Birds from Coahuila, Mexico Part 12

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

*_Piranga flava dextra_ Bangs.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31526, from Sierra del Pino (=5 mi. S, 3 mi. W Acebuches), May 12, 1954, weight, 41 gms.

Miller (1955a:174) found this subspecies of the Hepatic Tanager "in the pine-oak belt at 7000 feet on April 12 [in the Sierra del Carmen], when a male was seen and a female taken." No. 31526 was with a female when taken; this male was not fat and its testes were not enlarged. The size of the wing (105.5 mm.) of No. 31526 represents the extreme maximum in this subspecies.

_Piranga flava hepatica_ (Swainson).--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:303) stated that _P. f. hepatica_ is found in northwestern and central Arizona and southwestern New Mexico south into the highlands of Mexico, west of the Sierra Madre Oriental, to Oaxaca and in winter and migration extends eastward and south to Chiapas. These authors remarked also that _P. f. dextra_ occurs in the mountains east of the continental divide in New Mexico and western Texas south through eastern Mexico to Chiapas. Specimens of the Hepatic Tanager from Coahuila in winter might well be either _P. f. hepatic_ or _P. f.

dextra_. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (_loc. cit._) recorded migrants of _P. f. hepatica_ from the Sierra de Guadalupe on April 24-27.

*_Piranga rubra rubra_ (Linnaeus).--_Specimens examined:_ total 6: [Male] 32129, [Male] 32132, and [Female] 32133 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 18 and 19, 1952; [Male] 32130 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; and [Male] 32131 and [Female] 32134 from 2 mi. S, 11 mi. E Nava, June 15, 1952.

This Summer Tanager occurs in northeastern Coahuila. The specimens from 12 mi. N and 12 mi. W Jimenez, 2 mi. W Jimenez, and 2 mi. S and 11 mi.

E Nava are typical representatives of _P. r. rubra_. The large testes (12 mm.) of No. 32129 and the well-developed brood patch of No. 32134 are evidence of breeding by this subspecies in the State. Heretofore this subspecies has not been recorded from Coahuila.

*_Piranga rubra cooperi_ Ridgway.--_Specimens examined:_ total 4: [Male] [Male] 32828-32829, [Male] 32831, and [Female] 32830 from Parras, July 4, 1955.

This subspecies of Summer Tanager seems to occur throughout Coahuila except in the northeastern section of the State. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:302) listed _P. r. cooperi_ from Sabinas and Sierra de Guadalupe. Miller (1955a:174) saw a Summer Tanager in a canyon in the Serranias de Burros, about 40 miles east of the Sierra del Carmen on April 28. Although there are no other records of _P. r.

cooperi_ from northwestern Coahuila, Van Tyne and Sutton (1937:96) recorded this tanager as a common nesting species in Brewster County, Texas, in cottonwood, mesquite, or willow trees. I suspect that _P. r.

cooperi_ is a common nesting bird in northwestern Coahuila as well.

Nos. 32828-32831 approach _P. r. rubra_. The measurements of No. 32829 are: wing, 98 mm.; tail, 80 mm.; the measurements of No. 32831 are: wing, 98 mm.; tail, 79 mm. The specimens of _P. r. cooperi_ from Parras are somewhat small and seemingly approach _P. r. rubra_. The sizes of the testes (85 mm.; 95 mm.) of Nos. 32829 and 32831, respectively, and the size of the largest ovum (44 mm.) of No. 32830 indicate breeding by this subspecies in southern Coahuila, as does the presence of No. 32828, a juvenile male.

*_Richmondena cardinalis canicaudus_ (Chapman).--_Specimens examined:_ total 3: [Male] 31099 from 1 mi. N Boquillas, 700 ft., March 8, 1952, weight, 45.3 gms.; [Male] 32135 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; and [Male] 32136 from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, June 22, 1952.

In Coahuila the Cardinal is common. Miller (1955a:174) found it singing in the Boquillas drainage of the Sierra del Carmen at 4800 feet, and gave evidence that the Cardinal breeds there. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:43) found the species to be common in the low country "east of Saltillo." h.e.l.lmayr (1938:69) recorded _R. c. canicaudus_ from Sabinas.

