Birds from Coahuila, Mexico Part 10

32101, from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952, measurements: wing, 58 mm.; tail, 43.5 mm.; culmen, 10 mm.; tarsus, 19 mm.

This subspecies of the White-eyed Vireo breeds in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:221) recorded _V. g. micrus_ from Sabinas on March 9 and May 14. The enlarged testes (53 mm.) of No.

32101 and the date (June 20) on which it was obtained suggest breeding in Coahuila.

_Vireo huttoni stephensi_ Brewster.--This subspecies of Hutton's Vireo occurs in southeastern Coahuila as a migrant. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:39) found _V. h. stephensi_ fairly common at Diamante Pa.s.s on March 6. Ridgway (1904:198) recorded _V. h. stephensi_ from Sierra Guadalupe in April.

*_Vireo huttoni carolinae_ Brandt.--_Specimens examined:_ total 3: [Male] 31588 from 20 mi. S Ocampo, 6500 ft., April 5, 1954, weight, 11 gms.; [Female] 32851 from 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, July 6, 1955, weight, 14.2 gms.; and [Female] 32102 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Union, 7200 ft., June 25, 1952.

To my knowledge, _V. h. carolinae_ is the only resident subspecies of Hutton's Vireo in Coahuila. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:202) found _V. h.

carolinae_ in rather limited numbers in the woods bordering the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s. Miller (1955a:172) remarked that the subspecies _carolinae_ was a common bird from 6500 feet to 8000 feet in the Sierra del Carmen. Miller (_loc. cit._) took a female on April 12 that was nearly ready to lay and said that his specimens of _carolinae_ from the Sierra del Carmen seem to be separate from _V. h. stephensi_ and _V. h.

mexica.n.u.s_. Our specimens showed no overlapping of characters with _V.

h. stephensi_ and _V. h. mexica.n.u.s_. The size of the largest ovum (2 mm.) of No. 32102 and the dates (June 25, and July 6) on which Nos.

32102 and 32851 were obtained suggest that _V. h. carolinae_ is a resident in Coahuila.

*_Vireo bellii medius_ Oberholser.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male]

31495, from San Marcos, May 5, 1954, measurements: wing, 56 mm.; tail, 48 mm.; culmen, 9.5 mm.; tarsus, 18 mm.

Although Bell's Vireo seems to have been observed uncommonly in Coahuila, this species does breed in the State. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:202) obtained a single female _V. b. medius_ on April 20 "in an arroyo east of Saltillo" and found this subspecies "not uncommon in the open desert twenty miles west of Saltillo, where three singing males were secured." Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:226) recorded _V. b. medius_ in breeding condition at Hipolito from June 30 to July 3. Ridgway (1904:207) recorded the subspecies from Monclova.

Hardy saw a Bell's Vireo at Parras on July 4, 1955. The size of No.

31495 is typical for _V. b. medius_.

*_Vireo flavifrons_ Vieillot.--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 32103, from 2 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952.

Van Hoose (1955:302-303) suggested that the occurrence of No. 32103 in Coahuila is evidence of a southward extension of the range of the Yellow-throated Vireo within the last generation. The size of the testes (53 mm.) of No. 32103 and the date (June 20) on which it was obtained suggest breeding by _Vireo flavifrons_ in Coahuila.

_Vireo solitarius solitarius_ (Wilson).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Female] 31640, from 9 mi. E Hermanas (=Canyon de Parajos in the Sierra de Parajos Azule), 2100 ft., December 7, 1953.

This subspecies of the Solitary Vireo is an uncommon migrant or winter visitant to Coahuila. d.i.c.kerman obtained No. 31540, whose skull was unossified and whose ovary was small, in an oak and palm habitat. The bright yellow flanks, large and yellow wing bars, and the uniform olive green back indicate that this specimen is a typical representative of _V. s. solitarius_. This subspecies was previously unrecorded in Coahuila.

_Vireo solitarius ca.s.sinii_ Xantus.--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Female] 35408 (skeleton only) from 5 mi. W, 3 mi. S Acebuches, 6200 ft., May 12, 1954; and [Male] 31589 from 20 mi. S Ocampo, 6200 ft., April 4, 1954, measurements: wing, 75 mm.; tail, 57 mm.; culmen, 10.5 mm.; weight, 14 gms.

This subspecies of the Solitary Vireo seems to be uncommon in Coahuila.

No. 31589 provides the first record of _V. s. ca.s.sinii_ in Coahuila.

Van Hoose has (1955:303) erroneously reported that d.i.c.kerman obtained No. 31589 on July 4, 1954; the correct date is April 4, 1954.

