the CBRC servesa valuablefunction to researchers,many of whom wouldotherwise presumably have a difficulttime tracking down information aboutparticular reports of vagrantbirds. Records at the WesternFounda- tionare catalogued by recordnumber and are available to anyoneinterested in receivinginformation beyond what is publishedin the Committee's regularreports. Other importantfunctions of the CBRC are to maintaina checklistof California birds and to publishregular reports, such as this one, listing recentdecisions. With regardto the statelist, the firstaccepted records for Californiaof the ArcticLoon (Gaviaarctica), Alder Flycatcher(Empidonax alnorum),and LittleBunting (Emberiza pusilla) are includedin thisreport. In addition,historical firsts (predating all other currentlyaccepted records) for the Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)are included.This reportalso covers prospective first records of Townsend'sShearwater (Puffinus auricularis), Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus),and McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenaxhyperboreus), none of which was consideredacceptable by the Committee.With the additions listedabove, and with recentlyaccepted records of the Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) and Fork-tailedFlycatcher (Tyrannus savana), both of which will be treated in the 18th CBRC report, the Californiastate list currentlystands at 586. Format. Thisreport contains records extending from December1916 to June1992, althoughthe vastmajority of the recordsare from 1991. Of the 232 recordsincluded, the Committeeaccepted 75.4%, a rate consistent 114 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS with the mostrecent two reports(Patten and Erickson1994, Heindeland Garrett 1995). As is typical,the majorityof acceptedrecords were from coastal areas (_+70%),with 15% of the coastal records from Southeast Farallon Island. The format of CBRC reportsis now standard.Species are listedin the sameorder as in the mostrecent American Ornithologists'Union Check- list (A.O.U. 1983) and supplements.Species names are followed, in parentheses,by the numberof acceptedrecords for Californiathrough the periodcovered by thisreport. Records are listed chronologically by firstdate of occurrence,except when an alternatearrangement allows for a clearer presentation.Each record includes the locality(including a standardabbre- viationfor the county;see below), a fulldate span (in generalfollowing that listedin American Birds or other publishedsource), a listof observerswho submitteddocumentation, and the CBRC recordnumber. If the Committee has evidencethat a publisheddate span is incorrect,the CBRC-accepted date(s)are listedin italics.Observers are listedalphabetically (by surname), except those who found and/or identifiedthe bird; these observersare listedfirst, followed by a semicolon. Birdsreturning for subsequentwinters or afterother lengthy absences are reviewedunder separaterecord numbers, and the Committeejudges (by simple majority)whether the subsequentrecord(s) involve(s) the same bird(s).The Committeedoes not decideissues of subspecies,sex, or age, althoughmembers often expresstheir viewson theseissues in comments. Annotationsin this report regardingsubspecies, sex, and age are ours, althoughmany are basedupon the collectiveopinions of the Committee. Abbreviationsand Symbols. The Committee usesstandard abbreviationsfor counties.Those appearing in thisreport are ALA, Alameda;BUT, Butte; CC, Contra Costa; COL, Colusa;DN, Del Norte; HUM, Humboldt; IMP, Imperial; INY, Inyo; KER, Kern; LA, Los Angeles;MNO, Mono; MOD, Modoc;MRN, Marin; MTY, Monterey;ORA, Orange;RIV, River- side;SBA, Santa Barbara;SBE, San Bernardino;SBT, San Benito;SCL, Santa Clara; SCZ, Santa Cruz; SD, San Diego; SF, San Francisco;SIS, Siskiyou;SJ, San Joaquin;SLO, San LuisObispo; SM, San Mateo;SON, Sonoma; VEN, Ventura. Abbreviationsfor museumscited in this report are CAS, California Academyof Sciences,San Francisco;CSUC, CaliforniaState University, Chico;HSU, HumboldtState University,Arcata; LACM, NaturalHistory Museumof Los AngelesCounty, Los Angeles;SBCM, San Bernardino CountyMuseum, Redlands; SDNHM, SanDiego Natural History Museum, San Diego. Other abbreviationsare AFB, air forcebase; Co., county;I., island;L., lake; mi., miles; mtn., mountain;nmi., nauticalmiles; NM, nationalmonument; NP, nationalpark; NS, nationalseashore; NWC, naval weaponscenter; NWR, nationalwildlife refuge; pt., point;SB, statebeach; SP, state park. Symbolsused in this reportare as follows:an asterisk(*) precedinga speciesname indicates that speciesis no longeron the CBRC ReviewList. Symbolsfollowing an observer'sinitials signify that the observersubmitted a photograph('}'), a videotape(•:), or a voicerecording (õ). These symbols are

115 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS usedonly if the documentationsubmitted supported the identificationof the bird(s)in question.See Patten and Erickson(1994) for a more complete explanationof abbreviationsand symbolsused in CBRC reports.

RECORDS ACCEPTED

ARCTIC LOON Gayla arctica (2). One at Abbott'sLagoon, Pt. ReyesNS, MRN, 2-17 Nov 1991 (SNGH. DLR: SFB. JLD. GHF. FG. HG. BH'•. CHK. THK. LL:•. MJL, GMcC, JM, MAP, MMR, DR'• RS, MMT'•, SBT, JT'•. BY• 182-1991) was the firstof its speciesto be foundin California.On the heelsof thisbird was one at Morro Bay, SLO, 7-23 Dec 1991 (Figure1; TME; SEF'•,KAH, JTH, PEL: 83-1992). These records were the first of confirmed Arctic Loons in North America outside of Alaska, althoughthere is a tentativesight report from Massachusetts(Evered 1985) and anotherrecent report from that state(Bird Observer22:206): two British Columbiaspecimens alleged to be this speciesproved to be Pacific Loons (G. pacifica:Campbell et al. 1990). Reinkingand Howell (1993) publisheda full account of the Pt. Reyesbird, with additionaltaxonomic and identificationinformation on distinguishingthe Arcticfrom the PacificLoon. An excellentvideotape of the first bird, and photographsof both, helpedthe Committeein its identificationassessment of this difficult,recently split (A.O.U. 1985) speciespair. See alsoWalsh (1988), Roberson(1989), and Schulenberg(1989) regardingthe fieldidentification of basic- plumagedArctic Loons: notes by McCaskieet al. (1990) and Dunn and Rose(1992) coveralternate-plumaged birds.

Figure1. First-winterArctic Loon (83-1992) at MorroBay, San Luis Obispo Co., 8 December 1991.

Photo by $hawneen E. Finnegan 116 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

