Birds from Coahuila, Mexico Part 11

_Dendroica occidentalis_ (Townsend).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male]

31592, from 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, April 10, 1954.

The Hermit Warbler seems to be an uncommon spring and probably fall migrant in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:252) reported _D. occidentalis_ from the State. No. 31592, whose testes were not enlarged, was obtained in a pine-spruce-aspen a.s.sociation.

_Geothlypis trichas brachidactylus_ (Swainson).--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:261) listed this subspecies of the Yellowthroat as recorded from Coahuila.

_Geothlypis trichas occidentalis_ Brewster.--Burleigh and Lowery (1942:204) found the Yellowthroat "only on the outskirts of Saltillo, where ... [this species] was not uncommon in the thickets, especially around a small stand of marsh gra.s.s bordering a pond." Three males that Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._) obtained were tentatively identified as _G. t. occidentalis_. d.i.c.kerman saw one male Yellowthroat at San Marcos (=20 mi. S Cuatro Cienegas) on May 4, 1954.

_Geothlypis nelsoni nelsoni_ Richmond.--Burleigh and Lowery (1942:204) noted the Hooded Yellowthroat "only on the open slopes above the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s at an elevation of about 8,000 feet" where they obtained an adult male.

*_Icteria virens virens_ (Linnaeus).--_Specimens examined:_ total 3: [Male] [Male] 32105-32106 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952; and [Female] 32107 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952.

From the paucity of records in the literature, I judge that the Yellow-breasted Chat is uncommon in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:265) listed _I. v. virens_ from Coahuila.

Findley saw a Yellow-breasted Chat 2 mi. S and 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas on June 22, 1952. The sizes of the testes (74 mm.; 12 mm.) of Nos. 32105-32106, the size of the largest ovum (2 mm.) of No. 32107, and the dates (June 19, 20) on which these specimens were obtained indicate breeding by _I. v. virens_ in northeastern Coahuila, an area southwest of the previously doc.u.mented breeding range.

**_Icteria virens auricollis_ (Deppe).--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:264) listed this subspecies of the Yellow-breasted Chat as recorded from Coahuila.

_Wilsonia pusilla pileolata_ (Pallas).--_Specimens examined:_ total 3: [Male] 31501 and [Female] 31500 from Sierra del Pino (=5 mi. S, 3 mi. W Acebuches), May 13 and 14, 1954, measurements: wing, 59, 55 mm.; tail, 50, 49 mm.; culmen, 8, 8.5 mm.; tarsus, 16, 16 mm.; weight: 6, 7 gms.; and [Male] 31663 from the north foot of Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 5 mi. W General Cepeda), 6500 ft., April 21, 1953, measurements: wing, 58 mm.; tail, 46 mm.; culmen, 8.5 mm.; tarsus, 16 mm.; weight, 7 gms.

Wilson's Warbler is a common spring and probably fall migrant in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:173) took spring migrants of _W. p. pileolata_ from April 9 to April 27; he found _W. p. pileolata_ at 4800 feet and at 7000 feet. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) saw a Wilson's Warbler at Las Delicias on August 17. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:204) found Wilson's Warbler to be the most abundant of the warblers that they recorded in southeastern Coahuila. They saw _W. p. pileolata_ on the top of the high ridges and in the arid desert country in the southeastern section of the State. Several specimens were collected by Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._) including an immature male from the Chorro del Agua on April 19. d.i.c.kerman saw Wilson's Warblers 16 mi. E and 18 mi. N Ocampo on May 7, 1954, and at San Marcos (=20 mi. S Cuatro Cienegas) on May 4, 1954. The sizes of our specimens as well as their color (bright olive-green above, bright yellow below) are typical for the subspecies _pileolata_.

_Setophaga ruticilla ruticilla_ (Linnaeus).--The American Redstart seems to be uncommon in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:268) listed one specimen of _S. r. ruticilla_ from the State.

*_Setophaga picta picta_ Swainson.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: s.e.x ? 31096 from 26 mi. W Santa Teresa, 7050 ft., April 5, 1952; and [Male]

31671 from Canon d. Meco in Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S General Cepeda), April 23, 1953, weight, 11 gms.