The sizes of the testes (9 mm.; 74 mm.) of Nos. 32135-32136 indicate breeding by this subspecies in northeastern Coahuila.

*_Pyrrhuloxia sinuata sinuata_ (Bonaparte).--_Specimens examined:_ total 4: [Male] 31100 from 10 mi. S, 5 mi. E Boquillas, 1500 ft., March 4, 1952, weight, 37.3 gms.; [Male] 32137 from 5 mi. N, 19 mi. W Cuatro Cienegas, 3250 ft., July 5, 1952; [Male] 35403 (skeleton only) from San Marcos, May 5, 1954; and [Male] 30234 from 3 mi. SE Torreon, 3800 ft., January 12, 1951.

In Coahuila, the Pyrrhuloxia is common. h.e.l.lmayr (1938:76) listed it from Sabinas. Ridgway (1901:628) recorded _P. s. texana_ (=_sinuata_) from La Ventura. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:206) found the species "only in the open desert country west of Saltillo where, on April 22, several pairs were seen in a small arroyo." Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) took an immature _P. s. sinuata_ at Las Delicias; Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:43-44) found this subspecies fairly common in the San Pedro district on January 29 and 30. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:330) recorded breeding by _P. s. sinuata_ at Hipolito on July 2.

The size of the testes (8 mm.) of No. 32137 indicates breeding in central Coahuila.

*_Pheucticus melanocephalus melanocephalus_ (Swainson).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31664, from Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 5 mi. W General Cepeda), 7500 ft., April 30, 1953, measurements: wing, 105.5 mm.; tail, 78 mm.; culmen, 19 mm.; weight, 48 gms.

Miller (1955a:174) reported that the Black-headed Grosbeak first appeared in the Sierra del Carmen on April 13 and was soon seen patrolling territories. He remarked that these specimens from the Sierra del Carmen conformed adequately with the rather poorly differentiated race _P. m. melanocephalus_ and stated that Marsh took an immature male at Jardin del Sur on September 7. Oberholser (1919b:416) listed _Hedymeles melanocephalus papago_ (=_P. m.

melanocephalus_) from Sierra Guadalupe on April 27. d.i.c.kerman saw Black-headed Grosbeaks in the Sierra del Pino on May 12, 1954, and 16 mi. E and 18 mi. N Ocampo on May 7, 1954. The size of No. 31664 represents the characters of _P. m. melanocephalus_ as presented by Oberholser (1919b:413). No specimen of _P. m. melanocephalus_ from Coahuila, to my knowledge, approaches _P. m. maculatus_. The size of the testes (75 mm.) of No. 31664 suggests breeding by this subspecies in the Sierra Guadalupe.

*_Guiraca caerulea interfusa_ Dwight and Griscom.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 32138 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 18, 1952; and [Female] 32139 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 21, 1952.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:206) recorded this Blue Grosbeak from "about twenty miles west of Saltillo" on April 22. Miller (1955a:174) stated that Marsh obtained a male _G. c. interfusa_ at Vivoras Spring on August 3. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:334) remarked that the Blue Grosbeak breeds in the northern and eastern sections and reported _G. c. interfusa_ from Hipolito on July 2. Amadon and Phillips (1947:580) reported examining material from Sabinas referable to _G. c.

interfusa_. d.i.c.kerman saw Blue Grosbeaks 4 mi. N San Isidro on May 10, 1954. Findley saw Blue Grosbeaks 4 mi. W Jimenez on June 19, 1952, and 2 mi. S and 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas on June 22, 1952. Nos.

32138-32139 are typical representatives of _G. c. interfusa_. The size of the testes (12 mm.) of No. 32138, the size of the largest ovum (2 mm.) of No. 32139, and the dates (June 18, 21) on which they were collected are evidence of breeding by this subspecies.

**_Guiraca caerulea eurhyncha_ Coues.--Amadon and Phillips (1947:580) obtained an adult male of this Blue Grosbeak from Las Delicias on August 12. This subspecies, according to Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:334), is resident at middle and lower elevations through most of central and southern Mexico. Except for the occurrence of intergrades of _G. c. interfusa_, _caerulea_, and _eurhyncha_ in southern Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas (Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957:335), the record from Las Delicias represents the northern limit of the range of the subspecies _eurhyncha_.