MOTTLED PETREL Pterodroma inexpectata(52). Seventeenwere between 37o10.45' N, 124ø07.35' W and 37o00.67' N, 124ø27.84'W, 66-90 nmi. SW of Pt. Reyes,MRN, 16 Nov 1991 (SFB•',JLD, JM, MMT•', SBT•'; 186-1991). Photographsof two of thesebirds appeared in Am. Birds 46:143 and 46:169. Threewere 80-84 nmi. SW of Pt. Reyes,MRN, 14 Dec 1991 (SFB,JMD•', RAE; 234-1991) as follows:36o58.95 ' N, 124o03.86' W, 79.8 nmi. SW of Pt. Reyes; 36o57.63' N, 124ø07.06' W, 82.6 nmi. SW of Pt. Reyes;and 36o56.74' N, 124ø07.79' W, 83.6 nmi. SW of Pt. Reyes. STEJNEGER'SPETREL Pterodroma 1ongirostris(4). One was at 32o35.85' N, 122ø46.36' W, about152 nmi. SW of San MiguelI., SBA, 14 Nov 1990 (JLD; 103- 1991). All four Stejneger'sPetrel records accepted by the CBRC fall in the narrow window of 14 to 17 November.See Luther et al. (1983), DeBenedictis(1991), Kaufman(1991), McCaskieand Roberson(1992), and Heindel and Garrett (1995) for informationabout previous records for Californiawaters. BROWN BOOBY Sula leucogaster(38). An adult was 1 mile north of Santa BarbaraI., SBA, 8 Aug 1991 (PP; 17-1992), and an adultconsidered to be the same birdwas at the eastside of Santa BarbaraI., SBA, 2 Jun 1992 (DLJ; 233-1992). An immaturewas 2 mileswest of the entranceto SanDiego Bay, SD, 14 Dec 1991 (DP; 124-1992). Roughlyone-fourth of Californiarecords are fromthe coast,where their occurrenceappears more randomthan the markedinvasions into the interior(mainly the Salton Sea). RED-FOOTED BOOBY Sula $ula (9). An immature female found ill at Redondo Beach,LA, 18 Aug 1991 wasmoved by animalcontrol officials to KingHarbor, LA, whereit wasdocumented (JAJ, DLM•'; 33-1992). The birdwas recaptured,but died in a rehabilitationcenter; unfortunately, the specimenwas not saved. REDDISH EGRET Egretta rufescens(58). An immaturewas in the TijuanaR. Valley and estuary,SD, 22 Nov-15 Dec 1990 (GMcC; 4-1991); unfortunately, additionaldocumentation from two observers(JO and RLR) was lost in the mail. An adultwith a deformedbill returnedfor its tenth winter to the southend of San Diego Bay, SD, 13 Oct 1991-10 Jan 1992 (GMcC; 169-1991). An immaturewas at Del Mar, SD, 16-19 Oct 1991 (JO; RAE; 192-1991), and anotherimmature was at the southend of San DiegoBay, SD, 11 Nov 1991-29 Mar 1992 (GMcC;CAM, SBT•'; 1-1992). This distributionof recordsin this report is typical of the speciesin California:the ReddishEgret is a rare but regularfall and winter visitorto southwestern San DiegoCo., but extremelyrare elsewherein the state. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON Nyctanassa violacea (16). Two were together in the Tijuana R. Valley, SD, 13 Oct 1991-25 Jan 1992, with one remainingthrough 31 Mar 1992 (GMcC; RCa, JLD, DR; 170-1991, 171-1991). One (170-1991) wastreated as havingreturned for its secondwinter (same as 153- 1990; Heindel and Garrett 1995), whereasthe other (171-1991), a subadultthat moltedinto adult plumage, had beenpresent since 16 Jun 1991 (sameas 88-1991; Heindeland Garrett 1995). An adultremained along the Los AngelesR., Glendale, LA, 13 Sep-30 Nov 1991 (KLG; JLD, MH•', SJ; 219-1991), the third acceptable countyrecord. This speciesis scarcerin Californiathan the other "southernherons," the ReddishEgret, TricoloredHeron (Egretta tricolor), and Little Blue Heron (E. caerulea). GARGANEYAnas querquedula(14). Malesin alternateplumage were at Wood- land, YOL, 19 Jun 1988 (MC•', GE; 131-1988) and in Watsonville,SCZ, 2 Apr 1991 (KK;61-1992). A femaleor immaturemale was at ArroyoLaguna, SLO, 2-13 Oct 1991 (TME•'; GPS•'; 230-1991). The maleat Woodlandstimulated a livelydebate regarding its natural occurrence, asit wasnearly two monthslater than any previous spring record for California.The 117 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS date span for prior spring recordsis 10 March (1985; a male photographedat Modoc NWR, MOD; Dunn 1988) to 30 April (1990; a male presentsince 27 March 1990 at Bolinas,MRN; Patten and Erickson1994). Though recordsare few, their peak appearsto be late March. Giventhe severalJune recordsfor BritishColumbia and Alberta (Spearet al. 1988), the species'supposed rarity in captivityin North America(Todd 1979, but cf. Knapton 1994), and its breedingor summeringin the Old World as far south as the Iberian Peninsula(Cramp and Simmons 1977), the majorityof the Committeefelt that this bird was more likelyof naturaloccurrence. *TUFTED DUCK Aythyafuligula (70). A femaleat Mare I., Vallejo,SOL, 2 Feb 1991 (DA; 27-1991) wasconsidered to be the sameas one at L. Dalwigh,SOL, 21 Mar 1991 (MBG; 74-1991). An adult male returned for its fourth winter to the San Francisco,SF, and Rodeo Lagoon,MRN, area from 23 Oct 1991 to 7 Mar 1992 (SFB, LL, JM, MMR, DSt, RS, SBT; 216-1991). This birdmoved among L. Merced, SF, Rodeo Lagoon, and severallakes in Golden Gate Park, SF, during its stay. Previousoccurrences of this bird were 19 Nov 1988-27 Mar 1989 (257-1988), 9 Jan-26 Apr 1990 (7-1990/45-1990), 18 Jan-3 Mar 1991 (48-1991), and 29 Dec 1990 (56-1991). An adult male at L. Isabella,KER, 17-19 Jan 1992 (GH; MOC, JLD, MTH, GMcC, MAP; 52-1992) was Kern County'ssecond; Am. Birds 46:315 erroneouslylisted the date spanas 17-18 Jan 1992. A male returnedto Quail L., LA, 1 Feb-8 Mar 1991 (KLG; 103-1992) and 11-17 Nov 1991 (KLG; 19-1992); see Roberson(1993) for a summaryof previousdates for this bird, which was in eclipseplumage in November1991. The secondfor San Diego Co., and the first widelyobserved, was a male at Miramar Reservoir,SD, 13 Jan-9 Feb 1992 (PAG; TC, JLD, SEF,PEL, GMcC, MAP; 19-1992). RiversideCounty's third recordwas of an adultmale in San Timoteo Canyon,RIV, 27. Feb-15 Mar 1992 (GMcC, MAPt; 71-1992). As the TuftedDuck has proved to be a regularpart of California'swinter avifauna, albeita veryrare one, the Committeehas ceased reviewing records after the winterof 1991/1992. Roughly80% of the recordsare from the coastalslope of California from LosAngeles Co. northward. KING EIDER Somateriaspectabilis (31). A femalewas seen in flightat Pt. Reyes NS (DrakesBeach), MRN, 18 Oct 1991 (JM; 215-1991). An immaturemale at Seal BeachPier, ORA, 13-31 Dec 1991 later movedone-half mile north to Belmont Shores,LA, whereit stayed7-19 Jan 1992 (CTC, BED, JRG•, KLG, GMcC, CAM, MAP•; 213-1991). A photographof the Seal Beach bird appearedin Am. Birds 46:315. STELLER'S ELDERPolysticta stelleri (3). California'sthird was at BodegaBay, SON, 27 Oct 1991-2 May 1992 (Figure2; SBT•; JA, SFB, SC, JLD, GHF, SEF•, EDGt, FG, HG, MBG, KHa, LL, MJL•, EM, JM, TM, GMcC, SWM, DWN•, MAP•, DR, MMR, RS; 181-1991); a photographwas publishedin Am. Birds 46:144. Despite initial confusionabout this bird'sage and sex (most observerscommenting on thisissue initially felt that it was a first-wintermale), its plumagechanged only in becomingbrowner during its stay.Thus, it appearsto havebeen a female,perhaps even an adult. ZONE-TAILEDHAWK Buteo albonotatus(32). An adultwas in San Diego,SD, 20-21 Dec 1916 (Grey 1917); it was collectedon the latter date and is now an uncataloguedlife mount(#SDNHM; 55-1993). This recordwas only the third for California.An adultat L. San Marcos,SD, 21-24 Dec 1991 (JOZ; 180-1992) was considereda returningbird (same as 107-1991; Heindeland Garrett 1995). HUDSONIAN GODWIT Limosa haemastica (11). A juvenile was at Crescent City, DN, 29 Aug 1991 (ADB; GSL, BSi•';132-1991); a photographof it appeared in Am. Birds46:145. Anotherjuvenile first seen in flightat ArcataBottoms, HUM,

118 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

6 Sep 1991, subsequentlysettled in at Mad R. Co. Park, HUM, 9-20 Sep 1991 (BBA- FJB, GSL, MHM: 188-1991). BAR-TAILED GODWIT Lirnosa lapponica (12). An adult female showingthe charactersof the Siberiansubspecies L. I. baueri was alongthe San FranciscoBay shorelinein Albany, ALA, 11 Aug-22 Sep 1991 (CC; SFB, JLD, GHF, SEFt, FG, HG, DGJ, GDJ, JM, SWM, SBT; 112-1991); a photographwas publishedin Am. Birds 46:145. This record is the first for Alameda Co. LrFFLE STINT Calidris rninuta (4). An adult in alternate plumagewas at the WisterUnit of the ImperialWildlife Area, southend of the SaltonSea, IMP, 18 May 1991 (REWt; 72-1991). As of 1991, California recordsformed no clear pattern, with two juvenilesin Septemberon the centralcoast (Morlan 1985, Dunn 1988), a Novemberspecimen in basicplumage inland (Pattenand Erickson1994), and this May bird in alternate plumagein the interior. *BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Tryngites subruficollis (81). Up to three of unknownage were in San Jose,SCL, 25 Aug-14 Sep 1991 (PJM; 36-1991). Up to two juvenileswere at Pt. ReyesNS (SpalettaPlateau), MRN, 26 Aug-12 Sep 1991 (JM, SBT, AWl: 147-1991). A bird criticallyscrutinized in the Tijuana R. Valley,SD, 26 Aug-7 Sep 1991 (JLD, GMcC; 122-1991) providedCalifornia with its only definiterecord of a fall adult.Two juvenilesjoined this adult 2-3 Sep 1991 (GMcC; 123-1991), and anotherjuvenile was at BatiquitosLagoon, SD, 8 Sep 1991 (GMcC: 124-1991). Age determinationof fallBuff-breasted Sandpipers can be difficult,although adults shouldhave worn flightfeathers. A whitishbelly is a goodcharacter for juveniles,but somecan showa nearlyuniform buff belly and thusresemble an adult(P. Pyle in litt.). The best featureis the scapularand wing covertpattern: these featherson fresh- plumagedjuveniles have brown centers with black subterminalborders and white

Figure2. The Steller'sEider (181-1991), apparentlyan adultfemale, that w•nteredat BodegaBay, SonomaCo., in 1991/1992. This photographwas taken 21 January 1992.

Photo by Ed Greaves li9 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS fringes,whereas adults have the centersmore triangularand uniformdark brown with wider buff fringes. JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptesmimimus (2). The secondrecord for California,and onlythe fifthfor the Americas,was of a birdshot at ColusaNWR, COL, 2 Dec 1990 (Figure3; RBM; #HSU; 213-1990); the specimenis now a life mount. The finder immediatelyrecognized it wasnot a CommonSnipe (Gallinago gallinago). All other North Americanrecords are of specimens:St. Paul I., Alaska,spring 1919 (Hanna 1920); MakkovikBay, Labrador,24 Dec 1927 (Austin1929); Gray Lodge,BUT, 20 Nov 1938 (McLean 1939, Roberson1986); and Barbados,12 Nov 1960 (Bond 1962). SANDWICH TERN $terna sanduicensis(3). An alternate-plumagedadult was at MalibuLagoon, LA, 20 May 1991 (BPE;84-1991), and anotherin basicplumage was at Bolsa Chica, ORA, 29 Jun-12 Jul 1991 (JLD, GMcC, CAM, MAP; 85- 1991). Before, 1991, Californiahad only one record,of a bird that frequentedthe ElegantTern ($. elegans)colony at southSan DiegoBay, SD, andwas occasionally seenelsewhere on the bayand at the nearbySan DiegoR. mouth,11-20 May 1980 (Schaffner1981, Lutheret al. 1983), 15 May-13 Jun 1982 (Morlan1985), 12-14 Jun 1985 (Bevier1990), and 18 Apr-16 May 1987 (Langham1991). The Bolsa Chica bird, which also associatedwith an ElegantTern colony, might have been thoughtthe sameas at San Diego. In any event,from differencesin plumage,the Malibuand Bolsa Chica birds were evidently different individuals; that consideration, combined with the time since a Sandwich Tern last occurred, led to the 1991 individualsbeing considered different from that sporadicallyrecorded from 1980 to 1987. PARAKEETAUKLET Cyclorrhynchuspsittacula (40). One wasat 36ø52.2 r N, 123o53.86' W, 74 nmi. WSW of PigeonPt., SM, 14 Dec 1991 (SFB;JMD'•, RAE, EDG'•; 235-1991); photographswere publishedin Am. Birds 46:312 and 46:333. Thisspecies was formerly a regularwinter visitor to Californiawaters (Grinnell and Miller 1944); although records since the 1940s are scant, increasedoffshore coveragebetween late Novemberand Februarymay revealthat the species'status has changedlittle sincethat time. RUDDY GROUND-DOVE Columbina talpacoti (38). Males were in Fremont Valley,KER, 21 Sep 1991 (BED; MTH; 199-1991) and 17-18 Oct 1991 (MTH'•; 200-1991), at Baker, SBE, 25 Oct 1991 (RMcK; 58-1992), and at Iron Mountain PumpingPlant, SBE, 28 Oct 1991 (RAE; 193-1991). A femalewas at Stovepipe Wells,Death ValleyNP, INY, 26 Oct 1991 (JLD'•;66-1992), and one of undeter- mined sex (see Patten and Erickson 1994) was with Inca Doves (C. inca) at the BermudaPalms Trailer Park near Earp, SBE, 9 Dec 1991-10 Feb 1992 (Figure4; JCS; GMcC, MH'•, MJL, MAP, MMT'•; 212-1991). Up to sixwere at FurnaceCreek Ranch,Death ValleyNP, INY, 29 Sep 1991-10 Jan 1992 (JLD'•, GMcC, MAP; 128-1991);a photographof fourtogether was published in Am. Birds46:150. The northernmostcoastal record involved a femalecoming to a Goleta, SBA, feeder5 Oct 1991-30 Jan 1992 (SEF'•;JLD, PEL; 67-1992); it was first identifiedas a Ruddyon 30 December. SNOWY OWL Nyctea scandiaca(69). A female taken at Walker Pt., Eureka, HUM, 1 Jan 1917 is now a life mountin the SequoiaPark gift shopin Eureka(GSL'•; 175-1993). The winter of 1916/1917 saw a major incursionof this speciesinto northwesternCalifornia (Grinnelland Miller 1944, Roberson 1986, Harris 1991).

