Birds from Coahuila, Mexico

by Emil K. Urban

**Callipepla squamata squamata (Vigors).—Specimens examined: total 2: ♂ 30231 and ♀ 30232 from 10 mi. NW San Lorenzo, 4200 ft., February 3, 1951.

The subspecies squamata occurs in southern Coahuila. Amadon and Phillips (1947:577) took a Scaled Quail at Las Delicias on August 18 that "was only two-thirds grown, though well able to fly" and obtained an adult 19 mi. W Saltillo that was typical squamata. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:188) stated that C. s. squamata was one of the characteristic birds of the open desert country of southeastern Coahuila. Scaled Quail were seen by Burleigh and Lowery (loc. cit.) "about Saltillo and in the open valley south of Diamante Pass."

The breast and upper back of both specimens from 10 mi. NW San Lorenzo, are plumbeous-gray rather than pale dull gray. Also the lower back, rump, abdomen, forehead, and crown more closely resemble the subspecies squamata rather than C. s. pallida. However, the upper backs of both specimens are not so plumbeous-gray as on a male (32030) and a female (32031) of the subspecies squamata from 1 mi. N Chorro, Durango, 6450 ft., July 11, 1952. The two birds from Durango appear to be slightly darker than the Coahuilan specimens that approach the subspecies pallida.

Burleigh and Lowery (1942:188-189) stated that one of their specimens of C. s. squamata obtained at Saltillo seems to be "very close to castanogastris, suggesting that southeastern Coahuila is in the region of intergradation between the two races." Aldrich and Duvall (1955:17) indicated that squamata and castanogastris intergrade near Sabinas. The two specimens that I have examined show no sign of approach toward castanogastris. More specimens of Scaled Quail from Coahuila are needed to permit accurate definition of the distribution of the subspecies.

*Cyrtonyx montezumae mearnsi Nelson.—The Harlequin Quail is locally common in Coahuila; C. m. mearnsi is present in northwestern Coahuila (Aldrich and Duvall, 1955:20). Miller (1955a:162) stated that an area in the head of Corte Madera Canyon of the Sierra del Carmen at 7500 feet was the principal location for C. m. mearnsi. He further suggested that the Harlequin Quail breeds in the Sierra del Carmen and remarked that Marsh took a male on September 7 at Jardín del Sur. He added that the occurrence of C. m. montezumae in northern Coahuila as reported by Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1950:79) is "possibly an error or was based on individual dark variants...." Baker noted the Harlequin Quail (unidentified to subspecies) 9 mi. W and 1 mi. S Villa Acuña, 1120 feet, on April 4, 1950.

*Cyrtonyx montezumae montezumae (Vigors).—This subspecies of the Harlequin Quail has been recorded from southeastern Coahuila. Ridgway and Friedmann (1946:396) listed C. m. montezumae from Saltillo. Baker saw a pair of Harlequin Quail (unidentified to subspecies) at San Antonio de las Alazanas on March 25, 1950. More collecting is necessary for an understanding of the distribution and intergradation of these subspecies in Coahuila.

*Meleagris gallopavo intermedia Sennett.—Specimens examined: total 4: ♀ 31022 from Fortín (=33 mi. N, 8 mi. W San Gerónimo), 3300 ft., March 28, 1952, weight, 9 lbs.; ♀ 29420 from 3 mi. W, 1 mi. S San Gerónimo, April 9, 1950, weight, 7 lbs.; and ♂ 29421 and ♀ 29422 from 3 mi. W, 2 mi. S San Gerónimo, April 9, 1950, weights, 11.5 and 8.5 lbs.

The Turkey in Coahuila is restricted to the northern section of the State. Miller (1955a:162) remarked that the population of Turkeys in the Sierra del Carmen was sparse and did not range above 7500 feet into the highest pine-oak and Douglas fir areas. Baker saw Turkeys 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 feet, on March 23, 1952. William Schaldach, Jr., noted 30 Turkeys "just west of Rancho San Gerónimo" on April 9, 1950. Aldrich and Duvall (1955:22) indicated several localities in northern Coahuila where the Turkey occurs or occurred.

Grus canadensis (Linnaeus).—Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:28) remarked that a flock of Sandhill Cranes was heard "near Mayran ... on January 30."

Porzana carolina (Linnaeus).—The Sora is an uncommon spring and fall migrant in Coahuila. Amadon and Phillips (1947:577) obtained an adult male Sora at Las Delicias on August 15.