Birds from Coahuila, Mexico Part 4

*_Coccyzus america.n.u.s america.n.u.s_ (Linnaeus).--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] [Male] 32037-32038 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952, measurements: wing, 141, 146 mm.; tail, 142, 149 mm.; tarsus, 27, 27 mm.; culmen, 25, 24 mm.

In Coahuila, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo seems to be uncommon. It occurs in the northeastern section of the State, in the Gulf Coastal Plain (Baker, 1956:128), and probably breeds there. One subspecies, _america.n.u.s_, has been recorded from Coahuila.

According to Ridgway (1916:13-17) the difference between _C. a.

america.n.u.s_ and _C. a. occidentalis_ is size. His (_loc. cit._) average measurements of males of _occidentalis_ are: wing, 149.6 mm.; tail, 147.1 mm.; tarsus, 26.7 mm.; and culmen, 27.7 mm. whereas average measurements given by him of males of _america.n.u.s_ are: wing, 143.6 mm.; tail, 140.7 mm.; tarsus, 25.2 mm.; and culmen, 26.4 mm. Van Tyne and Sutton (1937:35) question the value of maintaining the subspecies _occidentalis_, because individuals of _america.n.u.s_ and _occidentalis_ are almost impossible to tell apart. Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1950:132) stated that _america.n.u.s_ occurs in eastern North America whereas _occidentalis_ occurs in western North America. If the subspecies _occidentalis_ exists, then Nos. 32037 and 32038 are, by size, _america.n.u.s_ and No. 32038 is an intergrade between the two subspecies (or a large individual of _america.n.u.s_).

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen also by Findley 2 mi. S and 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas on June 22, 1952, and by d.i.c.kerson at Torreon on July 2, 1955. The sizes of the testes of the birds from 12 mi. N and 12 mi. W Jimenez (9, 10 mm. long) and the date (June 19) on which they occurred there indicate that the birds possibly were breeding.

_Coccyzus erythropthalmus_ (Wilson).--Miller (1955a:163) reported a migrant Black-billed Cuckoo taken in the maples and ba.s.swood near a water hole in the bottom of Boquillas Canyon in the Sierra del Carmen, 5200 feet, on April 22. Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1950:132) reported that this cuckoo is presumably a regular transient in Mexico, but generally overlooked.

*_Geococcyx california.n.u.s_ (Lesson).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Female] 32049, from 8 mi. N, 2 mi. W Piedras Negras, June 18, 1952.

Miller (1955a:163) heard several Roadrunners calling at Boquillas Canyon in the Sierra del Carmen, where he obtained two females.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:190) stated that the species proved to be "unexpectedly scarce" and was noted but once by them on April 22 when a single bird was observed in "the open desert west of Saltillo." Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:30) noted that the Roadrunner was not common anywhere in southern Coahuila; they obtained one female at San Pedro on January 29. The size of the largest ovum (15 mm. in diameter) of No.

32040 indicates that this species breeds in Coahuila.

*_Crotophaga sulcirostris sulcirostris_ Swainson.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Female] 32039, from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, June 22, 1952.

No. 32039, obtained by Harrison B. Tordoff in a cypress woods along the sh.o.r.e of a lagoon, provides the first record of the Groove-billed Ani in Coahuila. The size of its largest ovum (10 mm. in diameter) and the date indicate breeding by this species in Coahuila.

**_Tyto alba pratincola_ (Bonaparte).--The Barn Owl seems to be uncommon in Coahuila. To my knowledge, there are two records of the Barn Owl in Coahuila. Ridgway (1914:607) recorded this owl at the "head of Las Vacas Creek." Miller (1955a:163) heard the Barn Owl at 5000 feet in the oak belt on April 25 in the Sierra del Carmen.

*_Otus asio suttoni_ Moore.--_O. a. suttoni_ is found in the higher country of the Sierra del Carmen and western Coahuila. Miller (1955a:163) stated that Screech Owls were common in groves of oaks both at 7000 feet and 5000 feet in the Sierra del Carmen, and remarked that his series from the Sierra del Carmen matched well a series of _suttoni_ from Chihuahua and Durango. Miller (1955a:163-164) also stated that Marsh took an adult at Jardin del Sur on August 28 and said that the specimen from the Sierra del Carmen referred to as _cineraceus_ by Marsh and Stevenson (1938:286) agreed well with his series of _suttoni_. _O. a. suttoni_ probably occurs no farther east than the Sierra del Carmen.