120 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

Figure 3. California'ssecond Jack Snipe (213-1990), collectedat ColusaNational WildlifeRefuge, Colusa Co., 2 December1990. Photo by Stanley W. Harris

Figure 4. Ruddy Ground-Dove(212-1991), age/sex unknown, at the Bermuda PalmsTrailer Park near Earp, San BernardinoCo., 21 December1991. Photo by Monte M. Taylor 121 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

e- fee - bee - o

6 I

B ,,,4-

O-- 0.25sec '1

e-- fitz - bew

•- •0 C •.o 4- -•-'i '•

O-- 5:-- 6 ,

I , ], 0.:>5sec 'l Figure5. (A)SOhOgram of Califomia'sfirst Alder Flycatcher (185-1991), recorded on the SouthFork Kern River Preserve, Kern Co., 11 July1991. Preparedby HarleneZuk from a recordingby Hary Whitfield.(B) SOhogramof an Alder Flycatcherfrom Kroodsma(1984). (C) SOhOgramof a WillowFlycatcher from Kroodsma(1984). 122 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

GREATER PEWEE Contopus pertinax (28). Single individualsin Huntington Beach,ORA. 11 Sep 1991 (BED: 201-1991) and at NewportBeach, ORA, 14 Sep 1991 (BED: DRW: 202-1991) arrivedearlier than any previousfall recordof this species,as none had beenfound earlier than 26 September(1982: Montafiade Oro SP, SLO: Morlan 1985). One returnedfor its fifth winterto the San DiegoZoo, SD. 7 Nov 1991-29 Mar 1992 (DH, GMcC• 63-1992): this bird was acceptedas the sameone presenthere 20 Feb-30 Mar 1988, 6 Dec 1988-15 Feb 1989 (Pyleand McCaskie 1992), and 16 Dec 1989-1 Mar 1990 (Patten and Erickson 1994). A differentbird was nearbyin BalboaPark, SD, 14 Dec 1991 throughb'the end of February" 1992 (GMcC: 107-1992). ALDER FLYCATCHER Empidonax alnorum (1). A singingmale at the South Fork Kern River Preserve,KER, 11 Jul 1991 (Figure5; SAL, MWõ: 185-1991) providedthe firstacceptable record for California;this bird may have been present since9 July. Sonogramsprepared from the tape recordingmatched well published Alder Flycatchersonograms appearing in Stein (1963), Zink and Fall (1981), and especiallyKroodsma (1984), and differedfrom sonogramsof variousWillow Fly- catcher (E. traillii) song types includedin those same papers. Given the extreme difficultyin morphologicalseparation of Alder and Willowflycatchers (Stein 1963. Hussell 1990. Seutin 1991), some members expressedreservations about the acceptabilityof this record. Indeed, the subspeciesof the Willow Flycatcherare morphologicallymore differentfrom one anotherthan the Willow is from the Alder (Browning1993): nevertheless,the tape-recordedsong. typical-looking sonograms, and endorsementof the recordby DonaldE. Kroodsmaled to the additionof this speciesto the Californialist.

Figure6. ImmatureSprague's Pipit (39-1992) in the SepulvedaBasin, Los Angeles Co., 20 October 1991. Photo by LawrenceSansone

123 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

Figure 7. Yellow-throatedVireo (209-1991) netted at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San BernardinoCo., 22 September1991. Photo by Stephen J. Myers

Figure8. California'sfirst, and North America'sfourth, Little Bunting(145-1991), photographedon Pt. Loma, San Diego Co., 23 October1991. Photo by Sue Yee 124 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

Alder Flycatchersapparently west of their normalmigratory routes have been recordedabout ten timesin Colorado(Andrews and Righter1992) andonce (28 May 1972 at BowdoinNWR) in Montana(Skaar et al. 1985). DespiteLarrison's (1981) claims,this species is not a regularmigrant along the Washington/Idahoborder, as it is unrecordedin eitherstate (DeSante and Pyle 1986). Fartherwest, a singingAlder Flycatcherwas reportedin southwesternBritish Columbia 17 June 1984, and anotherwas reported from the Vancouver area in 1981 (Am.Birds 38:1055). There are at leasttwo reportsof singingbirds at MalheurNWR, Oregon,that havebeen acceptedas Alder Flycatchersby the OregonBird RecordsCommittee (Schmidt 1989),although controversy surrounds these reports (Gilligan et al. 1994, Summers 1994) and the Alder Flycatcherwill likely be deletedfrom the Oregon state list (Crabtree1995). Thereis a tentativereport of thisspecies from the Springervillearea of east-centralArizona 19 May 1984 (Am. Birds 38:943). The Californiarecord representsthe southwesternmostrecord of a speciesthat, givenits breeding range andother extralimital records, may be a scarcebut regular vagrant to the state.Until identificationcriteria are betterunderstood, determining the true statusof the Alder Flycatcherin Californiaremains a significantchallenge. DUSKY-CAPPEDFLYCATCHER Myiarchus tuberculifer (18). A silentindividual wasat NaturalBridges SP, SCZ, 1-4 Dec 1990 (SA;60-1992). Callingbirds were in E1Granada, SM, 25-26 Nov 1991 (BSa; CDBõ, RST; 22-1992) and Santa Ana, ORA, 12 Dec 1991-4 Apr 1992 (BED,JLD, MTH'•, CAM'•,GMcC, MAP, SBT'•; 3- 1992). Thesethree records fit the well-establishedlate fall/winter pattern of vagrancy shownin pastrecords: all Dusky-cappedFlycatchers have occurred between early Novemberand earlyMarch, with a few winteringindividuals staying as late as mid- May. GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus crinitus (35). One at Mojave Narrows RegionalPark, SBE, 6-7 Oct 1991 (SJM; BED, MAP'•; 137-1991) providedonly the third acceptableinland record for the state,following a specimen from Harper Dry L., SBE, 4 Sep 1988 and one photographedat GalileoHill Park, KER, 23-27 Sep 1989 (Pattenand Erickson1994). SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER Myiodynastesluteiventris (8). One at Hun- tingtonBeach, ORA, 13 Sep 1991 (BED;203-1991) wasa countyfirst, and one in San Pedro, LA, 20 Oct 1991 (EM; 187-1991) was the secondfor that county.All Californiarecords are from the immediatecoast in Septemberand October,with thesetwo recordsestablishing the early and late dates. THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD Tyrannus crassirostris(10). An adult was in Seal Beach,ORA, 29 Oct 1991-14 Mar 1992 (TLW; BED, JLD'•, JRG'•, KLG, CAM'•, GMcC, JEP, DRW; 204-1991). One near Peters Canyon, Tustin, ORA, 8 Dec 1991-25 Jan 1992 returnedfor its 10th winter (BED, JLD, BHu, GMcC, JW, MW; 68-1992). A first-wintermale at Lone Pine, INY, 24 Dec 1991-1 Apr 1992 (MS; JHe'•, TH, GMcC, MAP; 92-1992) survivednight-time temperatures to -8 ø C (18ø F), apparentlyby eatingbees and roosting near an orchidgreenhouse. A photograph of thishardy bird, a countyfirst, was published in Am. Birds46:316. SCISSOR-TAILEDFLYCATCHER Tyrannusforficatus (72). One was near the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, RIV, 7 Jul 1991 (CB, SGM; 72-1992). A probable immature male was at Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley NP, INY, 21-22 Sep 1991 (MAP; KAR; 116-1991), and probableadult males were at San Joaquin Marsh,ORA, 14 Oct-12 Nov 1991 (BED, JRG•', SGM, DRW; 205-1991) and in Salinas,MTY, 25 Oct-2 Nov 1991 (MMR, DR, LT, SBT-•, BJW-•;179-1991). BLUE JAY Cyanocittacristata (9). One collectedon the campusof California StateUniversity, Chico, BUT, 24 Apr 1950 (#CSUC921; 78-1990)was the first for

125 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

California (McCaskie 1970). This record met with some resistancebecause of the poor conditionof the specimen(interpreted initially as potentialevidence of captiv- ity), the date (mostaccepted California records fall betweenmid-October and early March),and the record'swell predatingthe late-1970s "invasion"of Blue Jaysinto the PacificNorthwest. Members Bailey and Garrettassured the Committeethat the specimen'scondition was consistentwith shot and post-morteminsect damage. Furthermore, a Blue Jay that wintered in Mill Creek Canyon in 1963/1964 re- maineduntil 20 April, so the 24 April date was not consideredunreasonable. In the end, the bird's precedingthe "invasion,"which involvedrelatively few individuals (Roberson1980), wasnot enoughto swaythe majorityof the Committeeto question this bird's natural occurrence.Following circulation, Kenneth C. Parkes examined thisspecimen to determinethe subspecies.It proved to be a first-winterC. c. brornia, the race occurringin northwesternand north-centralNorth America, and the expectedrace in California,lending credence to the conclusionthat this bird occurred in Californianaturally. SEDGE WREN Cistothorusplatensis (4). The firstfor southernCalifornia was in Huntington Beach, ORA, 15-17 Oct 1991 (JEP; NBB, RCa, BED, RAE, KLG, MTH, GMcC, BO, MAP, DRW; 143-1991). Three of the four recordsfall between mid-Octoberand earlyNovember; the otherwas of a birdsinging on territoryin July. VEERY Catharusfuscescens (8). One at GalileoHill Park, KER, 19-24 $ep 1991 (RAE; MOC, RCa, BED, JLDt, SEFt, MTH•, GMcC, MAP, DR; 118-1991)was the fourthfor southernCalifornia; a photographwas publishedin Am. Birds 46:150. After stunningitself on a window19 September,the birdwas briefly held by Erickson and Daniels but escaped,losing some of its rectrices(#LACM 108378). Most Committee members felt the bird resembledthe duller western subspeciesC. f. salicicolus;Phillips (1991) recognizedfive subspecies,not just salicicolusand nominate fuscescens. GRAY CATBIRD Durnetella carolinensis (61). One in Lodi, SJ, 1-9 Jan 1954 (VRJ; 108-1990), mentionedby Johnson(1964), is the earliestthe Committeehas acceptedfor California, although an 1884 specimen(Townsend 1885) from $E FarallonI. is currentlyunder review. One was bandedand measuredon $E Farallon I., $F, 23 Jun 1991 (JR; 150-1991), a pile of Gray Catbirdfeathers [off of whicha Sharp-shinnedHawk (Accipiterstriatus) was flushed]was foundthere 1 Oct 1991 (PP,#CAS 84896; 151-1991), and an immature,probably a male, was bandedand measuredthere 22 Oct-2 Nov 1991 (DASh; PP; 9-1992). Single birds were at MalibuLagoon, LA, 5-8 Oct 1991 (JLB, NBB, MH•; 194-1991), Pt. ReyesNS (Mendoza),MRN, 17 Oct 1991 (DGY; 80-1992), Nipton, SBE, 18 Oct 1991 (RLM; 57-1992), andScotty's Castle, Death Valley NP, INY, 3 Nov 1991 (RFC;176-1991). One found dead at Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley NP, INY, 17 Nov 1991 (#$DNHM 47870; 2-1992) strucka window at the visitorcenter. The skeletonand certaindiagnostic rectrices, primaries, crissum, and crownfeathers were preserved from the partiallydecomposed corpse, which was recovered23 Nov 1991 after beingleft for sixdays lying at the baseof the window! YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava (9). An immaturewas seenand heardon $E FarallonI., $F, 21 $ep 1991 (PP; 152-1991). All previousCalifornia records are for between4 and 19 September,so thisrecord only slightlyexpands that window. *RED-THROATEDPIPIT Antbus cervinus(102). The fall of 1991 providedthe mostspectacular numbers of thisspecies in recordedhistory, as perhaps hundreds of individualspassed through the State.In part as a resultof this incursion,the CBRC removedthis species from the ReviewList, reviewing records only through 1991. Many recordsinvolve small flocks,but only eight individualshave been found inland,with sixof theseoccurring during the flightof 1991: Kern County'sfirst were

