Birds from Coahuila, Mexico

by Emil K. Urban

Anthus spinoletta pacificus Todd.—Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:209) recorded this Water Pipit from Cuatro Ciénegas in February and from Hipólito in November.

Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot.—The Cedar Waxwing is an uncommon winter visitant to Coahuila. Miller (1955a:171) recorded a flock in the Sierra del Carmen on April 5, and another flock on April 21. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:201) saw two small flocks on April 15 "in the open woods just below the summit of Diamante Pass."

*Phainopepla nitens nitens Swainson.—Specimen examined: one, ♂ 31674, from the west foot of Pico de Jimulco, 5000 ft., April 3, 1953, weight, 35 gms.

The Phainopepla occurs throughout most of Coahuila. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:39) reported P. n. nitens from Diamante Pass on March 6. On April 15 and 17 Burleigh and Lowery (1942:201) saw scattered pairs of the Phainopepla "only in the open woods surrounding Diamante Pass." Miller (1955a:171) noted P. n. nitens "on April 20 and 28 in large clumps of mesquite near Piedra Blanca, at about 4500 feet, on the foothills" of the Sierra del Carmen. Dickerman saw a Phainopepla 20 mi. S Ocampo on April 4, 1954. Baird (1858:320) listed a male P. n. nitens from Coahuila, México. Hellmayr (1935:107) remarked that Phainopepla nitens was listed from Coahuila by "Salvin and Godman, Biol. Centr.—Amer., Aves, 1, p. 220, 1883...." Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:213) stated that P. n. nitens breeds at El Diamante. The long wing (100 mm.) and long tail (96 mm.) of No. 31674 is typical for P. n. nitens.

Phainopepla nitens lepida Van Tyne.—Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:39) recorded P. n. lepida from Diamante Pass on March 6; Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:213) suggest that this individual was a vagrant.

Lanius ludovicianus migrans Palmer.—Burleigh and Lowery (1942:202) obtained this subspecies of Loggerhead Shrike "on the outskirts of Saltillo on April 20." The specimen shows evidence of intergradation with excubitorides.

**Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides Swainson.—Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:216) recorded L. l. excubitorides from Sabinas and from Hipólito (November 2 to February 24).

*Lanius ludovicianus mexicanas Brehm.—Specimens examined: total 4: sex ? 31089 from 7 mi. S, 2 mi. E Boquillas, 800 ft., February 29, 1952, weight, 45.1 gms.; ♀ 31090 from 36 mi. S, 15 mi. E Boquillas, 2550 ft., March 12, 1952; sex ? 30233 from 1 mi. N San Lorenzo, 4200 ft., February 5, 1951; and ♀ 32098 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Unión, 7200 ft., June 25, 1952.

Miller (1931:66) suggested that L. l. mexicanus and L. l. excubitorides intergrade in Coahuila; all of the specimens of Loggerhead Shrike from Coahuila that I have examined are intergrades between mexicanus and excubitorides. Our four specimens have a superciliary line that is indistinct and the black mask of each extends somewhat posterior to the auricular region. The anterior part of their forehead is somewhat lighter than the remaining part of their head and back.

Miller (1955a:171) detected L. l. mexicanus only once in catclaw scrub in the lower part of Boquillas wash at about 4600 feet in the Sierra del Carmen. He (loc. cit.) remarked that his individual may best be considered an intergrade between mexicanus and excubitorides, being "somewhat closer to the former." Burleigh and Lowery (1942:201) obtained a male L. l. mexicanus "in the open valley just below the summit of Diamante Pass on April 23" that was typical of this subspecies. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:201-202) suggested that L. l. mexicanus breeds in southeastern Coahuila. Sutton and Burleigh (1939a:39) took a typical representative L. l. mexicanus at Mayran on January 30.