**_Otus asio mccallii_ (Ca.s.sin).--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male]

32041 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; and s.e.x ? 31645 from La Gacha, 1600 ft., December 9, 1953.

Three subspecies of the Screech Owl, _Otus asio_, occur in northeastern Mexico; two of these, _suttoni_ and _mccallii_, occur in Coahuila, the latter in the eastern part. The third subspecies, _O. a. semplei_, occurs still farther east, for example in the state of Nuevo Leon on the Mesa del Chipinque 6 miles south of Monterrey (Sutton and Burleigh, 1939b:174).

Nos. 31645 and 32041 differ from _semplei_ in that the tops of their heads do not appear to be solid blackish brown at a distance of four to five feet and in that the dark streakings of their backs and scapulars are not so heavy as in _semplei_. The mentioned specimens are brownish, not more black and white throughout as in _suttoni_ nor are their toes heavily feathered (see Moore, 1941:154).

Findley observed a Screech Owl 2 mi. S and 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas on June 22, 1952. La Gacha would seem to represent the western extent of _mccallii_ in Coahuila. _O. a. mccallii_ and _suttoni_ probably intergrade along the eastern slope of the Sierra del Carmen. Tordoff took No. 32041 near a tree that contained three young Screech Owls.

*_Otus flammeolus flammeolus_ (Kaup).--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 31600 from 20 mi. S Ocampo, 6000 ft., April 4, 1954; and [Male]

31581 from 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9345 ft., April 9, 1954.

Miller (1955a:163) collected seven Flammulated Owls in the pines and oaks at 7000 feet in Carb.o.n.e.ras Canyon and said that these owls were common there. Nos. 31600 and 31581 are suffused with cinnamoneous pigmentation, but represent the grayish phase, as described by Ridgway (1914:729). Van Hoose (1955:302) previously recorded Nos. 31600 and 31581 from Coahuila.

*_Bubo virginia.n.u.s pallescens_ Stone.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Female] 32042 from 2 mi. S, 12 mi. E Nava, June 15, 1952; measurements: wing, 367 mm.; tail, 233 mm.; culmen, 29 mm.; and [Male]

31677 from 1.5 mi. NE Las Margaritas, 3100 ft., May 31, 1954; measurements: wing, 345 mm.; tail, 213 mm.; culmen, 26 mm.; testes, 8 mm. long.

Miller (1955a:164) took a male Great Horned Owl in the Sierra del Carmen on April 22. Ridgway (1914:742) listed _B. v. pallescens_ from Sabinas. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:30) obtained a female "near San Pedro" on January 29. Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1950:143) recorded _B. v. pallescens_ from Coahuila on February 24, May 26, and June 10.

The record of _B. v. mayensis_ from Las Delicias (Amadon and Phillips, 1947:578) has been reidentified by Webster and Orr (1958:141) as _B. v.

pallescens_. d.i.c.kerman saw a Great Horned Owl in the Sierra del Pino on May 12,1954.

*_Glaucidium gnoma californic.u.m_ Sclater.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31582, from 20 mi. S Ocampo, 6500 ft., April 5, 1954, weight, 55 gms.

Concerning forms of Pygmy Owls, Miller (1955a:164) remarked that the best distinguis.h.i.+ng characters of _G. g. gnoma_ and _californic.u.m_ are tail length and wing length. The characters of No. 31582 (wing, 94 mm.; tail, 69 mm.) are clearly those of _californic.u.m_ and not those of _gnoma_. Miller (_loc. cit._) remarked that he "encountered at least five different individuals, chiefly in the pine-oak at 7000 feet" and one in oaks and pinons at 5000 feet in Boquillas Canyon of the Sierra del Carmen. The size of the testes (left, 95 mm.; right, 74 mm.) of No. 31582 indicates good probability of breeding by the Pygmy Owl in the State.