126 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS at ChinaL. NWC, KER, 20 Sep 1991 (MTH; 206-1991) and CaliforniaCity, KER, 22 Sep 1991 (MTH; MOC, GMcC; 125-1991). Single birdsat FurnaceCreek Ranch,Death Valley NP, INY, 21 Sep 1991 (MAP;KAR; 115-1991), 4-5 Oct 1991 (JLDt, GMcC, MAPt; 133-1991), and 11-24 Oct 1991 (MAP; THe, GMcC; 140- 1991), and at nearbyCow Creek, Death Valley NP, INY, 23 Sep 1991 (JLD•-; GMcC; 127-1991), roundedout the inlandrecords. Single Red-throated Pipits at FurnaceCreek Ranch5 Oct 1985 (Roberson1993) and 19-20 Sep 1987 (Pyleand McCaskie1992) were the only onespreviously found inland. Singleindividuals were at Pt. ReyesNS, MRN, 20 Sep 1991 (JLD; 69-1992) and 3 Oct 1991 (JM; 221-1991). Also on Pt. Reyes,up to eightwere seenbetween 6 and 14 Oct at "Drake'sCorner" (SFB, CDBõ, BDP, JM, SWM, RS, SBT; 144- 1991). Six were at Bolinas,MRN, 29-30 Sep 1991 (RA, GHF, KHa, JM; 222- 1991). One bird was found on SE FarallonI., SF, 21-22 Sep 1991 (PP•; 153A- 1991); a secondbird joined it on 22 Sep (PP; 153B-1991). Singleswere there 26 Sep 1991 (PP; 154-1991) and 30 Sep 1991 (PP; 155-1991), up to two were there 10-12 Oct 1991 (JCS; DAS; 7-1992), two were there 17 Oct 1991 (DAS; 11- 1992), andup to two werethere 21-22 Oct 1991 (DAS; 12-1992). Two at Hayward RegionalShoreline, ALA, 22-24 Sep 1991 (RJR; JM; 220-1991) provideda first countyrecord, as did singlebirds at CoyoteCreek Riparian Station, SCL, 16-18 Oct 1991 (SBT; 148-1991) and at PigeonPt., SM, 29 Sep-3 Oct 1991 (RST;BS; 21- 1992) was a countyfirst. Up to four were at MossLanding, MTY, 4-20 Oct 1991 (PJM, DR, SBT; 178-1991); Am. Birds 46:146 statedthat up to eight birdswere present,but the Committeeagreed that the documentationdid not supportaccep- tanceof more than four.One wasat the SalinasSewage Ponds, MTY, 7 Oct 1991 (BHG; 25-1992). One was near Santa Maria, SBA, 20-26 Oct 1991 (KH; 223-1991). One in Goleta, SBA, 6 Oct 1991 (CDB; 233-1991) was followedby anotherthere 27-28 Oct 1991 (RJ, PEL; 224-1991). One was near Oxnard,VEN, 26 Oct 1991 (FH; 226-1991). An immaturewas in Harbor City, LA, 28 Sep 1991 (MH•; 37-1992); a colorphotograph of thisbird appeared in Am. Birds46:166. Two weretogether at SepulvedaBasin, LA, 16-20 Oct 1991 (RB, BED; 207-1991). Relativelylarge numberswere in the TijuanaR. Valley,SD, with a minimumof 12 nearHollister Ave. 6-16 Oct 1991 (JLD, GMcC; 173A-1991) and a minimumof 15 at the Dairymart Road sod fields 18 Oct-11 Nov 1991 (JLD, GMcC; 173B-1991). These flocksare the largestrecorded in California,barely surpassing the flocksof 10-12 locatedin this samevalley during the fallsof 1964, 1966, and 1967 (McCaskie1966, Dunn 1988). SPRAGUE'SPIPIT Anthus spragueii(22). An immaturewas in the Sepulveda Basin,LA, 20 Oct 1991• (Figure 6; LSt; 39-1992). Slightlyover half of the California recordsare of coastalvagrants, such as this one, betweenlate September and mid- November. YELLOW-THROATEDVIREO Vireo flavifrons (40). One was bandedand measuredat MojaveNarrows Regional Park, SBE, 22 Sep 1991 (Figure7; SJM•; 209- 1991), givingCalifornia only its third inlandfall record;the otherswere at Mono L., MNO, 26 Aug 1987 (Pyleand McCaskie1992) and at PanamintSprings, INY, 13- 14 Oct 1990 (Heindeland Garrett 1995). PHILADELPHIAVIREO Vireophiladelph icus (83). Singlebirds at StinsonBeach, MRN, 9 Oct 1991 (KHa; 61-1993) and at BolinasLagoon, MRN, 25-27 Nov 1991 (DLR; 191-1991) fit within the establishedpattern of fall vagrancyin coastal California(76% of acceptedrecords). YELLOW-GREENVIREO Vireoflavoviridis (31). One wasin CostaMesa, ORA, 18 Oct 1990 (JEP;JRG; 40-1991), one was seenbriefly on Pt. Loma, SD, 29 Sep

127. CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

1991 (REW;41-1992), and one wasbanded and measuredat Palomarin,MRN, 11 Oct 1991 (DLR•');a photographof the lastappeared in Am. Birds46:146. All but one of the acceptedstate recordshave been from the immediatecoast from 8 Septemberto 30 October;the exceptionwas of onecollected at HarperDry L., SBE, 2 Oct 1988 (Patten and Erickson 1994). GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER Vermivora chrysoptera (44). A male was in SunsetHeights Park, SF, 21 Sep 1991 (SFB;HG, JM, SWM, SBT; 121-1991). Fall recordsfor Californiaslightly exceed those for spring. YELLOW-THROATEDWARBLER Dendroica dominica (63). One showingthe charactersof the nominatesubspecies remained at Pt. ReyesNS (Mendoza),MRN, 10-16 Sep 1991 (FGB; GHF, LL, JMcC•', JM, SWM, BDP, RS, LT, SBT; 119- 1991). Althoughwe havenow had severalreports (e.g., Craig 1972), thereare still no Californiaspecimens of yellow-lored,large-billed birds, so the weaklydifferenti- ated (andunlikely to occur),D. d. stoddardicannot be eliminated.More expected was one apparentD. d. albilora at CaliforniaCity, KER, 22-24 Sep 1991 (JLD, MTH•', GMcC; 126-1991); almost all well-studiedYellow-throated Warblers in California are white-lored. GRACE'S WARBLERDendroica graciae (27). A probablefirst-year female was on Pt. Loma, SD, 14 Sep 1991 (DWA; REW; 42-1992). A male returnedfor its secondwinter in Montecito,SBA, 6 Oct 1991-17 Feb 1992 (HR; PEL, CAM; 227- 1991); it was presentthe previouswinter from 23 Sep 1990 to 25 Feb 1991 (Heindel and Garrett 1995). PINE WARBLER Dendroica pinus (44). Roger Higson collecteda first-year female in his yard 1.5 mi. west of Westmorland,IMP, 13 Oct 1991 (#SDNHM 47864; 50-1992); this recordis only the third for interiorCalifornia. An immature malewas on Pt. Loma, SD, 19-20 Oct 1991 (RAE; SGM; 195-1991). An immature femalewintered at LagunaBeach, ORA, 24 Nov 1991-15 Mar 1992 (RAE;BED, JLD•', MTH•', THe', CAM, GMcC, MAP, SBT•'; 196-1991), and another immature femalewas in SantaBarbara, SBA, 12-16 Dec 1991 (PEL;88-1992). An apparent immaturemale was in Goleta, SBA, 26 Dec 1991-16 Feb 1992 (SEF; DD•', JAJ, PEL,CAM; 89-1992). As notedby Pattenand Erickson (1994), therate of California records continues to rise. *PROTHONOTARY WARBLER Protonotaria citrea (94). One was on Pt. Loma, SD, 10 Oct 1980 (DPa;232-1988). Recordsof thisspecies after 1989 are no longer reviewedby the CBRC. WORM-EATING WARBLER Helmitheros vermivorus(60). Single individuals were in RedondoBeach, LA, 28 Sep-10 Oct 1991 (MH•', DLM; 45-1992) and on Pt. Loma, SD, 11 Oct 1991 (PAG; 44-1992). *KENTUCKY WARBLEROporornis formosus (62). One of unknownsex was in Lee Vining, MNO, 27-28 May 1991 (MF; 94-1992), a malewas in MorongoValley, SBE, 25 Aug-2 Sep 1991 (MAP; DLD, GMcC; 113-1991), and a femalewas on SE FarallonI., SF, 15 Sep 1991 (PP; 158-1991). Recordsof the speciesafter 1994 are no longer reviewedby the CBRC. CONNECTICUT WARBLEROporomis agilis (65). SE FarallonI., SF, is the site for this speciesin California,with 52% of the acceptedstate records. Three more were there in September 1991: an immature male 7 Sep (PP•'; 159-1991), a probableimmature female 14-15 Sep (PP; 160-1991), andone of unknownage and sex 14 Sep 1991 (PP; 161-1991). The firstof thesewas measuredand banded.One banded,measured, and photographedat CoyoteCreek RiparianStation, SCL, 25 Sep 1991 (RCo, MRS';SBT; 236-1991) wasthe onlyone foundon the mainlandthis same year. 128 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

