Birds from Coahuila, Mexico Part 7

*_Hirundo rustica erythrogaster_ Boddaert.--Burleigh and Lowery (1942:195) stated that the Barn Swallow was the most abundant swallow "about Saltillo." Because these swallows occupied houses about Saltillo and neighboring villages, Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._) concluded that the species nests commonly in the Saltillo area. Findley saw Barn Swallows 2 mi. S and 11 mi. E Nava, 810 feet, on June 15, 1952.

d.i.c.kerman observed them at San Marcos (=20 mi. S Cuatro Cienegas) on May 4, 1954.

*_Petrochelidon pyrrhonota minima_ van Rossem and Hachisuka.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] [Male] 31585-31586 from 14 mi. W San Antonio de las Alazanas, April 9, 1954.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:196) noted the Cliff Swallow "in small numbers about Saltillo and the nearby villages" where the species "showed evidence of beginning to nest in many of the houses...." They (_loc. cit._) found Cliff Swallows also at the Chorro del Agua and Diamante Valley. According to d.i.c.kerman, Nos. 31585-31586 were from a colony, members of which were collecting mud at a stock tank.

*_Petrochelidon fulva pallida_ Nelson.--The Cave Swallow seems to be uncommon in eastern Coahuila. Selander and Baker (1957:345) list Saltillo, Sabinas, and Monclova as the three known localities for this swallow in the State.

*_Progne subis subis_ (Linnaeus).--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:107) reported, presumably on the basis of a published record not found by me, that the Purple Martin breeds in Coahuila.

**_Progne chalybea chalybea_ (Gmelin).--The only record of the Gray-breasted Martin in Coahuila was given by Ridgway (1904:42) when he listed _P. c. chalybea_ from Sabinas.

**_Cyanocitta stelleri macrolopha_ Baird.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 32788 and [Female] 32787 from 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9950 ft., July 6, 1955.

From the paucity of records in the literature, I judge that Steller's Jay is uncommon in Coahuila. Nos. 32787-32788 seemingly represent the first records of this species in the State, and are referred to the subspecies _macrolopha_ on the basis of relatively long (150, 151 mm.) wing, near the maximum for _stelleri_ from Mexico. The date (July 6) of collection suggests that these birds were resident in southeastern Coahuila.

**_Aphelocoma coerulescens cyanotis_ Ridgway.--The Scrub Jay is common in southeastern Coahuila. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:196) noted this species in small numbers at the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s, daily on the lower slopes of the mountains, and a few birds "on the outskirts of Saltillo, where they were probably nesting...." Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:35) also noted several flocks at Diamante Pa.s.s. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:123) reported _A. c. cyanotis_ from El Diamante. Ridgway (1904:335) listed this subspecies of the Scrub Jay (then called _Aphelocoma cyanotis_) from Carneros, Sierra Encarnacion, and Sierra Guadalupe.

*_Aphelocoma ultramarina couchii_ (Baird).--_Specimens examined:_ total 14: [Female] 31051 from Sierra de la Encantada (=38 mi. S, 23 mi. E Boquillas), 4400 ft., March 15, 1952; [Male] [Male] 29425-29426 and [Female] [Female] 29427-29428 from Club Sierra del Carmen (=2 mi. N, 6 mi. W Piedra Blanca), 4950 ft., April 8, 1950; s.e.x ? 31052 (skeleton only) from 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 ft., March 25, 1952; [Female] [Female] 31635-31636 from Canyon de Parazos in the Sierra de la Parazos Azula (=9 mi. E Hermanas), 2100 ft., December 7, 1953; [Female] 32082 from 4 mi. N, 21 mi. W Cuatro Cienegas, 6200 ft., July 3, 1952; [Female] 31053 (skeleton only) from 26 mi. W Santa Teresa, 7050 ft., April 5, 1952; [Male] 32081 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Union, 7200 ft., June 25, 1952; [Female] 33173 (skeleton only) from 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9950 ft., July 6, 1955; [Male] 31607 from 13 mi. E, 3 mi. S San Antonio de las Alazanas, 8900 ft., January 11, 1954; and [Male] 31654 from Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 5 mi. W General Cepeda), 7000 ft., April 13, 1953.

