BIRDS FROM CUATRO CIENEGAS, COAHUILA, MEXICO
ARMANDO J. CONTRERAS-BALDERAS
Laboratorio de Ornitología
Escuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
Monterrey, México
ABSTRACT
This paper presents data for 25 bird species, 15 of which are new locality records from the Valley of Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México. Included are Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora forficata) and Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris lactea), the former representing a westward range extension of nearly 100 km and the latter being the first record outside the type locality. A total of 61 avian species is now reported from the Valley.
RESUMEN
Se presentan datos para 25 especies de pájaros, de los cuales 15 representan registros de localidad nuevos del valle de Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México. Se incluye el Papamoscas tijereta (Muscivora forficata) y la Alondra cornuda (Eremophila alpestris lactea). El primer registro de especie representa una extensión del area de distribución de casi 100 km al oeste y el segundo caso el primer registro fuera de la localidad tipo. Al presente se reportan un total de 61 especies de avifauna del dicho valle.
INTRODUCTION.-Although the Valley of Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México, encompasses less than 1,500 km2, it is considered an important zoogeographic region because of its great diversity of endemic species, some with peculiar geographic distributions. The local combination of climate, water, and vegetation are considered unique in the desert region in which it occurs. It is thus deemed important to publish faunal records for the Valley.
The Cuatro Ciénegas area has been widely studied (Minckley 1969, papers herein) but most research has been on aquatic animals and terrestrial invertebrates. The only other paper specifically on birds of the Valley recorded 36 species (Taylor 1966). Other than the general list of birds of Coahuila (Urban 1959), no similar papers exist. This and other papers in this symposium thus represent important contributions toward an inventory of this unique biota.
MATERIALS AND METHODS.-Information here comes from six visits to Cuatro Ciénegas between 1971 and 1974. Twenty-five species are recorded, of which 15 are represented by specimens deposited in the Bird Collection of the Ornithology Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL). In the following list of species and collection data, an asterisk (*) indicates a new record; parenthetic names are from AOU (1982) which does not include subspecific nomenclature.
1. Belted Kingfisher. Megaceryle (Ceryle) alcyon alcyon. UANL 969, male, Poza La Vecerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 14 Feb. 1974. Coll. Armando J. Conteras-B.
2. Green Kingfisher. Chloroceryle americana hachisukai. UANL 551, female, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 14 Feb. 1974. Coll. Armando J. Contreras-B.
3. Say's Phoebe. Sayornis s. saya. UANL 102, female, and UANL 103, male, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 7 April 1971. Coll. Francisco J. Guzman-H.
4. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Muscivora forficata. (Tyrannus forficatus). UANL 104, male, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 7 Apr. 1971. Coll. Francisco J. Guzman-H.
5. Horned Lark. Eremophila alpestris lactea. UANL 620, male, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 14 Oct. 1973. Coll. Armando J. Contreras-B.
6. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. (Polioptila caerulea). UANL 93, female, and UANL 100, female, Río Mezquites 1.5 km NNE from Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 1 and 6 Apr. 1971, respectively. Coll. Salvador Contreras-B.
7. Northern Mockingbird. Mimus polyglottos leucopterus. UANL 97, female, Dunas Blancas, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 5 Apr. 1971. Coll. Armando J. Contreras-B.
8. Sage Thrasher. Oreoscoptes montanus. UANL 961, male, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 16 Feb. 1974. Coll. Armando J. Contreras-B.
9. Chipping Sparrow. Spizella p. passerina. UANL 98, male, 1.5 km NNE from Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 6 Apr. 1971. Coll. Salvador Contreras-B.
10. Clay-colored Sparrow. Spizella pallida. UANL 95, male, Río Mezquites, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 2 Apr. 1971. Coll. Salvador Contreras-B.
11. Brewer's Sparrow. Spizella b. breweri. UANL 962, female, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 14 Feb. 1974. Coll. Armando J. Contreras-B.
12. Vesper Sparrow. Pooecetes gramineus confinis (?). UANL 94, male, Río Mezquites, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 2 Apr. 1971. Coll. Salvador Contreras-B.
13. Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis anthinus. UANL 105, female, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 7 Apr. 1971. Coll. Salvador Contreras-B.
