Birds from Coahuila, Mexico

by Emil K. Urban

Miller (1955b:317) took a hybrid woodpecker representing a cross between Dendrocopos villosus and Dendrocopos scalaris in the Sierra del Carmen, where, although Ladder-backed Woodpeckers were common, he found no Hairy Woodpeckers.

**Dendrocopos scalaris symplectus (Oberholser).—Specimens examined: total 2: ♂ 32058 from 2 mi. W Jiménez, June 20, 1952; and ♂ 31667 from Sierra Guadalupe, Domingo Canyon (=10 mi. S, 14 mi. W General Cepeda), 6700 ft., April 18, 1953.

This Ladder-backed Woodpecker, according to the AOU Check-list Committee (1957:327) and Oberholser (1912:156), occurs in Texas (east of Pecos), northeastern Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. The area of intergradation of D. s. symplectus and giraudi is in southeastern Coahuila. The dark smoky underparts and the equal size of the white and black bars of the upper parts of No. 31667 suggest intergradation with D. s. giraudi. Yet, the size of the wing indicates that this specimen is closer to D. s. symplectus. No. 32058 has characters of typical representatives of D. s. symplectus. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:193) reported D. s. symplectus "in the desert country west of Saltillo." Ridgway (1914:257) listed the Ladder-backed Woodpecker from Sabinas. Cory (1919:494) listed D. s. symplectus from Pabinas (=Sabinas?).

**Dendrocopos scalaris giraudi (Stone).—Specimen examined: one, ♂ 34623, from 12 mi. N, 10 mi. E Parras, 3850 ft., July 12, 1953, weight, 35 gms.

Ridgway (1914:259) reported that D. s. giraudi (then called Dryobates scalaris bairdi) has been recorded from La Ventura, Carneros, and Jaral. Oberholser (1912:159) indicated that the subspecies giraudi occurs north to Jaral in southern Coahuila, east to La Ventura in southeastern Coahuila, and south through central México. The present specimen is darker ventrally than specimens of either D. s. cactophilus or D. s. symplectus, and on its upper surface the black bars are wider than the white. The specimen is in worn plumage, but nevertheless suggests intergradation with D. s. symplectus.

Platypsaris aglaiae albiventris (Lawrence).—The Rose-throated Becard, if it occurs in Coahuila at all, is rare in the State. Without giving any specific locality, Sclater (1857:74) described Pachyrhamphus aglaiae from Coahuila. Hellmayr (1929:202) considered Sclater's record as representing Platypsaris aglaiae albiventris (Lawrence).

*Tyrannus vociferans vociferans (Swainson).—Specimens examined: total 2: ♂ 32064 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Unión, 7200 ft., June 24, 1952; and ♀ 31650 from the north foot of Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 5 mi. W General Cepeda), 6400 ft., April 15, 1953.

The small number of records of Cassin's Kingbird in Coahuila is surprising, for I would expect the species in most areas of the State between 6000 and 7000 feet. All Coahuilan records are from the southeastern part of the State. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:193) found it "on infrequent occasions in the arid country near Saltillo." Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:71) reported that T. v. vociferans nested in Coahuila on July 7. The size of the testes (15×7 mm.) of our specimen from near Bella Unión also indicates breeding.

**Muscivora forficata (Gmelin).—Specimen examined: one, ♀ 32063, from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jiménez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952.

The status of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Coahuila is uncertain. Although the condition of the gonads of No. 32063 was not recorded by the collector, the late date (June 19) on which is was obtained suggests that this female was a resident in northeastern Coahuila. Findley saw a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 2 mi. S and 11 mi. E Nava, 810 feet, on June 15, 1952. Dickerman saw one 4 mi. N San Isidro on May 10, 1954. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:69) recorded this flycatcher from Sabinas on April 12. No other records of Muscivora forficata in Coahuila have come to my attention, but the species probably occurs in the State in migration.