*_Pa.s.serina cyanea_ (Linnaeus).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male]

31544, from San Marcos, May 5, 1954.

The Indigo Bunting is rare in Coahuila. Van Hoose (1955:303) reported that No. 31544 seems to provide the first record of the species in the State. The Indigo Bunting is a summer resident in southwestern Oklahoma and southeastern Texas (Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957:336). No. 31544 seemingly represents a large extension in the summer range of the Indigo Bunting. Van Hoose (_loc. cit._) stated that No. 31544 was observed chasing another male, and the pursuer in turn was followed by a female; he thought that the territorial behavior of this bird suggested breeding.

*_Pa.s.serina versicolor versicolor_ (Bonaparte).--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 35414 from 6 mi. N, 2 mi. W Castillon, 3750 ft., June 30, 1953, weight, 8 gms.; and [Male] 35415 from 5 mi. S Castillon, 4150 ft., June 28, 1953.

Although the Varied Bunting has been recorded only from northwestern Coahuila, I suspect that this bird is locally common throughout most of the State. Miller (1955a:174) stated that the habitat of this species consisted of catclaw-covered bottom lands at the base of the Sierra del Carmen at 4700 feet. Miller's records indicate incipient breeding by _P. v. versicolor_ in the Sierra del Carmen on April 26. The size of the testes (11 mm.) of No. 35415 and the dates (June 28, 30) on which Nos. 35414-35415 were collected are strong evidence of breeding by the Varied Bunting 6 mi. N and 2 mi. W Castillon and 5 mi. S Castillon.

*_Pa.s.serina ciris pallidior_ Mearns.--_Specimens examined:_ total 6: [Male] 32141 and [Female] 32142 from 2 mi. S, 11 mi. E Nava, 810 ft., June 15 and 16, 1952; [Male] 35416 from 6 mi. N, 2 mi. W Castillon, 3750 ft., June 29, 1953, weight, 15 gms.; [Male] 32140 from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, June 22, 1952; [Male] 31547 from 16 mi. N, 14 mi. E Ocampo, May 10, 1954, weight, 16 gms.; and [Male] 31546 from San Marcos, May 5, 1954.

The Painted Bunting is a common summer resident in Coahuila. Marsh and Stevenson (1938:287) wrote that Painted Buntings were common in summer in the foothills of the Sierra del Carmen, and they took a male at Piedra Blanca on July 25 and a female at Jardin del Sur on September 1.

Amadon and Phillips (1947:580) remarked that two immature Painted Buntings, "apparently migrants, were taken at Las Delicias on August 10 and 11." Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:339) recorded breeding by _P. c. pallidior_ at Hipolito, 4200 feet, on July 1.

Findley saw Painted Buntings 2 mi. S and 11 mi. E Nava on June 15, 1952. d.i.c.kerman saw Painted Buntings 4 mi. N San Isidro on May 10, 1954. Hardy saw Painted Buntings at Parras on July 4, 1955.

All the University of Kansas specimens are typical of the larger subspecies _pallidior_. The dates (May 5, 10; June 15, 16, 22, 29) on which these specimens were collected, the sizes of the testes (96 mm.; 65 mm.; 73 mm.) of Nos. 32140, 31547, and 31546, respectively, and the size of the largest ovum (2.5 mm.) of No. 32142 indicate breeding by _P. c. pallidior_ in Coahuila.

_Carpodacus ca.s.sinii_ Baird.--Ca.s.sin's Finch is an uncommon winter migrant in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:314) listed _C. ca.s.sinii_ from Sierra Guadalupe.