14. Lincoln's Sparrow. Melospiza 1. lincolnii. UANL 96 and UANL 101, male, Río Mezquites and Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 4 and 6 Apr. 1971, respectively. Coll. Salvador Contreras-B.
15. Brown-headed Cowbird. Molothrus ater artemisiae. UANL 99, male, Poza La Becerra, Cuatro Ciénegas, Coah., 6 Apr. 1971. Coll. Francisco J. Guzman-H
Ten additional species were recorded visually and are not represented by specimens; an asterisk indicates a new record: Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)*, Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubins)*, Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)*, Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)*, Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillum [C. brunneicapillus]), Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)*, Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), and Pyrrhuloxia (Pyrrhuloxia s. sinuata [Cardinalis sinuatus]).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS.-The Valley of Cuatro Ciénegas does not appear to have high bird diversity (61 recorded species, Table 1). Yet, more complete studies are needed to determine which species are resident or migrant and to recognize possible endemic forms.
Of the 25 species reported here, 15 are new records for the Valley. The range of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is extended westward nearly 100 km from Sabinas, Coahuila, at W 101 degrees 07 minutes (Miller et al. 1957) to Cuatro Ciénegas at W 102 degrees 04 minutes. The subspecies of Horned Lark from Cuatro Ciénegas represents the first record from outside the type locality, Presa El Tulillo, 5 km south of Hipolito, Coahuila (Phillips 1970). Finally, the specimen of Vesper Sparrow from Río Mezquites has shorter wings and paler dorsum compared to the similar P. g. confinis from Nuevo León.
Table 1. Birds from Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México. Sequence and parenthetic nomenclature follow AOU (1982), which does not include subspecific names. Compiled from Urban (1959), Taylor (1966), and present records. Spanish names are from Birkenstein and Tomlinson (1981).
1. Pied-billed Grebe. Zambullidor pico pinto. Podilymbus podiceps.
2. Great Blue Heron. Garza morena. Ardea herodias.
3. Green-backed Heron. Garcita verde. Butorides virescens (B. striatus).
4. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Pedrete enmascardo Nyctanassa v. violacea (Nycticorax violaceus).
5. Wood Duck. Pato de charretras. Aix sponsa.
6. Mallard. Pato de collar. Anas platyrhynchos.
7. Northern Shoveler. Pato curcarón. Spatula (Anas) clypeata.
8. Scaled Quail. Codorniz escamosa. Callipepla squamata pallida.
9. American Coot. Gallareta. Fulica americana.
10. Killdeer. Tildío. Charadrius vociferus.
11. Greater Yellowlegs. Tingüis grande. Totanus melanoleucus (Tringa melanoleuca).
12. Willet. Zarapico semipalmeado. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus.
13. Common Snipe. Agachona común. Capella (Gallinago) gallinago.
14. Ring-billed Gull. Apipizca pinta. Larus delawarensis.
15. Band-tailed Pigeon. Paloma de collar. Columba f. fasciata.
16. Mourning Dove. Huilota común. Zenaidura macroura marginella (Zenaida macroura).
17. Greater Roadrunner. Correcomino californiano. Geoccyx californianus.
18. Burrowing Owl. Lechuza llanera. Speotyto (Athene) cunicularia hypugaea.
19. Lesser Nighthawk. Tapacamino halcón. Chordeiles acutipennis texensis.
20. Common Pauraque. Pochocuate. Nyctidromus albicollis.
21. Belted Kingfish. Pescador norteño. Megaceryle (Ceryle) a. alcyon.
22. Green Kingfisher. Pescador americano. Chloroceryle americana hachisukai.
23. Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Carpintero listado. Dendrocopos (Picoides) scalaris.
24. Say's Phoebe. Papamoscas boyero. Sayornis s. saya.
25. Vermilion Flycatcher. Cardinalito. Pyrocephalus rubinus.
26. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Papamoscas tijereta. Muscivora forficata (Tyrannus forficatus).