The Painted Redstart seems to be locally common in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:173) found these warblers breeding in the Sierra del Carmen and said that they were "common from 6000 to 7500 feet in canyon bottom growth, in oaks, and in mixed pines and oaks;" however, he did not see any of these warblers above 7500 feet where conifers tended to dominate the vegetation. Marsh and Stevenson (1938:287) obtained a male Painted Redstart in annual molt on August 11 in oak and juniper forest at Vivoras Spring in the Sierra del Carmen and reported seeing two other Painted Redstarts at 9000 feet (see also Miller, 1955a:173). d.i.c.kerman also saw seven Painted Redstarts 20 mi. S Ocampo on April 4, 1954. The size of the testes (74 mm.) of No. 31671 suggests breeding by _S. p.

picta_ in the Sierra Guadalupe.

**_Pa.s.ser domesticus domesticus_ (Linnaeus).--Burleigh and Lowery (1942:204) remarked that the House Sparrow was not "a common bird around Saltillo" although they noticed _P. d. domesticus_ regularly.

They reported House Sparrows also from the Chorro del Agua and in the high mountain valley south of Diamante Pa.s.s. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:275) recorded _P. d. domesticus_ from Sabinas.

Baker captured House Sparrows in a bat net 12 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9950 feet, on July 5, 1955. Although there are no other records, the House Sparrow is probably fairly common in the villages and towns of the State.

[**_Sturnella magna hoopesi_ Stone.--The Eastern Meadowlark is uncommon in Coahuila. The AOU Check-list Committee (1957:523) listed this subspecies of the Eastern Meadowlark from northern Coahuila.]

**_Sturnella neglecta neglecta_ Audubon.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Female] 31098, from the Rio Grande (=17 mi. S Dryden, Terrell Co., Texas, in Coahuila), 600 ft., March 18, 1952, weight, 71.8 gms.

This subspecies of the Western Meadowlark seems to be locally common in the open country of Coahuila. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:205) found this meadowlark common "about Saltillo" where a "small series" of _S.

neglecta_ was obtained. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:295) recorded the Western Meadowlark from El Diamante on July 7.

To my knowledge, no specific breeding records of this meadowlark from Coahuila exist.

**_Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus_ (Bonaparte).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 32494 (skeleton only) from Las Margaritas, August 4, 1955.

The Yellow-headed Blackbird occurs in Coahuila in migration. Miller (1955a:173) found this blackbird at Noria "in the flats immediately east of the Sierra del Carmen" on April 28, and reported also that Marsh took a male in worn breeding plumage on July 24 at Tanque de los Melones on La Bavia Ranch east of Fresno Mesa. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) took two adult males at Las Delicias on August 11 and 15.

d.i.c.kerman also saw a female 8 mi. E and 2 mi. S Americanos on May 18, 1954. Van Hoose saw a male at Torreon on July 2, 1955.

*_Agelaius phoeniceus megapotamus_ Oberholser.--_Specimens examined:_ total 5: [Male] 32124, [Female] 32126, and [Female] 32128 from 12 mi.

N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952; [Male] 32125 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; and [Female] 32127 from 9 mi. S, 11 mi. E Sabinas, June 14, 1952.

This subspecies of the Redwinged Blackbird is common in eastern Coahuila. There are no records of the species from western Coahuila.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:205) obtained a male at "the edge of Saltillo" on April 24. Oberholser (1919a:23) recorded _A. p.

megapotamus_ from Porfirio Diaz on June 2, 5, and 6. The presence of juveniles (32126, 32128) from 12 mi. N and 12 mi. W Jimenez and (32125) from 2 mi. W Jimenez, respectively, and the dates (June 14, 19, 20) on which the University of Kansas specimens were obtained are evidence of breeding by _A. p. megapotamus_ in northeastern Coahuila.

