Vertebrates from the Barrier Island of Tamaulipas, México — John Shaqi
Vertebrates from the Barrier Island of Tamaulipas, MéxicoJohnston, Richard F.
Science
Vertebrates from the Barrier Island of Tamaulipas, México
Johnston, Richard F.
Vertebrates -- Mexico
=_Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens_= (Lawrence): Ash-throated
Flycatcher.--A juvenal male (38975, testis 2 mm., no fat, 35.0 gm.)
taken in mesquite at Camp 1 constitutes our only record for this
species. Lanyon (1961:441, map) has shown that most of Tamaulipas is
devoid of these flycatchers in the breeding season; the nearest known
breeding Ash-throated Flycatchers are slightly west of Corpus Christi,
Texas, about 200 miles north-northwest of Camp 1 on the barrier beach.
Our specimen closely resembles eight specimens from Coahuila, México,
in general coloration and, especially, in the pattern of colors on the
outer rectrices. Probably No. 38975 was from southwestern Texas or
Coahuila and had begun its southward migration. Against this idea lies
chiefly the fact that young-of-the-year tend to move south later than
adults of the same species; so, this bird possibly had been reared in
coastal Tamaulipas.
=_Eremophila alpestris giraudi_= (Henshaw): Horned Lark.--This species
occurred in moderate numbers on alkaline flats and almost barren sand
flats at both camps. At the time of our visit to the island, the
breeding season apparently was coming to an end, but we noted no
tendency in the birds to flock.
Specimens (7): [M], 38981, testis 6 mm., 21.0 gm.; [M], 38977, testis
7.5 × 4 mm., not fat, 27.5 gm.; [M], 38979, testis 11 × 7 mm., 29.0
gm.; [F], 38976, ova to 3 mm., brood patch vascular but regressing, no
fat, 24.4 gm.; sex? juv., 38987, no fat, 21.0 gm.; sex? juv., 38980,
24.0 gm.; Camp 1, July 7. Male, 38982, testis 9.5 × 6 mm., 27.5 gm.,
Camp 2, July 9.
The subspecies _E. a. giraudi_, which is endemic to the Gulf coastal
plain of Texas and Tamaulipas, has been reported in Tamaulipas
previously only from Bagdad, near Matamoros (Mexican Check-list,
1957:106). The fact that our specimens show characters totally
consistent with those of _E. a. giraudi_ indicates that there is little
genetic interchange between the population we sampled and those of _E.
a. diaphora_, the closest of which reportedly breeds at Miquihana, in
southwestern Tamaulipas.
=_Corvus cryptoleucus_= Couch: White-necked Raven.--Several groups of
six to ten birds were present at Washington Beach on July 6 and 10;
but, southward on the island, we recorded this species only once, on
July 9, when a lone individual flew near Camp 2, being pursued and
"buzzed" by two Least Terns. The Mexican Crow (_Corvus imparatus_)
reportedly is common in the coastal region of Tamaulipas (Mexican
Check-list, 1957:118) but was not seen by us.
=_Thryomanes bewickii cryptus_= Oberholser: Bewick Wren.--This species
seemingly breeds in small numbers in mesquite stands near Camp 1, where
we obtained a juvenile and saw another individual. Specimen: [F] juv.,
38983, no fat, 10.0 gm., Camp 1, July 8. _T. b. cryptus_ is reported to
intergrade with _T. b. murinus_ of Veracruz in southern Tamaulipas
(Mexican Check-list, 1957:160-161).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account