**_Micrathene whitneyi_ (Cooper).--Miller (1955a:164) heard the Elf Owl at close range in oaks at 5000 feet in Boquillas Canyon of the Sierra del Carmen on April 24.

**_Speotyto cunicularia hypugaea_ (Bonaparte).--_Specimens examined:_ total 3: [Female] 32043 from 3 mi. S, 9 mi. E Cuatro Cienegas, 2250 ft., June 30, 1952; [Male] 32653 from 6 mi. W San Antonio de las Alazanas, July 5, 1955; and [Male] 31602 from 14 mi. W San Antonio de las Alazanas, 6500 ft., January 7, 1954.

Although there are no records in Coahuila of specimens of Burrowing Owls north of 3 mi. S and 9 mi. E Cuatro Cienegas, this owl probably occurs in the northern section of the State. The records of Burrowing Owls from the southern part of Brewster County, Texas (Van Tyne and Sutton, 1937:38), suggest such occurrence. No. 31602 was shot in a prairie dog colony; No. 32043 was captured in a steel trap. Baker saw Burrowing Owls 7 mi. S and 4 mi. E Bella Union, 7200 feet, on June 25, 1952.

*_Caprimulgus vociferus arizonae_ (Brewster).--_Specimens examined:_ total 4: [Male] 31449 and [Female] 31450 from Sierra del Pino (=5 mi.

S, 3 mi. W Acebuches), May 12 and 15, 1954, weights, 48 and 42 gms.; and [Male] [Male] 31028-31029 from 2 mi. N, 18 mi. W Santa Teresa, 7250 ft., April 3, 1952.

The Whip-poor-will occurs between 5000 feet and 9000 feet in Coahuila.

Miller (1955a:164) reported _C. v. arizonae_ in the Sierra del Carmen.

Ridgway (1914:521) stated that _Antrostomus vociferus macromystax_ (=_C. v. arizonae_) occurs in the southeastern sector of Coahuila at Sierra Guadalupe. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:190) reported the Whip-poor-will "near the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s"; because of its size (wing, 170 mm.; tail, 135 mm.) this Whip-poor-will from Diamante Pa.s.s seems to represent the subspecies _arizonae_. d.i.c.kerman saw four Whip-poor-wills 20 mi. S Ocampo, 6000 feet, on April 4, 1954. The sizes of the testes of Nos. 31449, 31028, and 31029 (13, 12, and 13 mm. long) and an egg taken from No. 31450 indicate breeding by this species in the State.

*_Phalaenoptilus nuttallii nuttallii_ (Audubon).--_Specimens examined:_ total 6: [Male] 31032 from 37 mi. S, 21 mi. E Boquillas, 4100 ft., March 12, 1952; [Male] 31446 and [Female] 31447 from Sierra del Pino (=5 mi. S, 3 mi. W Acebuches), 6200 ft., May 13, 1954; [Male] [Male]

32048-32049 from 2 mi. S, 11 mi. E Nava, June 16, 1952; and [Female]

31033 from 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 ft., March 26, 1952.

Miller (1955a:164) found the Poor-will common along the rocky canyon walls up to 5000 feet in the Sierra del Carmen. Ridgway (1914:550) recorded the Poor-will at Sabinas on May 21 and at Saltillo on May 6.

Van Tyne and Sutton (1937:39) stated that _P. n. nuttallii_ was not common in the Big Bend Country of Texas; this probably is true for northwestern Coahuila as well. The specimens from the Sierra del Pino, collected by d.i.c.kerman in a pine-oak a.s.sociation at 6200 feet, were taken near the upper limit of their range. Findley saw Poor-wills 2 mi.

W Jimenez, 850 feet, on June 19, 1952; 2 mi. S and 11 mi. E Nava, 810 feet, on June 15, 1952; and 2 mi. S and 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas on June 22, 1952. d.i.c.kerman noted Poor-wills 16 mi. E and 18 mi. N Ocampo on May 7, 1954, and 20 mi. S Ocampo, 6000 feet, on April 4, 1954.