*_Icterus spurius_ (Linnaeus).--_Specimens examined:_ total 8: [Male]

[Male] 31536-31537 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952; [Male] 31538 from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, 1160 ft., June 23, 1952; [Male] [Male] 32605-32607 from Parras, July 4, 1955; [Male] 32604 and [Female] 32603 from Hacienda San Lorenzo, July 3, 1955, weights, 19.4, 18.5 gms.

The Orchard Oriole seems to occur fairly commonly in eastern and southern Coahuila and breeds in the State. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) reported that Orchard Orioles were common in the desert "about Las Delicias" in August and September and probably were migrants. d.i.c.kerman collected Nos. 32605-32606 along an irrigated field-edge that consisted of cottonwood and oak; he obtained Nos.

32603-32604 in an irrigated pecan orchard. The sizes of the testes (105 mm.; 105 mm.; 87 mm.; 87 mm.; 108 mm.) of Nos. 31536, 31537, 32605, and 32604, respectively, and the size of the largest ovum (2 mm.) of No. 32603 as well as the dates (June 19, 23; July 3, 4) on which all these specimens were collected indicate breeding by this species in the State.

*_Icterus cucullatus cucullatus_ Swainson.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 32123 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 21, 1952; and [Male] 32122 from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, 1160 ft., June 23, 1952.

The Hooded Oriole apparently is uncommon in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:290) listed _I. c. cucullatus_ from Sabinas. The size of the testes (116 mm.) of No. 32122 and the dates (June 21, 23) on which Nos. 32123 and 32122 were collected as well as the juvenile male (tail, 80.5 mm.) from 2 mi. W Jimenez suggest breeding by this subspecies in Coahuila.

*_Icterus parisorum_ Bonaparte.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Female]

32121, from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Union, 7200 ft., June 25, 1952.

Scott's Oriole is common in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:173) found this oriole breeding in the canyons at the base of the Sierra del Carmen.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:205) found this oriole limited to the higher alt.i.tudes above 7000 feet, and took specimens at Diamante Pa.s.s and at the Chorro del Agua on April 19. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) found Scott's Oriole "not uncommon in the arroyos near Las Delicias" and reported a juvenile "barely out of the nest and able to fly only a few feet ..." on August 15. No. 32121 had an egg in its oviduct. d.i.c.kerman saw Scott's Orioles in the Sierra del Pino on May 12, 1954, and 16 mi.

E and 18 mi. N Ocampo on May 7, 1954.

**_Icterus wagleri wagleri_ Sclater.--Ridgway (1902:268) recorded _Icterus wagleri_ from Saltillo. h.e.l.lmayr (1937:122-123) referred this record of Wagler's Oriole to _I. w. wagleri_.

*_Icterus bullockii bullockii_ (Swainson).--This subspecies of Bullock's Oriole was listed as breeding by Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:282) at Monclova on May 12-19.

_Euphagus cyanocephalus_ (Wagler).--Brewer's Blackbird is a common migrant in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:174) found a few as migrants in the Sierra del Carmen on April 27. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:205) remarked that "this blackbird was characteristically a bird of the towns and villages, the scattered flocks being invariably seen feeding in the streets and near the houses." They (_loc. cit._) obtained three specimens at Diamante Valley on April 23 and remarked that the departure of these birds in spring was "extremely late."

_*Ca.s.sidix mexica.n.u.s prosopidicola_ Lowery.--_Specimens examined:_ total 3: [Female] 32893 from Parras, July 4, 1955, weight, 98.8 gms.; and [Male] [Male] 35418-35419 from Torreon, January 8, 1954.

This subspecies of Boat-tailed Grackle has been recorded from several localities in Coahuila. In southeastern Coahuila, Burleigh and Lowery (1942:205-206) noted this grackle "somewhat local in its distribution; it was found in cultivated fields about the towns and villages." These authors noted it at Saltillo, the Chorro del Agua, and "occasionally in the open valley south of Diamante Pa.s.s" and obtained specimens from "near Saltillo" and Diamante Valley. On August 18 Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) found _C. m. prosopidicola_ at Las Delicias where "a fledged young was noticed begging for food...." Lowery (1938:4) recorded one specimen of _C. m. prosopidicola_ from Monclova. Findley saw Boat-tailed Grackles 2 mi. W Jimenez on June 19, 1952, and 2 mi. S and 11 mi. E Nava on June 15, 1952.