The Mexican Jay is common in Coahuila. This species occupies various habitats in the State and has been collected at stations ranging from 2100 to 9950 feet.

Miller (1955a:167) stated that the Mexican Jay was the most abundant species of bird in the Sierra del Carmen. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:196) remarked that specimens of _A. u. couchii_ were obtained "in the area surrounding the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s." At no time did Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._) see this species below 6500 feet. The Mexican Jay is restricted to the higher alt.i.tudes in southern Coahuila but is more widespread in northern Coahuila. d.i.c.kerman saw Mexican Jays in the Sierra del Pino on May 12, 1954; 16 mi. E and 18 mi. N Ocampo on May 7, 1954; in the Sierra de la Madera on December 13, 1953; and 20 mi. S Ocampo on April 4, 1954.

Ridgway (1904:340) remarked that _Aphelocoma sieberii potosina_ Nelson [=_A. u. couchii_ (Baird)] has been recorded in southern Coahuila, at Carneros. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:124) recorded _A.

u. couchii_ from Carneros, Nuevo Leon. I suspect (Ridgway, 1904:340 and Goldman, 1951: map opposite p. 34) that the locality given by Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (_op. cit._) should be Carneros, Coahuila, rather than Carneros, Nuevo Leon.

Specimens (31051, 29425-29428, 31635-31636, 32081-32082, 31607, and 31654) of the Mexican Jay increase in size from northern Coahuila to southern Coahuila. The average length of the wings of Nos. 29425-29426 from Club Sierra del Carmen is 152 mm. whereas the average length of the wings of No. 32081 from 7 mi. S and 4 mi. E Bella Union, of No.

31607 from 13 mi. E and 3 mi. S San Antonio de las Alazanas, and of No.

31654 from Sierra Guadalupe is 164 mm.

Miller (1955a:169) indicated that the Mexican Jay breeds in the Sierra del Carmen. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:196) remarked that the species breeds at Diamante Pa.s.s. The sizes of the testes (12, 11 mm.) of Nos.

29425-29426, the size of the ovum (8 mm.) of No. 29428, and the short tail (126 mm.) of the immature female from 4 mi. N and 21 mi. W Cuatro Cienegas are also evidence of breeding by this species in the State.

*_Corvus corax sinuatus_ Wagler.--The Common Raven seems to occur in low density in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:168) saw ravens in the pine-oak and cliff areas of the Sierra del Carmen, and took a breeding female at the head of Corte Madera Canyon, 7500 feet. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:196) found this species to be a bird of the higher slopes of the mountains although not uncommon in the broad open valley south of Diamante Pa.s.s. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:35) took a male at Santa Rosa.

*_Corvus cryptoleucus_ Couch.--_Specimens examined:_ total 4: [Male]

32080 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; [Female] 35404 (skeleton only) from 4 mi. N San Isidro (=16 mi. N Ocampo), May 10, 1954; and [Male] [Male] 31474-31475 from R. de Almendarez (=53 mi. NW Ocampo), May 11, 1954.

The White-necked Raven occurs throughout Coahuila. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:36) observed this species "in the vicinity of Saltillo," but not farther west. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:197) noted _C. cryptoleucus_ frequently "on the arid plateau around Saltillo" and obtained a specimen "in the high fertile valley south of Diamante Pa.s.s." Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._) remarked that the White-necked Raven avoids the mountain slopes; 7000 feet was the uppermost limit of occurrence.

The sizes of the testes (32080, 20 mm.; 31474: left, 1220 mm., right, 10x16 mm.; and 31475: left, 1016 mm., right, 1014 mm.) of the specimens that I have examined and the dates (May 11, June 20) on which they were collected indicate breeding by the White-necked Raven in Coahuila.

*_Parus sclateri eidos_ (Peters).--_Specimens examined:_ total 4: [Female] 32083 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Union, 7200 ft., June 25, 1952; [Male] 31609 from 2 mi. E Mesa de Tablas, 9000 ft., January 15, 1954; [Male] 31656 and [Female] 31655 from the north slope of Sierra Guadalupe (=11 mi. S, 7 mi. W General Cepeda), 7800 ft., April 20, 1953.