The size of the testes (95 mm.) of No. 31446 and an enlarged oviduct and an ovum (4 mm. in diameter) of No. 31447 indicate breeding by the Poor-will in Coahuila.

**_Chordeiles minor howelli_ Oberholser.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31443, from 3 mi. N, 4 mi. E San Francisco (=25 mi. N Ocampo), 4850 ft., May 16, 1954.

Van Hoose (1955:302) wrote that nighthawks were heard and seen frequently 3 mi. N and 4 mi. E San Francisco. Blake (1953:227) said that the Common Nighthawk breeds in Sonora, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, and Durango; the size of the testes (74.5 mm.) of No. 31443 indicates the possibility of breeding by this species in the State.

*_Chordeiles acutipennis texensis_ Lawrence.--_Specimens examined:_ total 4: [Male] 32044 and [Female] 32045 from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; [Female] 31442 from 5 mi. N, 13 mi. E Ocampo, May 6, 1954; and [Male] 32046 from 2 mi. N, 1 mi. W Ocampo, 4050 ft., July 6, 1952.

Specimens of the Lesser Nighthawk, subspecies _C. a. texensis_, have been recorded in the literature from representative localities throughout most of Coahuila. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:190-191) obtained, on April 18, at "a small pond at the edge of Saltillo," one male that was exceedingly fat; they (_loc. cit._) suggested that their specimen was a migrant. Goldman (1951:377, 389) stated that _C. a.

texensis_ occupied the Lower and Upper Sonoran and Upper Austral life-zones of Coahuila. d.i.c.kerman saw Lesser Nighthawks at San Marcos (=20 mi. S Cuatro Cienegas) on May 4, 1954. Van Tyne and Sutton (1937:41) reported that the Lesser Nighthawk was common throughout the lower parts of the Big Bend in Texas. This is probably true for northwestern Coahuila as well.

The presence of an egg in the oviduct of No. 32045 and the dates (May 6, June 20, and July 6) on which Nos. 31442, and 32044-32046 were obtained indicate breeding by this species in Coahuila.

**_Aeronautes saxatalis saxatalis_ (Woodhouse).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31672, from Pico de Jimulco, 5600 ft., April 5, 1953, weight, 35 gms.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:191) found the White-throated Swift to be common at "the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s and on the nearby ridges."

Miller (1955a:164) saw the species from 4800 feet up to the crest of the Sierra del Carmen. Several White-throated Swifts were seen flying overhead at Pico de Jimulco on April 5.

No specimens of _A. s. sclateri_ from Mexico are known. Miller (1955a:165) listed one specimen with dimensions (wing, 145 mm.) that approaches _sclateri_. The measurements of No. 31672 (wing, 143 mm.; tail, 58 mm.) also approach the dimensions of specimens of _sclateri_ but are best referred to _A. s. saxatalis_.

**_Calothorax lucifer_ (Swainson).--Burleigh and Lowery (1942:191) obtained a male Lucifer Hummingbird at the Chorro del Agua on April 19.

Van Tyne and Sutton (1937:43) reported a male from the Rio Grande (=3 mi. W Boquillas, Texas).

_Archilochus colubris_ (Linnaeus).--Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1950:180) remarked that the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a moderately common migrant, wintering from sea level to 9350 feet throughout Mexico, except in a few states. The only published record of a specimen of this hummer in the State is of a male taken on April 22 in a small arroyo twenty miles west of Saltillo (Burleigh and Lowery, 1942:191).

*_Archilochus alexandri_ (Bourcier and Mulsant).--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 31035 from the Rio Grande (=17 mi. S Dryden, Terrell County, Texas, in Coahuila), 600 ft., March 18, 1952; and [Male] 32052 from 2 mi. S, 11 mi. E Nava, 810 ft., June 16, 1952.

Miller (1955a:165) stated the Black-chinned Hummingbird was common in the desert area at the base of the mountains of the Sierra del Carmen, and that Marsh, on July 25, obtained this hummingbird "near Piedra Blanca (Conejo)." Burleigh and Lowery (1942:191) obtained a female in an arroyo about twenty miles west of Saltillo on April 22.