The distribution and intergradation of Boat-tailed Grackles in Coahuila is presently poorly understood. _C. m. prosopidicola_ from southeastern Coahuila may approach _C. m. mexica.n.u.s_, and there is probable intergradation of _prosopidicola_ with _monsoni_ in northwestern Coahuila (Phillips, 1950:78).

_Molothrus ater ater_ (Boddaert).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Female]

31513, from 21 mi. S, 11 mi. E Australia, 4400 ft., May 3, 1954, measurements: wing, 102 mm.; tail, 64 mm.; tarsus, 26 mm.; culmen, 17 mm.

This subspecies of the Brown-headed Cowbird is uncommon in Coahuila.

Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) took an adult male and a juvenile female _M. a. ater_ at Las Delicias on August 15, both of which were considered early migrants. d.i.c.kerman obtained No. 31513 from a flock of eight cowbirds. Although the measurements of this specimen agree equally well with those of _M. a. ater_ and _M. a. artemisiae_ (Grinnell, 1909:275-281), the shape of the bill most closely resembles that of _ater_. Grinnell (1909:278) said that "_ater_ has a tumid bill, broad and high at [the] base with [a] conspicuously arched culmen"

whereas "_artemisiae_ has a longer and relatively much slenderer bill, vertically shallow at [the] base and laterally compressed, with the culmen in its greater portion straight or even slightly depressed." The size of the ovary (84 mm.) of No. 31513 and the date (May 3) on which it was obtained suggest that this individual was a late migrant, still south of the breeding range of _M. a. ater_.

_Molothrus ater artemisiae_ Grinnell.--This subspecies of the Brown-headed Cowbird is an uncommon migrant in Coahuila. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) obtained, at Las Delicias, a juvenile male on August 15 and an adult male on August 17.

*_Molothrus ater obscurus_ (Gmelin).--_Specimens examined:_ total 18: [Male] [Male] 32112-32115 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 18 and 19, 1952; [Male] [Male] 32108-32111, [Male] 32116, and [Female] [Female] 32117-32120 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; [Female] 32491 from Las Margaritas, August 4, 1955; [Male] 31511 and [Female] 31510 from 16 mi. E, 18 mi. N Ocampo, May 8 and 7, 1952; and [Male] [Male] 35409-35410 (skeletons only) from 4 mi. N San Isidro, May 11, 1954.

This subspecies of the Brown-headed Cowbird is common in Coahuila and breeds there. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) suggested that _M. a.

obscurus_ breeds at Las Delicias. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:206) saw the Brown-headed Cowbird in "small numbers on the outskirts of Saltillo...."

Measurements of the adult males that I have examined are: wing, 101.1 mm. (97-106); tail, 66.5 mm. (62-69); tarsus, 25.6 mm. (24.5-28); culmen, 17.3 mm. (16-18.5). Measurements of the adult females that I have examined are: wing, 92.3 mm. (90-97); tail, 60.1 mm. (56.5-62.5); tarsus, 23.5 mm. (22.5-24); culmen, 14.4 mm. (14-15). The sizes of the testes of three of the males (6-7 mm. long) and of the largest ova of four of the females (6-9 mm. in diameter) indicate breeding by this subspecies in Coahuila, as does the small size of one of the juvenile males (tail, 33.5 mm. long).

_Piranga ludoviciana_ (Wilson).--In Coahuila the Western Tanager occurs fairly commonly as a migrant. There are no records of it breeding in the State. Miller (1955a:174) remarked that Marsh took a migrant Western Tanager at Jardin del Sur in the Sierra del Carmen on September 7. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) took an adult male Western Tanager at Las Delicias on August 12. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:305) also recorded this tanager from 12 mi. W Saltillo. d.i.c.kerman saw Western Tanagers in the Sierra del Pino on May 12, 1954, and 16 mi.