*_Carpodacus mexica.n.u.s potosinus_ Griscom.--_Specimens examined:_ total 8: [Male] 35417 from 13 mi. S, 5 mi. W Castillon, 4000 ft., June 28, 1953, testes, 6 mm., weight, 19 gms.; [Female] 35411 (skeleton only) from Sierra del Pino (=5 mi. W, 3 mi. S Acebuches), 6200 ft., May 14, 1954; [Male] 32145 from 5 mi. N, 19 mi. W Cuatro Cienegas, 3250 ft., July 5, 1952; [Male] 32144 and [Female] 32147 from 3 mi. S, 3 mi. E Bella Union, 6750 ft., June 27, 1952, [Male] gonads, 7 mm.; [Male]

32143 and [Female] 32146 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Union, 7200 ft., June 24, 1952; and [Male] 31675 from the west foot of Pico de Jimulco, 5000 ft., April 4, 1953, weight, 20 gms.

The House Finch is common in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:174) reported a spa.r.s.e population of this species in the foothills adjoining Boquillas Canyon at 4800 feet of the Sierra del Carmen and observed young just out of the nest on April 25. He remarked also that specimens of the House Finch from the Sierra del Carmen seem to show no intergradation toward _frontalis_. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:206) noted _C. m.

potosinus_ at "Saltillo, in the desert country west of there, at the Chorro del Agua, and in the open valley south of Diamante Pa.s.s."

Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:316) listed breeding by _C.

m. potosinus_ at El Diamante on July 6. d.i.c.kerman also saw the House Finch at San Marcos on May 4, 1954, and Hardy saw it at Parras on July 4, 1955. No. 32147 had a distinct brood patch; the largest ovum of No.

32146 was 7 mm. in diameter. No. 32145 was a juvenile male.

The University of Kansas specimens agree well with descriptions of _C.

m. potosinus_ as given by Moore (1939:195). No approach toward _C. m.

frontalis_, _centralis_, or _nigrescens_ is exhibited by any of these specimens. No. 31675, from Pico de Jimulco in southwestern Coahuila, is paler above and below than any other specimens of _C. m. potosinus_.

Also the crown of No. 31675 is suffused with more red than in typical representatives of _C. m. potosinus_.

**_Spinus pinus pinus_ (Wilson).--_Specimen examined:_ one, s.e.x ? 33219 (skeleton only) from 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9950 ft., July 6, 1955.

On April 5, 7, and 21, Miller (1955a:175) recorded winter visitant or vagrant flocks of Pine Siskins in the Sierra del Carmen. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:318) listed _S. p. pinus_ south to Sierra Guadalupe. d.i.c.kerman saw Pine Siskins 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas on April 10, 1954.

_Spinus pinus macropterus_ (Bonaparte).--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:319) recorded a vagrant _S. p. macropterus_ from 50 mi.

S Monclova, 2850 feet, on November 9.

_Spinus tristis pallidus_ Mearns.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Female]

31101, from Fortin (=33 mi. N, 8 mi. W San Geronimo), 3300 ft., March 28, 1952, weight, 11.5 gms.

The American Goldfinch is an uncommon migrant or winter visitant in Coahuila. h.e.l.lmayr (1938:296) recorded _S. t. pallidus_ from Sabinas.

Fortin and Sabinas are the only places in Coahuila where _S. t.

pallidus_ has been collected. No. 31101 is a typical representative of _S. t. pallidus_.

**_Spinus psaltria psaltria_ (Say).--_Specimens examined:_ total 7: [Male] [Male] 32148-32149 and [Female] 32151 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952; [Male] 32150 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, June 20, 1952; [Male] 33220 (skeleton only) from Parras, July 4, 1955; and [Male] 32939 and [Female] 32940 from Mesa de las Tablas, July 7, 1955, weights, 9.5, 11 gms.

In Coahuila, the Lesser Goldfinch seems to be common. Although Miller (1955a:175) did not find it in the Sierra del Carmen, he reported that Marsh took a specimen on August 22 in Chuperosa Canyon that was "presumed to" be _S. p. psaltria_. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:206) observed the Lesser Goldfinch "on the outskirts of Saltillo in an orchard on April 20."

Nos. 32148-32151 and 32940 were typical for the subspecies _psaltria_.

A partial albino (32939), which was obtained from a pine-oak-wheat field edge, has upper parts that lack the black coloring of typical representatives of _S. p. psaltria_. Instead the crown and back of No.

32939 is yellow, resembling the color of its underparts, the wing coverts are white, and its primaries are black with white edgings.