An immatureat Pt. ReyesNS (fishdocks), MRN, 26 Sep 1983 (SNGH; 80-1993) wasconsidered the sameas an immatureat the nearbylighthouse that sameday (74- 1983; Roberson1986). Given that numerousdistinctively plumaged vagrants over the yearshave been seen at the pointthen laterat the fishdocks (R. Stallcup,fide P. Pyle),the Committeefelt it mostprudent to treat thesebirds as the same. MOURNING WARBLER Oporornis philadelphia (80). Single birds were at Palomarin,MRN, 10 Sep 1991 (tDLR; 82-1992), in Goleta,SBA, 13 Sep 1991 (SEF; PEL; 228-1991), and at Pt. Reyes NS, MRN, 14-16 Sep 1991 (DS; JM, SWM, BDP, RS; 120-1991); the first of these, an immaturefemale, was banded, measured,and photographedin hand. Four were on SE FarallonI., SF, duringfall 1991: an immature,apparently a male, 7 Sep (PP; 162-1991), an immaturefemale banded and measured15-16 Sep (PP•'; 163-1991), an immature, probablya female,20-21 Sep (PP; 164-1991), and an immaturebanded and measured6 Oct (JCSt; 6-1992). SCARLET TANAGER Piranga olivacea(81). A singingmale was in Hayward, ALA, 30 Jun 1991 (D&DH•; 167-1991). A first-yearmale wasat StovepipeWells, INY, 11 Oct 1991 (BED; GMcC, MAP•; 141-1991). Two femaleswere on Pt. Loma, SD: one remainedfrom 20 to 26 Oct 1991 (SGM; JLD, GMcC, BJR•; 172- 1991), and the second,a probableimmature, was seen on 3 Nov 1991 (REW;46- 1992). A first-yearmale was banded and measuredon SE FarallonI., SF, 22-24 Oct 1991 (DASh; 16-1992), and anotherfirst-year male was alongthe Los AngelesR., Glendale,LA, 15 Nov 1991 (KLG; 18-1992). Nearly two-thirdsof the accepted Californiarecords are from the coastalslope in fall, but there are only 15 records from northern California. PAINTED BUNTING Passerinaciris (38). A first-yearfemale was bandedand measuredon SE FarallonI., SF, 15 Sep 1991 (PPt; 165-1991), and anotherfirst- year birdwas at FurnaceCreek Ranch,Death ValleyNP, INY, 21 Sep 1991 (MAP; KAR; 117-1991). Given the recentlydescribed supplemental molt in this species, sexingfall vagrantscan be a challenge,as immaturesare similarregardless of sex (Thompson1992). Nevertheless,both of these birdshad gray heads,indicating immaturity. BAIRD'S SPARROWAmrnodrarnus bairdii (3). A juvenilewas on SE FarallonI., SF, 7 Sep 1991 (PP•; 166-1991); althoughthe photographswere not by themselves diagnostic,the excellentwritten details led to unanimousacceptance of thisrecord. Previousrecords are from SE Farallon1. 28 Sep 1969 (Roberson1986) and Pt. Loma, SD, 5-10 Oct 1981 (Binford1985). See Pyle and Sibley(1992) for a brief accountof the juvenalplumage of thisspecies. LE CONTE'S SPARROW Amrnodrarnus leconteii (22). An immaturefemale was collectedat Harper Dry L., SBE, 6 Jan 1991 (#SBCM 52796; 56-1992). Single birdswere at FurnaceCreek Ranch, Death Valley NP, INY, 5 Oct 1991 (JLD;GMcC, MAP; 134-1991) and 12-16 Oct 1991 (MAP•; BED, THe, GMcC; 142-1991). MostArnrnodrarnus sparrows migrate after completingtheir postjuvenalmolt and thuslook similar to adultsduring their first fall (Pyle and Sibley 1992). As a result,the ages of the Furnace Creek birds are unknown,although the secondbird was considerablybrighter than the first. SMITH'S LONGSPUR Calcariuspictus (2). California'ssecond was at Pt. Reyes NS (Drake'sCorner), MRN, 6-8 Oct 1991 (GHR; GHF, JM, RS, SBT; 146-1991). This bright,strongly marked bird was apparentlyan adultmale becauseimmature maleslack the boldface pattern described on thisindividual. An immaturemale at MossLanding, MTY, 13-18 Sep 1990 is the only other recordedin California (Patten and Erickson1994).

129 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

Figure9. BronzedCommon Grackle(8-1992) at FurnaceCreek Ranch,Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co., 17 October 1991. Photo by Gjon Hazard

Figure10. California'sfifth Streak-backedOriole, and the firstto haveits photograph published,at the Gene Pumping Plant near Parker Dam, San Bernardino Co., December 1991. Photo by B. d. Rose 130 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

LITTLE BUNTING Ernberizapusilia (1). The firstof its speciesto be recordedin North Americasouth of Alaskawas on Pt. Loma, SD, 21-24 Oct 1991 (Figure8; GMcC, REW•'; RCa, BED, JLD, RAE, KLG, RAH, CAM, MAP, EEP, DR, BJRt, SY•'; 145-1991). Excellentphotographs (a color one appeared in Am. Birds 46:169) anddescriptions documented one of the leastexpected species ever found in California.McCaskie (1993) providedan accountand summarizedother North American occurrences.See Wallace (1980), Harris et al. (1989), and Bradshaw (1991) for summariesof identificationcriteria. SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenaxnivalis (49). Fivewere on SE Farallon1., SF, in fall 1991: a first-yearfemale 26-27 Oct (PI:•', DAS; 13-1992), a second,brighter individualwith a damagedwing 26-28 Oct (PP,DAS; 14-1992), andthree more on 28 Oct (PP,DAS; 15-1992). A malewas at Fort Funston,SF, 27-30 Oct 1991 (HG, LL, JM, SWM, MMR; 189-1991), and an immaturemale was on Pt. ReyesNS, MRN, 6-12 Nov 1991 (WEH•, GMcC, JM, MAPf; 183-1991). Two of undeter- minedage and sexwere at CrescentCity, DN, 5-6 Nov 1991 (ADB•';64-1993). COMMON GRACKLEQuiscalus quiscula (27). Single individuals were at Furnace CreekRanch, Death Valley NP, INY, 17 Oct 1991 (Figure9; JCS;GH•'; 8-1992) and 15 Nov 1991 (JHe, THe'; 214-1991). Both birdswere well photographed,with a photoof the latterappearing in Am. Birds46:152. As with all previousCalifornia Common Gracklesidentified to subspecies,these birds looked like the western subspeciesQ. q. oersicolor,the BronzedGrackle. STREAK-BACKEDORIOLE Icteruspustulatus (5). An immaturemale or adult femalewas at the Gene PumpingPlant near ParkerDam, SBE, 9-18 Dec 1991 (Figure10; JCS;GMcC, MAP,BJR•'; 211-1991). Previousaccepted records are from L. Murray,SD, 1 May 1931 (Huey1931, Dunn1988), the TijuanaR. Valley,SD, 22 Sep 1962 (Roberson1993), FurnaceCreek Ranch, Death Valley NP, INY, 6 Nov-21 Dec 1977 (Lutheret al. 1979), and La Jolla,SD, 10 Dec 1984-29 Apr 1985 (Dunn 1988). This speciesis occurringwith increasingfrequency in southeasternArizona andhas recently bred along the San PedroR. nearDudleyville (Corman and Monson 1995). BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla (5). One was at FerndaleBottoms, HUM, 29 Dec 1991-28 Feb 1992 (FJB, TL; BBA, SWH, GGK, GSL, LPL, MHM, DLR, JR; 32-1992). All Californiarecords have been from late Novemberto mid-March. Previousoccurrences were at CrescentCity, DN, 5 Feb-24 Mar 1984 (Roberson 1986), Arcata, HUM, 20 Nov 1985, Chico, BUT, 11-19 Feb 1986 (Bevier1990), and Santa Cruz, SCZ, 15 Dec 1990-16 Feb 1991 (Heindeland Garrett 1995). COMMON REDPOLLCarduelis flammea (5). One, probablya female,was at Tule L. NWR, SIS, 23-25 Nov 1991 (KTS; 190-1991). Aside from influxesto northeasternCalifornia during the wintersof 1899/1900 (Willard1902, Grinnell and Miller 1944, Roberson1986) and 1985/1986 (Bevier 1990), the only other occurrencefor Californiawas of an unseasonalbird taken at Manila,HUM, 22 May 1969 (Roberson1993).

SUPPLEMENTAL LIST

As discussedby Pattenand Erickson(1994), the Committeehas adopted a SupplementalList for speciessupported by recordsfor which natural occurrenceis uncertain.This list was designedfor speciesfor which evidencefor a determinationregarding human-aided passage vs. natural occurrenceis insufficient.Records of speciesnot acceptedas "natural

131 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS occurrencequestionable" but not yet on the mainlist of Californiabirds are broughtto an annualmeeting for discussion;a simplemajority vote will place the specieson the SupplementalList. Placementof the Swallow- tailedGull (Creagrusfurcatus) and OrientalGreenfinch (Carduelis sinica) on the SupplementalList was discussed by Heindeland Garrett(1995) and Pattenand Erickson(1994), respectively.As reportedby Small(1994), the Committeeplaced the Gray Silky-Flycatcher(Ptilogonys cinereus) on the SupplementalList in 1993 but removedit again in 1995 becausethe possibilityof escapedbirds was felt to be too high. Other recentSupple- mentalList additions,and the recordsthat supportthose additions, follow. FALCATED TEAL Anas falcata. A male was at Upper Newport Bay, ORA, 2 Jan-21 Feb 1969 (128-1986; Roberson1993). Note that the male reportedat San Francisco,SF, 5 Apr-21 May 1953 (458-1986; Roberson1993) wasnot accepted becauseof questionableidentification and is thusnot eligiblefor the Supplemental List. CRESTED CARACARA Polyborusplancus. An adult was photographedat Mono Lake, MNO, 13 Sep-16 Oct 1987 (267-1987; Roberson1993). Additional recordsof the CrestedCaracara in California,including those for the ShastaValley, SHA, and Ft. Dick, DN, discussedby Roberson(1993), were not consideredamong thosesupporting the species'placement on the SupplementalList. Additionalspecies considered but not placed on the SupplementalList were the JackassPenguin (Spheniscusdemersus), Bar-headedGoose (Anser indicus), Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis),Ruddy Shelduck (Tadornaferruginea), Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri), Kittlitz's Plo- ver (Charadriuspecuarius), Purplish-backed Jay (Cyanocoraxbeecheyi), Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticuschrysopeplus), White-collared Seedeater (Sporophilatorqueola), and EurasianTree Sparrow(Passer montanus).