The Mexican Chickadee is common in southeastern Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:133) stated that _P. s. eidos_ and _P. s. sclateri_ intergrade in southern Coahuila. The specimens that I have examined also show signs of intergradation, but are closer to _P.

s. eidos_.

Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:36) reported taking specimens of _P. s.

eidos_ at Diamante Pa.s.s where they saw several individuals. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:197) also observed these chickadees "in the pine woods about the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s...." The size of the testes (65 mm.) of No. 31656 and the fact that No. 31655 was incubating eggs at the time it was obtained are evidence of breeding by this chickadee in the State.

**_Parus sclateri sclateri_ Kleinschmidt.--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:133) stated that a specimen (or specimens?) of _P. s.

sclateri_ which showed evidence of intergradation with _P. s. eidos_ was obtained at El Diamante.

**_Parus atricristatus dysleptus_ Van Tyne.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31054 from 37 mi. S, 21 mi. E Boquillas, 4100 ft., March 13, 1952.

Two subspecies of the Black-crested t.i.tmouse are present in Coahuila.

_P. a. dysleptus_ occurs in northwestern Coahuila. Miller (1955a:168) stated that the Black-crested t.i.tmouse, identified as _dysleptus_, was the only representative of the genus _Parus_ in the Sierra del Carmen.

The weak extension of black onto the nape in No. 31054 suggests intergradation between _P. a. dysleptus_ and _P. a. atricristatus_; the latter lacks the black nape of _dysleptus_.

*_Parus atricristatus atricristatus_ Ca.s.sin.--_Specimens examined:_ total 4: [Female] 32084 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952; s.e.x ? 32085 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; [Female] 31055 (skeleton only) from Fortin (=33 mi. N, 1 mi. E San Geronimo), 3300 ft., on March 29, 1952; and [Female] 35399 (skeleton only) from 3.5 mi. W, 22 mi. S Ocampo, December 15, 1953, weight, 16 gms.

Typical _P. a. atricristatus_ occurs in Coahuila in the southeastern sector (Dixon, 1955:184). Black-crested t.i.tmice intermediate between _atricristatus_ and _dysleptus_ were listed from Cuidad Muzquiz and Sabinas by Dixon (_loc. cit._:189), as _dysleptus_ but were shown on his map (_loc. cit._:184) as _atricristatus_. Our Nos. 32084 and 32085 (wing, 71, 71, tail, 63, 64 mm.) are small and fall in the upper range of size for _atricristatus_ to which the specimens are here referred.

*_Auriparus flaviceps ornatus_ (Lawrence).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31056, from Sierra de la Encantada (=38 mi. S, 23 mi. E Boquillas), 4400 ft., March 15, 1952.

The Verdin occurs up to about 5000 feet in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:168) reported that "this desert species followed the catclaw scrub up the washes to about 4800 feet, the limit of such habitat" in the Sierra del Carmen and also gave evidence of breeding by the Verdin in Coahuila.

Amadon and Phillips (1947:578) reported a nest of _Auriparus flaviceps_ at Las Delicias. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:197) obtained a single specimen "in an arroyo a few miles east of Saltillo" and a single specimen "about twenty miles west" of Saltillo. Ridgway (1904:421) reported _A. f. ornatus_ [he referred to it as _A. f. flaviceps_] at Monclova. h.e.l.lmayr (1934:88) listed _A. f. ornatus_ from Jaral. Findley saw a Verdin 2 mi. S and 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas on June 22, 1952.

The size (wing, 50 mm.; tail, 43 mm.) of No. 31056 is small for typical representatives of _A. f. ornatus_. The yellow of the head of No. 31056 is darker than that of the other subspecies of the Verdin, and I have accordingly allocated the specimen to _A. f. ornatus_.

*_Psaltriparus melanotis lloydi_ Sennett.--_Specimens examined:_ total 5: [Male] 31058 and [Female] 31057 from 37 mi. S, 21 mi. E Boquillas, 4100 ft., March 13, 1952; [Male] 31060 and [Female] 31059 from Sierra de la Encantada (=38 mi. S, 23 mi. E Boquillas), 4400 ft., March 15, 1952; and [Male] 35407 (skeleton only) from Sierra del Pino (=5 mi. W, 3 mi. S Acebuches), 6200 ft., May 14, 1954.

