Birds from Coahuila, Mexico

by Emil K. Urban

*Passerina cyanea (Linnaeus).—Specimen examined: one, ♂ 31544, from San Marcos, May 5, 1954.

The Indigo Bunting is rare in Coahuila. Van Hoose (1955:303) reported that No. 31544 seems to provide the first record of the species in the State. The Indigo Bunting is a summer resident in southwestern Oklahoma and southeastern Texas (Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957:336). No. 31544 seemingly represents a large extension in the summer range of the Indigo Bunting. Van Hoose (loc. cit.) stated that No. 31544 was observed chasing another male, and the pursuer in turn was followed by a female; he thought that the territorial behavior of this bird suggested breeding.

*Passerina versicolor versicolor (Bonaparte).—Specimens examined: total 2: ♂ 35414 from 6 mi. N, 2 mi. W Castillón, 3750 ft., June 30, 1953, weight, 8 gms.; and ♂ 35415 from 5 mi. S Castillón, 4150 ft., June 28, 1953.

Although the Varied Bunting has been recorded only from northwestern Coahuila, I suspect that this bird is locally common throughout most of the State. Miller (1955a:174) stated that the habitat of this species consisted of catclaw-covered bottom lands at the base of the Sierra del Carmen at 4700 feet. Miller's records indicate incipient breeding by P. v. versicolor in the Sierra del Carmen on April 26. The size of the testes (11 mm.) of No. 35415 and the dates (June 28, 30) on which Nos. 35414-35415 were collected are strong evidence of breeding by the Varied Bunting 6 mi. N and 2 mi. W Castillón and 5 mi. S Castillón.

*Passerina ciris pallidior Mearns.—Specimens examined: total 6: ♂ 32141 and ♀ 32142 from 2 mi. S, 11 mi. E Nava, 810 ft., June 15 and 16, 1952; ♂ 35416 from 6 mi. N, 2 mi. W Castillón, 3750 ft., June 29, 1953, weight, 15 gms.; ♂ 32140 from 2 mi. S, 3 mi. E San Juan de Sabinas, June 22, 1952; ♂ 31547 from 16 mi. N, 14 mi. E Ocampo, May 10, 1954, weight, 16 gms.; and ♂ 31546 from San Marcos, May 5, 1954.

The Painted Bunting is a common summer resident in Coahuila. Marsh and Stevenson (1938:287) wrote that Painted Buntings were common in summer in the foothills of the Sierra del Carmen, and they took a male at Piedra Blanca on July 25 and a female at Jardín del Sur on September 1. Amadon and Phillips (1947:580) remarked that two immature Painted Buntings, "apparently migrants, were taken at Las Delicias on August 10 and 11." Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:339) recorded breeding by P. c. pallidior at Hipólito, 4200 feet, on July 1. Findley saw Painted Buntings 2 mi. S and 11 mi. E Nava on June 15, 1952. Dickerman saw Painted Buntings 4 mi. N San Isidro on May 10, 1954. Hardy saw Painted Buntings at Parras on July 4, 1955.

All the University of Kansas specimens are typical of the larger subspecies pallidior. The dates (May 5, 10; June 15, 16, 22, 29) on which these specimens were collected, the sizes of the testes (9×6 mm.; 6×5 mm.; 7×3 mm.) of Nos. 32140, 31547, and 31546, respectively, and the size of the largest ovum (2.5 mm.) of No. 32142 indicate breeding by P. c. pallidior in Coahuila.

Carpodacus cassinii Baird.—Cassin's Finch is an uncommon winter migrant in Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:314) listed C. cassinii from Sierra Guadalupe.

*Carpodacus mexicanus potosinus Griscom.—Specimens examined: total 8: ♂ 35417 from 13 mi. S, 5 mi. W Castillón, 4000 ft., June 28, 1953, testes, 6 mm., weight, 19 gms.; ♀ 35411 (skeleton only) from Sierra del Pino (=5 mi. W, 3 mi. S Acebuches), 6200 ft., May 14, 1954; ♂ 32145 from 5 mi. N, 19 mi. W Cuatro Ciénegas, 3250 ft., July 5, 1952; ♂ 32144 and ♀ 32147 from 3 mi. S, 3 mi. E Bella Unión, 6750 ft., June 27, 1952, ♂ gonads, 7 mm.; ♂ 32143 and ♀ 32146 from 7 mi. S, 4 mi. E Bella Unión, 7200 ft., June 24, 1952; and ♂ 31675 from the west foot of Pico de Jimulco, 5000 ft., April 4, 1953, weight, 20 gms.

The House Finch is common in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:174) reported a sparse population of this species in the foothills adjoining Boquillas Canyon at 4800 feet of the Sierra del Carmen and observed young just out of the nest on April 25. He remarked also that specimens of the House Finch from the Sierra del Carmen seem to show no intergradation toward frontalis. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:206) noted C. m. potosinus at "Saltillo, in the desert country west of there, at the Chorro del Agua, and in the open valley south of Diamante Pass." Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:316) listed breeding by C. m. potosinus at El Diamante on July 6. Dickerman also saw the House Finch at San Marcos on May 4, 1954, and Hardy saw it at Parras on July 4, 1955. No. 32147 had a distinct brood patch; the largest ovum of No. 32146 was 7 mm. in diameter. No. 32145 was a juvenile male.