RECORDSNOT ACCEPTED, identificationquestionable ARCTIC LOON Gaviaarctica. A loondistantly seen near the mouthof Bolinas Lagoon,MRN, 28 May 1992 (143-1992) was identifiedsolely by its whiteflank patches;most Committee members were unwilling to acceptsuch a recordwithout additionaldetail on structure,size, presence or absenceof chinand vent straps, and napecoloration. See RecordsAccepted for more informationabout this species. YELLOW-BILLEDLOON Gavia adamsii. One was reportedat Pt. Richmond, CC, 23 or 24 Mar 1991 (217-1991);documentation was not sufficientto eliminate the CommonLoon (G. iramet). TOWNSEND'SSHEARWATER Puffinus auricularis. One wasreported 2-3 mi. offshorefrom Montafia de Oro SP,SLO, 11 Aug1991 (114-1991).The Committee felt the sightingwas too brief, and some markswere incorrectfor Townsend's. Observersare cautionedto considervariation in the Black-ventedShearwater (P. opisthomelas),a small percentage of whichshow white flank patches (Howell et al. 1994).Furthermore, the CBRCis nowreviewing a dozenrecords of putativeManx Shearwaters(P.puffinus), a speciesthat also shows white flank patches (Howell et al. 1994);indeed, some of theseapparent Manx Shearwaters were initially identified as Townsend's Shearwaters. BAND-RUMPEDSTORM-PETREL Oceanodroma castro. One was reported 160 nmi.SW of San NicolasI., YEN (30ø 59.8' N, 121ø 16.9' W), 30 Sep 1991

132 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED, identificationquestionable, Cont.

(103-1993; Am. Birds 46:148). Althoughthe observeris experiencedwith seabirds, the documentationwas scantfor so contentiousan identification,as proposedfield criteriafor separatingthis speciesfrom the very similarLeach's Storm-Petrel (O. leucorhoa)remain poorly understood. There is only one acceptedrecord for Califor- nia (McCaskie1990), but that recordis currentlybeing reassessed by the Committee (Heindel and Garrett 1995). BROWN BOOBY $ula leucogaster.A boobyobserved from a boat returningto Los Angeles,LA, from Santa BarbaraI., SBA, 15 Sep 1990 (1-1993) was not adequatelydescribed to be identifiedto species. TRICOLORED HERON Egretta tricolor.An adultreported from FinneyL., IMP, 26 May 1991 (98-1991) wassaid to haveboth a redeye and a yellowbill, an unlikely combination,as Tricolored Herons have red iridesonly when in heightenedbreeding condition,when their billsare deep blue. TRUMPETER SWAN Cygnus buccinator.Adults were reportedat Goose L., MOD, 28 Apr 1991 (20-1992) and Tule L. NWR, MOD, 24 Dec 1991 (218-1992). Fieldidentification of swans,even the adultTrumpeter Swan versus Whisfiing Swan (C. columbianuscolumbianus), remains one of the most underratedand intractable problemsin North America; see Patten and Heindel (1994) for a treatmentof this issue. EMPEROR GOOSE Chen canagica. A report of two at LimantourEstero, Pt. ReyesNS, MRN, 12-29 Dec 1968 (94-1989)lacked enoughdocumentation for a minorityof the Committee.These birdswere saidto have been photographed;if anyonecan supplyphotographs, the Committeewould be eagerto reconsiderthis record. An immaturegoose at Tule L., SIS, 21 Oct-ll Nov 1991 (198-1991) exhibitedwhite undertailcoverts, depicted in a drawingand in written field notes. This featurelies outside the knownvariation of the EmperorGoose (Palmer 1976). TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula. A male Aythya at the mouth of the San Luis Rey River,Oceanside, SD, 16 Feb-"end of period"(-- 29 Feb; 129-1992; Am. Birds 46:314) 1992 hada finelybarred mantle and a shorttuft, so it wasconsidered to be a hybridTufted Duck x scaup.A reportedmale at Hayward RegionalShoreline, ALA, 4 Jul-15 Aug 1990 (193-1990; Am. Birds 46:144) was more problematic. Much of the descriptionof the birdsuggested that the identificationwas correct,but the graywash to the flanks,short wing stripe,and consistenfiyshort tuft duringthe bird'ssix-week stay led the majorityof Committeemembers to questionwhether this birdwas a pure TuftedDuck. See Sibley(1994) for more informationabout hybrid Tufted Ducks. Documentationsupporting the reportof a maleat Richardson'sBay, MRN, 6 Mar 1990 (217-1990) was onlythe secondhandcomment that the observer"said it had a longtuft." This birdwas considered acceptable by a minorityof the Committee,who felt it to representa returningindividual; the CBRC hadpreviously accepted a maleat this locality19 Jan 1987 (155-1987; Langham 1991). MISSISSIPPIKITE Ictinia rnississippiensis.One was reportedat ShorelinePark, Mt. View, SCL, 12 May 1991 (83-1991). Detailswere not sufficientto rule out the Northern Harrier (Circuscyaneus). A report of one at PinnaclesNM, SBT, 12 May 1991 (82-1991) was only narrowly rejectedon its fourth circulation;concerns centered around the incompletedescription of the tail and wing pattern. These records,both publishedin Am. Birds 45:492, raisedadditional concerns about the earlydate and, becauseof the season,the coastallocations (most accepted spring are from late May to earlyJune from the interior). 153 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED, identificationquestionable, Cont. COMMON BLACK-HAWK Buteoga!!usanthracinus. One was reportedat L. Evans,Buena Vista RecreationArea, KER, in "April or May" 1987 (67-1993). This report,the thirdin the pastfive years, highlights the needfor thoroughdocumenta- tion supportingreports of thisspecies and for a clearunderstanding of identification criteria.An adultat ThousandPalms Oasis, RIV, 13 April 1985 (Danielset al. 1989) remainsthe only one acceptedfor California. ZONE-TAILEDHAWK Buteo albonotatus.The descriptionof a Buteo reported at Salton Sea NWR, IMP, 5 Nov 1991 (35-1992) did not eliminate other dark raptors.One reportedby an excellentobserver 11 km WSW of Brawley,IMP, 31 Dec 1991 (125-1992;Am. Birds46:315) wasacknowledged by all members to be likely correctbut was not acceptedbecause of ambiguousdetails (resulting from the distant observation)that did not clearlyeliminate a dark-morphFerruginous Hawk (B regalis).There remainno acceptedwinter recordsfor the interior. YEllOW RAIL Coturnicopsnoveboracensis. A rail flushedfrom a pondon the SamoaPeninsula, HUM, 10 Feb 1991 (57-1991) wasdescribed as pale yellowor sandyoverall, too pale for a YellowRail. White patcheswere seenon the secondar- ies, but the observersthemselves questioned whether light conditionscould have contributedto thisimpression. SPO'I-FEDREDSHANK Tringa erythropus.One was tentativelyidentified as it flew over BolinasLagoon, MRN, 14 Sep 1991 (131-1991). Field identification restedon the yellowlegs-likeshape and plover-like call-note, but observed details were not sufficientfor anyoneon the Committeeto acceptso rare a species. TEREKSANDPIPER Xen uscinereus. An intriguingreport of one alongthe Santa Ynez R. in Lompoc, SBA, 10 Oct 1991 (149-1991) was publishedin Am. Birds (46:149). Bobbingbehavior and a long upturnedbill were described,but the bird's sizeand plumagepattern were unclear.The bird'swading in a shallowpool rather than dashingabout on bareground led to furtherconcerns. There remainsbut one recordof thisspecies for California,of an adultstudied and photographed by manyat CarmelSB, MTY, 28 Aug-23 Sep 1988 (Wilsonand Harriman1989). BAR-TAILEDGODWIT Lirnosa!apponica. A godwitat BolinasLagoon, MRN, 28 Aug 1991 (184-1991; Am. Birds 46:144) was felt to be too distantfrom the observerfor a bleachedMarbled Godwit (L. fedoa) to be eliminated. RUFOUS-NECKED STINT Calidris ruficollis. A juvenile was reported at Princeton Marsh, SM, 23 Sep 1991 (130-1991). The documentationwas not detailedenough to eliminatea short-billedjuvenile male WesternSandpiper (C. rnauri),a brightjuvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper (C. pusilia), or a juvenileLittle Stint (C. rninuta).Observers are urgedto documentpotential Palearctic stints with extremecaution and exhaustivedetail, and to be wellversed in the variationpossible in the Westernand Semipalmatedsandpipers and the extremesimilarity of Rufous- neckedand Little stints.See Jonssonand Grant (1984), Hayman et al. (1986), Veit and Jonsson(1987), and Paulson(1993) for more information. LONG-TOED STINT Calidrissubrninuta. One reportednear Palmdale, LA, 21- 24 sep 1991 (138-1991) proved to be a Least Sandpiper(C. rninuti!la) upon examinationof a videotapeand photographs.A juvenileat Salinas,MTY, 29 Aug-2 Sep 1988 remainsthe sole Long-toedStint acceptedfor California(Patten and Daniels 1991). THICK-BILLED MURRE Uria lornvia.The descriptionof a murre at Monterey, MTY, 24 Nov 1991 (218-1991) wasfelt by mostCommittee members to betterfit a basic-plumagedCommon Murre (U. aalge). 134 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED, identificationquestionable, Cont.