27. Horned Lark. Alondra cornuda. Eremophila alpestris lactea.
28. Barn Swallow. Golondrina tijerilla. Hirundo rustica.
29. Gray-breasted Jay. Grajo azul. Aphelocoma ultramarina couchii.
30. Common Raven. Cuervo grande. Corvus corax.
31. Verdin. Valoncito. Auriparus flaviceps.
32. Cactus Wren. Matraca grande. Campylorhynchus brunneicapillum (C. brunneicapillus).
33. Rock Wren. Saltaladera. Salpinctes obsoletus.
34. Bewick's Wren. Saltapared tepetatero. Thryomanes bewickii.
35. Marsh Wren. Saltapared pautanero. Telmatodytes (Cistothorus) palustris plesius.
36. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Reyezuelo de rojo. Regulus calendula.
37. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Perlita común. Polioptila caerulea.
38. Northern Mockingbird. Centzontle norteño. Mimus polyglottos leucopterus.
39. Sage Thrasher. Mirlo de las chîas. Oreoscoptes montanus.
40. Curve-billed Thrasher. Cuitlacoche común. Toxostoma curvirostre oberholseri.
41. Water pipet. Alondra acuática. Anthus spinoletta pacificus.
42. Phainopepla. Capulinero negro. Phainopepla nitens.
43. Loggerhead Shrike. Verdugo. Lanius ludovicianus.
44. Yellow-rumped Warbler. Verdín de toca. Dendroica coronata.
45. Audubon's Warbler. Dendroica auduboni audubonia.
46. Common Yellowthroat. Tapaojito común. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis.
47. Wilson's Warbler. Pelucilla. Wilsonia pusilla pileolata.
48. Northern Cardinal. Cardenal común. Cardinalis cardinalis.
49. Pyrrhuloxia. Cardenal torito. Pyrrhuloxia s. sinuata (Cardinalis sinuatus).
50. Chipping Sparrow. Chimbito común. Spizella p. passerina.
51. Clay-colored Sparrow. Chimbito pálido. Spizella pallida.
52. Brewer's Sparrow. Chimbito de Brewer. Spizella b. breweri.
53. Vesper Sparrow. Gorrión torito. Pooecetes gramineus confinis (?).
54. Black-throated Sparrow. Chiero barbanegra. Amphisspiza b. bilineata.
55. Savannah Sparrow. Gorrión zanjero. Passerculus sandwichensis anthinus.
56. Lincoln's Sparrow. Zorzal de Lincoln. Melospiza l. lincolnii.
57. Swamp Sparrow. Zorzal pantanero. Melospiza georgiana ericrypta.
58. Western Meadowlark. Triguera de occidente. Sturnella neglecta.
59. Great-tailed Grackle. Zanate. Cassidix (Quiscalus) mexicanus.
60. Brown-headed Cowbird. Tordo negro. Molothrus ater artemisiae.
61. House Finch. Gorrión común. Carpodactus mexicanus potosinus.
a Now synonomized with Yellow-rumped Warbler (D. coronata).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.- The author thanks Dr. Salvador Contreras-B. for invitation to the study area, collecting part of the material, and revising and translating the manuscript; Dr. James Rising who identified the subspecies P. s. anthinus, Biologist Gerardo Guajardo-Martinez for financing collections in 1973-1974, and Sr. Francisco J. Guzman-H. who collected part of the material.
LITERATURE CITED
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL UNION (AOU). 1982. Thirty-fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Suppl. to the Auk 99 (3): CC1-CC16.
BIRKENSTEIN, L. R. and R. E. TOMLINSON. 1981. Native names of Mexican birds. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Resour. Publ. 139.
MILLER, A. H., H. FRIEDMANN, L. GRICOM and R. T. MORE. 1957. Distributional check-list of the birds of México. II. Pac. Coast Avifauna 33:1-436.
MINCKLEY, W. L. 1969. Environments of the Bolsón of Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México, with special reference to the aquatic biota. Univ. of Tex., El Paso, Sci. Ser. 2:1-65.
PHILLIPS, A. R. 1970. A northern race of Lark supposedly breeding in México. Bull. Br. Ornith. Club 90(4): 115-116.
TAYLOR, W. K. 1966. Avian records from central Coahuila, México, primarily from the Cuatro Ciénegas area. Southwest. Nat. 11 (1): 136-137.
URBAN, E. K. 1959. Birds from Coahuila, México. Univ. Kan., Mus. of Nat. Hist. Pub. 11(8):443-516.