- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, 5111184,

Elba, Winona Co. (vote 5-2; The Loon

56: 199-200).

- Tricolored Heron, 5/4/84, Plymouth,

Hennepin Co. (vote 5-2; The Loon

56: 196).

- Mute Swan , 4/24-26/84, Duluth , St.

Louis Co. (vote 7-0).

The following records were voted on

January-June, 1984 and found Unaccepta-

ble:

- House Finch, 8/23/81, Duluth, St.

Louis Co. (vote 0-7) .

The description and sketch of the bird

could fit a female House Finch, but its de-

scribed flycatching behavior didn ' t seem to

fit this species . It was felt that the descrip-

tion did not fully preclude female or imma-

ture Indigo Bunting or juvenile Red Cross-

bill , both of which could behave as the ob-

server described .

- Broad-winged Hawk, 3/1/84, Shore-

view, Ramsey Co . (vote 1-6) .

The only description given was "broad,

equal-width tail bands" , and an indication

that it was "a small buteo" . But there was

no description of the rest of the plumage ,

and no indication as to why the observer

felt it was a Buteo and not an Accipiter

(which often circles and fans its tail like a

Buteo in flight) .

- House Finch, 3/2/84, Excelsior, Carver

Co. (vote 3-4).

The full description of this male finch

stated: "brown streaking on the side of the

body and the red is slightly different from

a Purple Finch" . While it was agreed that

such details seemed indicative of House

Finch, the majority felt that a more com-

plete description should have been given

for such an unusual species.

- Mississippi Kite, 4/28/84, Otter Tail

Co . (vote 4-3 , with 7-0 required for

Acceptance) .

Although no one could suggest another

species which would fit the description and

sketch given of the plumage and behavior,

it was pointed out that in late April an im-

mature Mississippi Kite should resemble an

adult except for the barred tail, and would

not be streaked on the wing linings and un-

derparts as was indicated in the details.

- Pelagic Cormorant, 5/19/84, Silver

Bay, Lake Co. (vote 1-6).

The identification was based entirely on

the cormorant's "very small" size and "a

very noticeable white patch behind wing" .

However, as is so often the case , this was

another example of a very unusual species

not being completely described - a

Pelagic Cormorant both away from salt

water and in the eastern U.S. would be ex-

tremely unlikely if not "impossible" and

would require a much more complete de-

scription . It was also unclear from the de-

tails if there was direct comparison with

Double-cresteds to permit an accurate size

determination, and it was unclear where

the white patch was exactly, its size and

shape, whether there was a patch on both

sides of the bird, and if the patch could

have been a white stain of some kind.

- House Finch, 4/29/84, Coon Rapids

Dam , Hennepin Co. (vote 1-6).

This finch was described as a female by

plumage, but it was heard singing and the

possibility of it being a first spring male

was precluded by the fact that immature

male House Finches resemble adult males

by their first fall (unlike Purple Finch in

which young males resemble females in

their first spring). The description also did

not rule out Pine Siskin, which could fit

the described plumage and song.

9735 North Shore Dr., Duluth, MN

55804.

Minnesota Ornithological Records Committee

The next meeting of the Minnesota Ornithological Records Committee (MORC) will be held

on December 2, 1984, from 1:00 to 4:00p.m. at the Bell Museum of Natural History, University

of Minnesota . This meeting is open to members of the Minnesota Ornithologists Union who would

like to see how MORC operates and make contributions to better methods of operation for the

Committee. Call Bob Janssen, Chairman of MORC at 546-4220 in the evenings or at 645-0251,

during the day if you would like to attend the meeting .

Fall 1984

161