Birds from Coahuila, Mexico

by Emil K. Urban

**Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonaparte).—Specimen examined: one, ♂ 32494 (skeleton only) from Las Margaritas, August 4, 1955.

The Yellow-headed Blackbird occurs in Coahuila in migration. Miller (1955a:173) found this blackbird at Noria "in the flats immediately east of the Sierra del Carmen" on April 28, and reported also that Marsh took a male in worn breeding plumage on July 24 at Tanque de los Melones on La Bavia Ranch east of Fresno Mesa. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) took two adult males at Las Delicias on August 11 and 15. Dickerman also saw a female 8 mi. E and 2 mi. S Americanos on May 18, 1954. Van Hoose saw a male at Torreón on July 2, 1955.

*Agelaius phoeniceus megapotamus Oberholser.—Specimens examined: total 5: ♂ 32124, ♀ 32126, and ♀ 32128 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jiménez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952; ♂ 32125 from 2 mi. W Jiménez, 850 ft., June 20, 1952; and ♀ 32127 from 9 mi. S, 11 mi. E Sabinas, June 14, 1952.

This subspecies of the Redwinged Blackbird is common in eastern Coahuila. There are no records of the species from western Coahuila. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:205) obtained a male at "the edge of Saltillo" on April 24. Oberholser (1919a:23) recorded A. p. megapotamus from Porfirio Diaz on June 2, 5, and 6. The presence of juveniles (32126, 32128) from 12 mi. N and 12 mi. W Jiménez and (32125) from 2 mi. W Jiménez, respectively, and the dates (June 14, 19, 20) on which the University of Kansas specimens were obtained are evidence of breeding by A. p. megapotamus in northeastern Coahuila.

*Icterus spurius (Linnaeus).—Specimens examined: total 8: ♂ ♂ 31536-31537 from 12 mi. N, 12 mi. W Jiménez, 850 ft., June 19, 1952; ♂ 31538 from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, 1160 ft., June 23, 1952; ♂ ♂ 32605-32607 from Parras, July 4, 1955; ♂ 32604 and ♀ 32603 from Hacienda San Lorenzo, July 3, 1955, weights, 19.4, 18.5 gms.

The Orchard Oriole seems to occur fairly commonly in eastern and southern Coahuila and breeds in the State. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) reported that Orchard Orioles were common in the desert "about Las Delicias" in August and September and probably were migrants. Dickerman collected Nos. 32605-32606 along an irrigated field-edge that consisted of cottonwood and oak; he obtained Nos. 32603-32604 in an irrigated pecan orchard. The sizes of the testes (10×5 mm.; 10×5 mm.; 8×7 mm.; 8×7 mm.; 10×8 mm.) of Nos. 31536, 31537, 32605, and 32604, respectively, and the size of the largest ovum (2 mm.) of No. 32603 as well as the dates (June 19, 23; July 3, 4) on which all these specimens were collected indicate breeding by this species in the State.

*Icterus cucullatus cucullatus Swainson.—Specimens examined: total 2: ♂ 32123 from 2 mi. W Jiménez, 850 ft., June 21, 1952; and ♂ 32122 from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, 1160 ft., June 23, 1952.

The Hooded Oriole apparently is uncommon in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:290) listed I. c. cucullatus from Sabinas. The size of the testes (11×6 mm.) of No. 32122 and the dates (June 21, 23) on which Nos. 32123 and 32122 were collected as well as the juvenile male (tail, 80.5 mm.) from 2 mi. W Jiménez suggest breeding by this subspecies in Coahuila.

*Icterus parisorum Bonaparte.—Specimen examined: one, ♀ 32121, from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Unión, 7200 ft., June 25, 1952.

Scott's Oriole is common in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:173) found this oriole breeding in the canyons at the base of the Sierra del Carmen. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:205) found this oriole limited to the higher altitudes above 7000 feet, and took specimens at Diamante Pass and at the Chorro del Agua on April 19. Amadon and Phillips (1947:579) found Scott's Oriole "not uncommon in the arroyos near Las Delicias" and reported a juvenile "barely out of the nest and able to fly only a few feet ..." on August 15. No. 32121 had an egg in its oviduct. Dickerman saw Scott's Orioles in the Sierra del Pino on May 12, 1954, and 16 mi. E and 18 mi. N Ocampo on May 7, 1954.