The Black-eared Busht.i.t is common in Coahuila. Typical representatives of _P. m. lloydi_ in the northern part of the State range from 4100 feet to 8000 feet. Miller (1955a:168-169) reported _P. m. lloydi_ breeding in the Sierra del Carmen. Marsh and Stevenson (1938:287) obtained a male in the Sierra del Carmen at El Jardin. The size of the testes (3.5 mm.) of No. 31058 suggests breeding by the Black-eared Busht.i.t 37 mi. S and 21 mi. E Boquillas.

**_Psaltriparus melanotis iulus_ Jouy.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 31659 from the north slope of Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 7 mi.

W General Cepeda), 7000 ft., April 20, 1953; and [Female] 31658 from the north slope of Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 5 mi. W General Cepeda), 6700 ft., April 15, 1953.

Typical representatives of this Black-eared Busht.i.t are present in the southeastern sector of Coahuila. The backs of Nos. 31658-31659 differ slightly in color from the backs of typical representatives of _lloydi_. I suspect that the specimens from the Sierra Guadalupe are intergrades between _lloydi_ and _iulus_.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:197) took two males and two females of _Psaltriparus melanotis iulus_ (they called their specimens _Psaltriparus minimus iulus_) at Saltillo and stated that their specimens tended to approach _lloydi_ rather than being typical _iulus_. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:36) recorded _P. m. iulus_ only at Diamante Pa.s.s where they took two specimens.

*_Sitta carolinensis nelsoni_ Mearns.--Miller (1955a:169) reported that this subspecies of the White-breasted Nuthatch breeds and was common in the oaks and open conifers from 6500 to 8000 feet in the Sierra del Carmen and stated also that the populations of the White-breasted Nuthatch in "the Chisos Mountains [of Texas] and the Sierra del Carmen seem best regarded as a stage in the cline of which _nelsoni_ and _mexicana_ are end points, although falling closer to _nelsoni_."

*_Sitta carolinensis mexicana_ Nelson and Palmer.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 31669 and [Female] 31670 from the Canon d.

Meco, Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S General Cepeda), 6500 ft., April 23, 1953, weights, 17, 18 gms.

Typical populations of this White-breasted Nuthatch occur in southern Coahuila. Ridgway (1904:449) listed _S. c. mexicana_ from Sierra Guadalupe in southern Coahuila. The underparts of our specimens are darker than in _nelsoni_, and their bills (culmen, 15, 13 mm.) are shorter than the average ([Male], 19.8 mm.; [Female], 18.6 mm.

[Ridgway, 1904:447]) in _nelsoni_. The large size of the testes (53 mm.) of No. 31669 suggests breeding by _S. c. mexicana_ in Sierra Guadalupe.

*_Sitta pygmaea melanotis_ van Rossem.--In Coahuila the Pigmy Nuthatch seems to be locally common. Miller (1955a:169) reported it so between 7500 and 8000 feet in pine-oak on the mesa tops and in the heads of canyons of the Sierra del Carmen and noted that it breeds there. Hardy saw the Pigmy Nuthatch 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas on July 6, 1955.

_Certhia familiaris americana_ Bonaparte.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Female] 31612 from the base of Don Martin Dam, November 27, 1953, skull partially unossified; and [Female] 31587 from 20 mi. S Ocampo, 6500 ft., April 5, 1954, weight, 7 gms.

This subspecies of the Brown Creeper can be considered a spa.r.s.e winter visitant to Coahuila. Van Hoose (1955:302) reported that Nos. 31612 and 31587 const.i.tute the southernmost records of _C. f. americana_ and represent the first records of occurrence of _americana_ in Mexico.

_Certhia familiaris montana_ Ridgway.--Miller (1955a:169) reported this subspecies of the Brown Creeper, which he a.s.sumed to be a winter visitant or a migrant, in the Sierra del Carmen. He (_loc. cit._) remarked also that the higher conifers would seem to const.i.tute favorable habitat for nesting by the Brown Creeper, but did not find any evidence of a breeding population of creepers in the Sierra del Carmen. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:143) reported _C.

f. montana_ from San Lazaro Mountain on November 9.