RUDDY GROUND-DOVE Colurnbinatalpacoti. A femalereported at the Wister Unit of the ImperialWildlife Area, southend of the SaltonSea, IMP, 20 Apr 1991 (95-1991) was at a location where the Common Ground-Dove(C. passerina)is common;furthermore, the birdwas not convincinglydescribed for sucha date,as fall and winter recordspredominate. BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD Cynanthus latirostris. A male hummingbird near ImperialBeach, SD, 4 May 1991 (94-1991) waspublished as thisspecies (Am. Birds 46:496). The descriptionsounded interesting, but the lack of white undertail covertseliminated the Broad-billedHummingbird. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE Contopus uirens.One was reportedin RanchoSan Carlos,MTY, 5 May 1991 (116-1992). The Committeefelt that the describedcalls did not eliminate the Western Wood-Pewee (C. sordidulus). There are but two acceptedCalifornia records, of one banded,measured, and photographedin hand on SE FarallonI., SF, 15 Jun 1975 (Luther1980) and a singingmale photographed and tape-recordedat San JoaquinCity, SJ, 18 Aug-17 Sep 1983 (Mofian 1985). ALDER FLYCATCHER Ernpidonax alnorurn. In responseto a plea from Pyle and McCaskie(1992), a numberof recordsof potentialAlder Flycatchers have been recentlysubmitted to the Committee.Of the three reportedhere, one at Pt. Reyes NS (lighthouse),MRN, 16 Jun 1988 (99-1993) washeard once to singan Alder-type songbut was otherwisesilent. As songswere not heard repeatedly,this recordwas unanimouslyrejected by the Committee,although most members acknowledged that the birdcould have been an AlderFlycatcher. The othertwo reportswere of "Traill's" Flycatchersgiving calls normally attributed only to the Alder Flycatcher:one was amongbreeding Willow Flycatchers along the San LuisRey R. nearL. Henshaw,SD, 12 Jun 1988 (274-1992) and one was at Pt. ReyesNS (New Willows),MRN, 9 Sep 1988 (100-1993); the former recordwas published in Am. Birds 42:1341. Both of these birdswere describedas lookingessentially like Willow Flycatchers(E. traillii), but eachrepeatedly gave peep callnotes. Although these calls have been considered or suggesteddiagnostic of the Alder by a number of authors(LeGrand 1979, Lehman 1985, Whitney and Kaufman 1986, Kaufman 1990), call-notevariation withineach species awaits a thoroughanalysis. Until sucha time, the Committeewill likely acceptAlder Flycatcherrecords only if the bird is in full song.Even so, the Committee urgescontinued submission of suspectedAlders basedon calls,as the June and late-Augustto mid-Septemberpattern of "peepingTrailrs" noted by Pyle and McCaskie(1992) is furthersupported by the recordsrejected above. See Pyle and McCaskie(1992) for a discussionof previouslyrejected records of "peeping" Trailrs Flycatchersin California. GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER klyiarchuscrinitus. The describedcall of a Myiarchus in Santa Barbara, SBA, 22 Sep 1990 (184-1990; Am. Birds 45:152) was consideredatypical for the Great Crested Flycatcherby some Committee members;the describedrectrix pattern and mandiblecoloration led to further concerns.

SCISSOR-TAILEDFLYCATCHER Tyrannus forficatus. Single birds reported in Goleta, SBA, 30 Jun 1985 (18-1991) and at Pt. Buchon,SLO, 10 Jun 1991 (93- 1991) lacked sufficientdocumentation, though much of the Committee felt both recordswere probablyvalid. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH Catharus rninirnus.A Catharus at Pt. Reyes NS (lighthouse),MRN, 15 Oct 1988 (23-1989) was published(Am. Birds43:164) as thisspecies. The detailssubmitted indicated that the birdwas seen briefly (uppertail

135 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED, identificationquestionable, Cont.

colorationwas not noted,for example)and led to concernsover whether the Hermit Thrush(C. guttatus)was eliminated. RED-THROATEDPIPIT Antbus cervinus.A pipit at Cape Mendocino,HUM, 28 Sep 1980 (213-1987) was describedas havingbrown legs and a white wing patch. One reportedat ArcataBottoms, HUM, 1 Oct 1980 (104-1989) lackedsufficient documentation.Both of these recordswere acceptedby Harris (1991) and were publishedin Am. Birds35: 223. A heard-onlyfly-over at Pt. ReyesNS, MRN, 22 Sep 1990 (216-1990) was not documentedenough for a minorityof the Committee. Singleindividuals were reportedat PrincetonMarsh, SM, 26 Sep 1991 (81-1992) andat Half MoonBay, SM, 29 Oct 1991 (90-1992). One at Arroyode la Cruz,SLO, 2 Oct 1991 (232-1991; Am. Birds 46:151) and roughlyten at Arroyo Laguna, SLO, 2 Oct 1991 (231-1991; Am. Birds 46:151) were all fly-over,heard-only birds; a majorityof the Committeefelt theseidentifications to be inadequatelydocumented, representinga more conservativestance than in the past (cf. Pyle and McCaskie 1992). An adultreported near Palmdale, LA, 9 Nov 1991 (38-1992) wassupported bydetails that perhaps better fit the Asiansubspecies japonicus of the AmericanPipit (A. rubescens);in any case, the Committeeunanimously agreed that detailswere insufficientto supporta basic-plumagedadult Red-throatedPipit at this interior location. YELLOW-GREENVIREO Vireoflavo•iridis. The descriptionof a vireoreported in La Jolla,SD, 5 Oct 1991 (40-1992; Am. Birds 46:151) did not eliminatea first- year Red-eyedVireo (Vireo oli•aceus). YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER Dendroica dominica. One at the Carmel R. mouth,MTY, 21-28 Sep 1969 (93-1989)was accepted by all buttwo members;the minoritywas unwilling to acceptthe meagerdetails provided for thisrecord, which haslong been considered correct (cf. Roberson1985). PINE WARBLERDendroica pinus. A warbleron Pt. Loma, SD, 11 Oct 1991 (43-1992; Am. Birds 46:151) was reported as an adult male of this species,a plumageunrecorded in the statein fall; the bird was not adequatelydescribed for mostmembers to breakprecedent. Observers need to note structurein additionto plumagedetails, as the shapeof the PineWarbler is quitedifferent from that of the Bay-breasted(D. castanea)and Blackpoll(D. striata) warblers(see Patten and Erickson1994). PROTHONOTARYWARBLER Protonotaria citrea. One reportedon San Nicolas I., VEN, 18-30 Aug 1988 (260-1989; Am. Birds 43:170) was supportedby marginaldetails. MOURNINGWARBLER Oporornis philadelphia. Single birds were reportedat Montafiade Oro SP, SLO, 20 Sep 1989 (18-1990; Am. Birds 44:164), Oceano, SLO, 3 Oct 1990 (43-1991; Am. Birds 45:153), HuntingtonBeach, ORA, 8 Oct 1990 (44-1991; Am. Birds 45:153), and Pt. Loma, SD, 15 Sep 1991 (208-1991). The rejectionrate for thisspecies continues to be high,with 22% of the mainland reportsbeing considered unacceptable. Numerous in-hand records from SE Farallon I. demonstratethat this speciesmoves through California with regularity,but sight recordsneed to be well documentedto ensurethat the very similarMacGillivray's Warbler (O. tolmiei) and even Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas) are convincinglyeliminated. SCARLETTANAGER Piranga oliuacea. A brieflydescribed male at TildenPark, CC, 4 Jun 1991 (29-1992; Am. Birds45:1159) wasnot adequatelydocumented for mostmembers. A brieflyseen tanager in HuntingtonBeach, ORA, 11 Nov 1991 (5- 136 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

RECORDSNOT ACCEPTED,identification questionable, Cont.

1992; Am. Birds46:152) includedmention of a large,pale bill, a featuretypical of the SummerTanager (R rubra). CANYON TOWHEE Pipilo fuscus.One reportedfrom Anza-Borrego Desert SP, SD, 9 Feb 1992 (128-1992) wouldhave been the firstfor California.This species has some potential to reach California, as it occurswest to the Mohave and Black mountainsof Arizona (Monsonand Phillips1981), within 10 km of our eastern border.Zimmer (1988) preparedthe sourcefor identificationof Canyonand Califor- nia (R crissalis)towhees; see Zink (1988) for informationregarding systematic relationshipsin thistowhee complex. FIELD SPARROWSpizella pusilla. A sparrowat HoplandField Station, MEN, 11 Oct 1991 (79-1992; Am. Birds46:147) wasreported as thisspecies, but the fairly extensivebreast streaking on thisdate should eliminate all Spizellae but the Chipping Sparrow (S. passerina). SNOW BUNTINGPlectrophenax nivalis. One seen briefly in flightat Aao Nuevo StateReserve, SM, 26 Oct 1991 (23-1992; Am. Birds46:147) wasnot adequately described. MCKAY'SBUNTING Plectrophenax hyperboreus. A birdphotographed coming to a feederwith House Sparrows(Passer domesticus) in Camarillo,VEN, 29 Dec 1991-1 Jan 1992 (223-1992) was felt by the entire Committeeto be a leucistic House Sparrow. COMMON GRACKLEQuiscalus quiscula. A malegrackle at Mono L. Co. Park, MNO, 10 May 1989 (84-1993) was publishedas a Great-tailedin Am. Birds 43:534. Althoughthere was somespeculation that it may actuallyhave been a CommonGrackle, the Committeeunanimously agreed that available documentation was not conclusiveand essentiallydid not disputethe publishedidentification.

RECORDSNOT ACCEPTED,natural occurrence questionable (identification accepted) PAINTEDBUNTING Passerina ciris. Unseasonal adult male Painted Buntings in cismontaneCalifornia continue to presentthe Committeewith problems.Single birdsbanded in Camarillo,VEN, 3 Jan 1989 (HEM!; 199-1989)and coming to a feederin SantaBarbara, SBA, 3-5 Nov 1991 (PW;229-1991; Am. Birds46:152) were not acceptedprimarily because the probabilityof escapees,especially adult males,was felt to be substantiallyhigher in urban areas. Nevertheless,the Santa Barbarabird, at least,fell within the PaintedBunting's established pattern of fall vagrancy.There are no acceptedwinter records. The Committeehas now questioned the natural occurrence of 12 records of adult males from coastal California. Whetherthese birds fit a "pattern"or representa regularflow of escapeesis unknowable,although, in contrastto acceptedrecords, which are concentratedin fall,adult males on the coastspan the seasons.Females as well as males are marketed in Mexico. EURASlANTREE SPARROWPasser rnontanus. One was seenbriefly in San Pedro,LA, 4 Jul 1991 (KLG, WLP; 90o1991).Kautesk (1986) and Weber(1987) discussedrecent records in Canadaand suggested scenarios, respectively, of ship- assistanceand escapingfrom localaviculturists. Recent reports from southwestern BritishColumbia (Am. Birds 43:161 and 44:321) suggestthe potentialestablish- mentof a smallpopulation in thatarea, from which a birdcould have wandered south to SanPedro. Given the location, however, ship-assisted travel may be the most likely

137 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED, naturaloccurrence questionable (identification accepted),Cont. explanationfor this bird's arrival in San Pedro. In any event, the Committee unanimouslyagreed that this speciesis a mostunlikely candidate for naturaloccur- rencein California,although the CBRC encouragescontinued submission of these sorts of records.