Although the size of No. 31589 is large for _V. s. ca.s.sinii_, the color (sides and flanks with less yellow, more olive; narrow white wing bars) resembles that of typical representatives of _ca.s.sinii_. The testes of No. 31589 were not enlarged. d.i.c.kerman suggested that the female from 5 mi. W and 3 mi. S Acebuches showed some resemblance to _V. s.

plumbeus_. This is not to be unexpected since the subspecies _plumbeus_ has been reported from the Chisos Mountains of Texas (Van Tyne and Sutton, 1937:82) and from northern Chihuahua (Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957:227).

*_Vireo olivaceus_ (Linnaeus).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 32104, from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jimenez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952.

The Red-eyed Vireo has been uncommonly reported from eastern Coahuila.

Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:229) recorded _V.

olivaceus_ from Sabinas on May 22 and from Las Vacas Creek on June 7 as late spring migrants. h.e.l.lmayr (1935:131) listed the Red-eyed Vireo from northern Coahuila. Findley saw a Red-eyed Vireo 2 mi. W Jimenez on June 19, 1952. The size of the testes (53 mm.) of No. 32104 and the date (June 19) on which it was obtained indicate that the Red-eyed Vireo possibly breeds in northeastern Coahuila; if so, this is the first breeding record of the Red-eyed Vireo in Coahuila.

_Vireo gilvus gilvus_ (Vieillot).--This subspecies of the Warbling Vireo is an uncommon migrant in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:232) recorded _V. g. gilvus_ from 12 mi. W Saltillo on September 28.

_Mniotilta varia_ (Linnaeus).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31662, from the north slope of Sierra Guadalupe (=11 mi. S, 7 mi. W General Cepeda), 7800 ft., April 20, 1953, weight, 10 gms., testes not enlarged.

The Black and White Warbler is an uncommon visitant or migrant in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:172) remarked that Marsh took a fall migrant on September 1 in Chuperosa Canyon in the Sierra del Carmen. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:202) secured a female Black and White Warbler "in an orchard on the outskirts of Saltillo" on April 20 and a male "near the top of Diamante Pa.s.s on April 23."

_Vermivora celata celata_ (Say).--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: s.e.x ?

31091 from the Rio Grande (=17 mi. S Dryden, Terrell Co., Texas, in Coahuila), 600 ft., March 19, 1952, measurements: wing, 57 mm.; tail, 47 mm.; weight, 7.7 gms.; and [Male] 31092 from 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 ft., March 25, 1952, measurements: wing, 62 mm.; tail, 48 mm.; weight, 9.2 gms.

This subspecies of the Orange-crowned Warbler is an uncommon migrant in Coahuila. In Brewster County, Texas, Van Tyne and Sutton (1937:83) found _V. c. celata_ "not common as a spring transient." Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:239) recorded _V. c. celata_ from Coahuila. The quality of the pale yellow color and the sizes of Nos.

31091-31092 suggest that they are representatives of _V. c. celata_.

_Vermivora celata orestera_ Oberholser.--Burleigh and Lowery (1942:202) found _V. c. orestera_ "only on infrequent occasions ... in the open woods surrounding the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s" where they obtained one specimen.

_Vermivora virginiae_ (Baird).--Miller (1955a:172) took a male Virginia's Warbler in Boquillas Canyon in the Sierra del Carmen "in scattered scrubby oak growth with gra.s.s and cactus beneath." This species in the Sierra del Carmen is considered "casual" by Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:241).

**_Vermivora crissalis_ (Salvin and G.o.dman).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31590, from 20 mi. S Ocampo, 7000 ft., April 5, 1954, weight, 10 gms.

The Colima Warbler is common locally in Coahuila. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:203) found this species fairly common on the steep, rugged slopes above the summit of Diamante Pa.s.s and saw none below an elevation of approximately 7500 feet. Bangs (1925:251) stated that Nelson and Goldman secured a specimen of the Colima Warbler at Sierra Guadalupe on April 25.

*_Vermivora superciliosa mexicana_ (Bonaparte).--_Specimen examined:_ one, [Male] 31591, from 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9350 ft., April 10, 1954.

Hartlaub's Warbler is uncommon in Coahuila and seems to occur only in the southeastern section of the State; No. 31591 is the first record of the species in Coahuila. The size of the testes (52 mm.) of No. 31591 and the fact that the bird was singing when first seen suggest the possibility that _V. s. mexicana_ breeds in southeastern Coahuila.

Breeding there is not unexpected because the species has been found breeding in Nuevo Leon (Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957:242).

