Birds from Coahuila, Mexico

by Emil K. Urban

No. 31633 shows no sign of intergrading with J. p. phaeonotus to the south. The outermost rectrix of No. 31633 is wholly white; the second rectrix is nearly as white. No. 31633 is paler than representatives of J. p. phaeonotus from the southern part of the Central Plateau of México.

Spizella passerina arizonae Coues.—Specimens examined: total 4: ♂ 31110 from the Río Grande (=17 mi. S Dryden, Terrell Co., Texas, in Coahuila), 600 ft., March 18, 1952, weight, 10.7 gms. ♂ 31111 and ♀ 31112 from 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 ft., March 24, 1952, weights, 11.0, 11.7 gms.; and ♂ 31666 from the north foot of Sierra Guadalupe (=10 mi. S, 5 mi. W General Cepeda), 6400 ft., April 19, 1953, weight, 14.0 gms.

The Chipping Sparrow is a common spring and possibly fall migrant in Coahuila. Miller (1955a:177) noted small flocks from April 21 to 27 in the Sierra del Carmen where specimens were taken. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:209) indicated that S. p. arizonae was "quite common and of general distribution" at Saltillo and Diamante Pass and remarked that specimens were taken at these localities in April. Amadon and Phillips (1947:581) took two Chipping Sparrows "near Las Delicias on August 17." Dickerman saw individuals in the Sierra del Pino on May 12, 1954, and at San Marcos on May 4, 1954. Our specimens, which are typical representatives of S. p. arizonae, are pale; the ground color of their backs is grayish buff.

Spizella pallida (Swainson).—The Clay-colored Sparrow is a migrant or winter visitant in Coahuila. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:209) saw "large flocks of sparrows, mostly of this species, ... on frequent occasions in the cultivated fields and orchards on the outskirts of Saltillo." Four specimens were taken by Burleigh and Lowery (loc. cit.) on April 19 and 20 at Saltillo.

Spizella breweri breweri Cassin.—Specimens examined: total 2: ♀ 31115 from the Río Grande (=17 mi. S Dryden, Terrell Co., Texas, in Coahuila), 600 ft., March 18, 1952, weight, 8.2 gms.; and ♂ 31114 from 28 mi. S, 11 mi. E Boquillas, 2000 ft., March 12, 1952, weight, 9.7 gms.

Brewer's Sparrow is probably a winter resident in much of Coahuila. Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:389) recorded S. b. breweri from 25 mi. NW Monclova on November 20 and from 8 mi. S Cuatro Ciénegas on November 15. The only definite records obtained by Burleigh and Lowery (1942:209) of S. b. breweri are those of a female and a male taken "near Saltillo" on April 16 and 18. The size of the dorsal area of sandy buff with narrow streakings of Nos. 31114-31115 suggests S. b. breweri.

Spizella pusilla arenacea Chadbourne.—Specimen examined: one, ♂ 31116, from 4 mi. W Hacienda La Mariposa, 2300 ft., March 24, 1952, weight, 13.1 gms.

The Field Sparrow is an uncommon spring and probably fall migrant in Coahuila. Other than No. 31116, S. p. arenacea has only been recorded from Sabinas in March, when three specimens were obtained (Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore, 1957:390). The coloration of No. 31116 is much grayer and the black streaks on its back are much narrower than on typical representatives of S. p. pusilla.

**Spizella wortheni wortheni Ridgway.—The single specimen of Worthen's Sparrow obtained by Burleigh and Lowery (1942:209) "just outside the limits of Saltillo on April 16" represents the only record of occurrence of this species in Coahuila.

**Spizella atrogularis atrogularis (Cabanis).—Miller, Friedmann, Griscom, and Moore (1957:391) remarked that the Black-chinned Sparrow is a common resident of the Central Plateau from Durango and southern Coahuila southward. Burleigh and Lowery (1942:212) noted the species only at the foot of the mountains of southeastern Coahuila where, at 6000 feet, scattered pairs were found. Miller (1955a:177) observed a male on April 23 on a slope at the mouth of Boquillas Canyon of the Sierra del Carmen; he presumed it to be a transient.