MISCELLANY

This new sectionwill be an irregularfeature of CBRC reports.Its purpose isto providea forumof correctionsand clarifications of publishedrecords of ReviewList speciesthat were eithernot formallyreviewed, usually because there was nothingto review(i.e., typographicerrors), or were re-reviewed but the subsequentreview did not alter previouslypublished conclusions. EMPERORGOOSE Chen canagica.Because of a key-puncherror, a Ross'Goose (Chen rossii) on the 16 December 1989 San Diego ChristmasBird Count was erroneouslypublished as an EmperorGoose (Am. Birds44:987). YELLOW RAIL Coturnicopsnoveboracensis. A previouslyaccepted record of this speciesfrom PacificGrove, MTY, 2-8 Oct 1970 (WR; RS; 230-1984; Dunn 1988) was re-reviewedto encompassa 1 Nov 1970 sightingclaimed to be of this samebird (Roberson1985). The Committeeunanimously agreed to continueaccep- tance of only 2-8 Oct 1970, and Roberson(in comments)indicated that he now believeshis acceptanceof the 1 Nov date was in error. GRAY CATBIRD Durnetella carolinensis.A Gray Catbirdphotograph appearing in Birder's World 8(1):74, February1994, wasaccompanied by a captionindicating that it wastaken near Los Angeles, LA. The photographwas in facttaken at the Dry Tortugas,Florida (Brian E. Smallin litt.). PAINTED BUNTING Passerinaciris. As with the Emperor Goose report men- tionedabove, a typographicerror in Heindeland Patten (1994) ledto the publication of a PaintedBunting record for coastalOrange Co. The PaintedRedstart (Myioborus pictus) was the speciesin question.

CONTRIBUTORS

RichardAcldey, Douglas W. Aguillard,Brooks B. Allen, Steve Allison,Janice Anderson,Dick Ashford,Stephen E Bailey,William S. Baker,Alan D. Barron,Dave Batzler, Casey Beachell,Chris D. Benesh, FlorenceG. Bennett, LaurenceC. Binford,Joe Boyd,Jean L. Brandt,N. BruceBroadbooks, Fred J. Broerman,Chris Carpenter,Rita Carratello (RCa), Theodore A. Chandik,Mark O. Chichester,Therese Clawson,Richard F. Clements,Charles T. Collins,Rita Colwell,Rob Colwell(RCo), Scott Cox, Mark Cudney,J. MichaelDanzenbaker, Brian E. Daniels,Deborah L. Davidson, David E DeSante, Don Desiardins,John Dougherty, Jon L. Dunn, ThomasM. Edell,Barbara P. Elliott,Ray Ekstrom,Richard A. Erickson,Gil Ewing, MelanieFindling, George H. Finger,Shawneen E. Finnegan,James R. Gallagher, Frank Gardner,Kimball L. Garrett, BruceH. Gerow, Peter A. Ginsburg,Edward D. Greaves,Helen Green, Joe Greenberg,Marguerite B. Gross,William E. Haas, Bruce Hallett, David and Denise Hamilton (D&DH), Robert A. Hamilton, Keith Hansen (KHa), StanleyW. Harris, Karen A. Haylena,James T. Haylena,Floyd. E. Hayes, Loren R. Hays, Gjon Hazard, Fred Heath, Jo Heindel(JHe), MatthewT. Heindel, Mitch Heindel, Tom Heindel, Diana Herron, Jim Hodgson,Ken Hollinga, Andrew 138 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

Howe, Vernon Howe, Steve N. G. Howell, Byran Huehnken (BHu), Greg D. Jackson,Debra G. Jackson, Richard Jeffers, Jerome A. Johnson, Sid Johnson, DeborahL. Jory,Robert J. Keiffer,Ken Kellman,Pat Kelly,Gail G. Kenny,Christine H. Koundakjian,Theodore H. Koundakjian,Stephen A. Laymon,Tom Leskiw,Paul E. Lehman, Gary S. Lester, Lauren P. Lester, Ron LeValley, Leslie Lieurance, MichaelJ. Lippsmeyer,Katharine H. Loughman,Tim Manoils,Curtis A. Marantz, Helen Matelson,Ed Mathews,Guy McCaskie(GMcC), H. Elliot McClure, John McCormick (JMcC), John E. McDonald, Dennis McDonnell, John L. McKean, Robert L. McKernan, Gail McKiernan, Robert B. McNab, Peter J. Metropulos, StephenJ. Myers,Steven G. Mlodinow,David L. Moody,Joseph Morlan, ScottW. Morrical,Michael H. Morris,Tom Murphey,Daniel W. Nelson,Blair Nikula,Mary Nordstrom,John O'Brien, Tom Olson,Dennis Parker (DPa),Jim and DebbieParker, BenjaminD. Parmeter,Michael A. Patten, Hans Peeters,James E. Pike, Edwin E. Post, Dave Povey, William L. Principe, Peter Pyle, Kurt A. Radamaker,William R. Radke, William Reese,Daniel L. Reinking,Robert J. Richmond,Mike Rigney, MichaelF. Robbins,Don Roberson,Jude Roberti,Michael M. Rogers,B. J. Rose, Josh Rose, Gary H. Rosenberg,Jim S. Royer,Patricia Ruston, Ronnie L. Ryno, LawrenceSansone, Barry Sauppe(BSa), David A. Sibley,Brad Sillasen(BSi), Dan Singer,Gregory P. Smith, Kevin T. Spencer,Mark Stacy, Rich Stallcup,Nancy States,John C. Sterling,Paul Stevens, Gary J. Strachan,Monte M. Taylor,Scott B. Terrill, RobertTheriault, Ronald S. Thorn, John Trochet,Charles Vaughn, Richard R. Veit, Adrian Wander, RichardE. Webster,Brian J. Weed, Thomas L. Williams, DouglasR. Willick,Anna Wilcox(AWi), Chuck Williamson, Pat Wilson,John Wright, Matt Wright, DavidG. Yee, Sue Yee, Bob Yutzy,Elizabeth Zeh, JamesO. Zimmer.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the followingpeople outside the Committeefor reviewingand com- mentingon certainCBRC recordsor aspectsof them: DonaldE. Kroodsma(Univer- sityof Massachusetts),Kenneth C. Parkes(Carnegie Museum of NaturalHistory), and Pavel S. Tomkovich(Zoological Museum of Moscow University).We thank MarleneZuk (Universityof California,Riverside) for her assistancein preparing sonogramsof the AlderFlycatcher, and Bruce E. Deuel,Jeri M. Langham,and David G. Yeefor supplyingthe Committeewith information that it otherwisemay not have obtained.We are gratefulto Donald E. Kroodsma,Gary D. Schnell,and the American Ornithologists'Union for permissionto reprint the Alder Flycatcher sonogramreproduced in Figure5. Photographsof specimensand associateddata were suppliedby StephenF. Bailey,Stanley W. Harris,and PeterPyle. Committee members who reviewed some or all of the records included in this report were StephenF. Bailey,Louis R. Bevier,Jon L. Dunn, RichardA. Erickson, ShawneenE. Finnegan,Kimball L. Garrett,Matthew T. Heindel,Paul E. Lehman, Gary S. Lester,Michael J. Lippsmeyer,Curtis A. Marantz,Guy McCaskie,Joseph Morlan,Michael A. Patten,Peter Pyle, Don Roberson,and Scott B. Terrill.We thank RichardA. Erickson,Kimball L. Garrett,Matthew T. Heindel,Guy McCaskie,and PeterPyle for reviewingthis report and improvingits content.

LITERATURE CITED

AmericanOrnithologists' Union. 1983. Check-listof NorthAmerican Birds, 6th ed. Am. Ornithol.Union, Washington,D.C. AmericanOrnithologists' Union. 1985. Thirty-fifthsupplement to theA.O.U. Check- list of North American Birds. Auk 102:680-686. Andrews,R., andRighter, R. 1992. ColoradoBirds. Denver Mus. Nat. Hist.,Denver.

139 CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS

Austin, O. L., Jr. 1929. Labradorrecords of Europeanbirds. Auk 46:207-210. Bevier,L. R. 1990. Eleventhreport of the CaliforniaBird RecordsCommittee. W. Birds 21:145-176. Binford,L. C. 1985. Seventhreport of the CaliforniaBird RecordsCommittee. W. Birds 16:29-48. Bond, J. 1962. Seventhsupplement to the Checklistof Birdsof the West Indies (1956). Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. Bradshaw,C. 1991. Identificationof Little and Rustic buntings.Birding World 4:309-313. Browning,M. R. 1993. Commentsof the taxonomyof Ernpidonaxtraillii (Willow Flycatcher).W. Birds24:241-257. Campbell,R. W., Dawe, N. K., McTaggart-Crown,I., Cooper,J. W., Kaiser,G. W., and McNall, M. C. E. 1990. The Birdsof BritishColumbia, vol. I. Royal Brit. Columbia Mus., Victoria. Corman,T., and Monson,G. 1995. FirstUnited States nesting records of the Streak- backed Oriole. W. Birds 26:49-53. Crabtree,T. 1995. Fieldnotes:Eastern Oregon, summer 1994. Ore. Birds21:27- 29. Craig,A.M. 1970. Editorial.Calif. Birds1:1-2. Craig,J. T. 1972. Two fallYellow-throated Warblers in California.Calif. Birds3:17- 18. Cramp,S., andSimmons, K. E. L., eds. 1977. The Birdsof the WesternPalearctic, vol I. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. Daniels,B. E., Hays,L., Hays, D., Morlan,J., and Roberson,D. 1989. Firstrecord of the Common Black-Hawk for California. W. Birds 20:11-18. DeBenedictis,P. A. 1991. A.B.A. [AmericanBirding Association] checklist report. Birding23:190-196. DeSante,D., and Pyle, P. 1986. DistributionalChecklist of North AmericanBirds, vol I: UnitedStates and Canada.Artemisia Press, Lee Vining, CA. Dunn, J. L. 1988. Tenth reportof the CaliforniaBird RecordsCommittee. W. Birds 19:129-163. Dunn, J. L., and Rose, B. J. 1992. A further note on Arctic Loon identification. Birding24:106-107. Evered,D. S. 1985. Pacific(and Arctic)Loon identification.Bird Observer13:10- 14. Gilligan,J., Smith,M., Rogers,D., andContreras, A., eds.1994. Birdsof Oregon: Statusand Distribution.Cinclus Publ., McMinnville, OR. Grey,H. 1917. Zone-tailedHawk at San Diego,California. Condor 19:103. Grinnell,J., and Miller,A. H. 1944. The distributionof the birdsof California.Pac. Coast Avifauna 27. Hanna, G. D. 1920. New and interestingrecords of PribilofIsland birds. Condor 22:173-175. Harris, A., Tucker,L., and Vinicombe, K. 1989. The MacmillanField Guide to Bird Identification.Macmillan Press, London. Harris, S. W. 1991. NorthwesternCalifornia Birds. Humboldt State Univ. Press, Arcata, CA.

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Accepted23 April 1995

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