_Parula americana_ (Linnaeus).--Miller (1955a:172) obtained a migrant Parula Warbler in an oak grove at 7000 feet on April 16 in the Sierra del Carmen, and remarked that it was "apparently the first record of this species in Coahuila."

*_Parula pitiayumi nigrilora_ Coues.--The AOU Check-list Committee (1957:486) recorded this subspecies of the Olive-backed Warbler as a resident at Sabinas.

*_Peucedramus taeniatus arizonae_ Miller and Griscom.--This subspecies of the Olive Warbler is locally common in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:172) found _P. t. arizonae_ common in the pine timber above 6800 feet in the Sierra del Carmen and suggested that this warbler breeds in these mountains. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:203) found the Olive Warbler in a thick pine wood at an elevation of 9500 to 10,000 feet and remarked that this species was "decidedly uncommon in the Diamante Pa.s.s area."

They (_loc. cit._) obtained a female (not identified to subspecies) on April 23 that had a "well developed brood patch and was unquestionably incubating eggs." Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:40) took a single female at Diamante Pa.s.s on March 6 which also was not identified to subspecies. d.i.c.kerman saw Olive Warblers in the Sierra de la Madera on December 13, 1953, and 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas on April 10, 1954.

_Dendroica petechia morcomi_ Coale.--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:246) reported this subspecies of the Yellow Warbler as having been recorded from Coahuila.

_Dendroica auduboni auduboni_ (Townsend).--_Specimens examined:_ total 2: [Male] 31094 (skeleton only) from Fortin (=33 mi. N, 1 mi. E San Geronimo), 3300 ft., March 29, 1952; and [Male] 31093 from 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 ft., March 25, 1952, weight, 12.3 gms.

Audubon's Warbler is a common winter visitant and migrant in Coahuila.

Miller (1955a:173) recorded _D. a. auduboni_ as a migrant from April 7 to 26 in the Sierra del Carmen; he found no suggestion of breeding by the Audubon's Warbler in the northwestern section of the State. One individual that Miller (_loc. cit._) obtained was extensively black and approached the characters of the subspecies _nigrifrons_ of Chihuahua.

He (_loc. cit._) suggested that the black individual was taken from "part of a cline of blackness and size in which _D. a. auduboni_ of the northwest and _D. a. nigrifrons_ of Mexico are extremes." Burleigh and Lowery (1942:203) remarked that Audubon's Warbler "is doubtless a common winter bird in the area around Saltillo." Two specimens obtained by Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._) "might be considered intermediate"

between _auduboni_ and _memorabilis_. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:40) saw Audubon's Warbler "in some numbers near San Pedro ... [on] January 29 and 30." d.i.c.kerman saw Audubon's Warblers 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas on April 10, 1954. Miller (1955a:173) also obtained, in the Sierra del Carmen, a hybrid between _D. coronata_ and _D.

auduboni_.

_Dendroica auduboni memorabilis_ Oberholser.--Oberholser (1921:246) recorded _D. a. memorabilis_ from Saltillo on April 17. This subspecies seems to winter commonly in western Mexico and less commonly in the Central Plateau and Sierra Madre Oriental (Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957:249-250).

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

31095, from Fortin (=33 mi. N, 8 mi. W San Geronimo), 3300 ft., March 28, 1952, weight, 9.3 gms.

The Black-throated Gray Warbler is an uncommon spring and possibly fall migrant in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:173) found _D. nigrescens_ uncommon in the Sierra del Carmen. He saw and heard a spring migrant singing on April 12 at 7000 feet and obtained a male on April 16.

_Dendroica townsendi_ (Townsend).--Townsend's Warbler is a spring and fall migrant in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:173) recorded _D. townsendi_ on September 2 at Jardin del Sur in Chuperosa Canyon in the Sierra del Carmen. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:203) saw two individuals of Townsend's Warbler at Diamante Pa.s.s on April 14. Amadon and Phillips (1947:578) secured this species "in mesquite about twenty miles west of Saltillo on August 28." d.i.c.kerman saw Townsend's Warblers in the Sierra de la Madera on December 13, 1953; 20 mi. S Ocampo on April 4, 1954; and 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas on April 10, 1954.

_Dendroica virens_ (Gmelin).--d.i.c.kerman saw one Black-throated Green Warbler 13 mi. E San Antonio de las Alazanas, 9350 feet, on April 10, 1954, in a white pine-Douglas fir-aspen a.s.sociation. This seems to be the first record of this species in Coahuila.

*_Dendroica chrysoparia_ Sclater and Salvin.--Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:251) listed the Golden-cheeked Warbler from Hipolito on July 3.