condor, 82:212-218 @I The Cooper Ornithological Society 1980

HURRICANE FIFI AND THE 1974 AUTUMN MIGRATION IN EL SALVADOR

WALTER A. THURBER

ABSTRACT.-In the autumn of 1974 the migration pattern in El Salvador had several unusual features, too many to have been merely coincidental: 1) delayed arrival of certain early migrants whose appearance overlapped with that of later migrants; 2) unprecedented numbers of a few species; 3) the appearance of several rarely seen or previously unreported species; 4) exten- sion of winter ranges of a few species which was maintained for several years after. These events were closely associated with Hurricane Fifi (17-20 Sep- tember) and to a lesser extent with Hurricane Carmen (l-6 September). I attribute the unusual features of the 1974 migration to Hurricane Fifi (pos- sibly augmented by Carmen) after comparison of routes and schedules of early migrants with the route, dates, wind directions, and velocities of Fifi. I suggest that other hurricanes have affected and will affect migration through Middle America but that serious disruptions are probably rare and unpre- dictable.

In the course of my 10 years of netting and METHODS AND SOURCES OF DATA banding birds in El Salvador, Central Amer- From my field notes and netting records I selected data ica, the fall of 1974 was exceptional for the which show the unusual nature of the 1974 migration. early migration pattern and for the arrival of For comparison I summarized relevant information for several uncommon and previously unre- other years as given by my notes and the literature. My field notes extend from 1966, my netting records from ported species. These events aroused my 1969. I have onerated banding stations for about one interest but I did not note their conjuncture month a quarter, each station for 12-14 days, using 15- with Hurricane Fifi until almost three years 20 nets. One station at Cerro Verde (13”50N.’ 89”38W:’ later. Then in 1977, I encountered an un- 2,000 m elevation) has been used regularly once a precedented wave of Canada Warblers (Wil- quarter; the others were used less regularly and for only two to four years. Since 1969 I have maintained sonia canadensis) and learned that Hurri- one lowland station to complement Cerro Verde. cane Anita had crossed the Dickey and van Rossem (1938) provided almost all shortly before. that is known about migrants in El Salvador before Storms are known to affect bird move- 1966. Van Rossem collected for 20 months in 1912 and 1925-27. His data were not strictly comparable to net- ments. Hurricanes moving northward along ting data but he was a dedicated observer who anno- North Americas’ eastern seaboard force tated richly his impressions of abundance. Of other south-bound migrants and sea birds far in- visiting ornithologists, only Marshall (1943) added in- land (Pettingill 1970:271). Lowery (1946: formation pertinent to this paper. 192) and Mayhew (1949:403) described in- The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration provided general information on cyclonic stances of birds caught in hurricanes. Bagg storms, details of Hurricanes Carmen, Fifi, and Anita, (1967:87-121) showed how severe storms and surface maps for the periods of these hurricanes. over the North Atlantic brought spectacular numbers of Eurasian Lapwings (Vanellus MIGRATION PATTERNS IN vanellus) to North America in 1927 and NORTHERN MIDDLE AMERICA 1966. Raffaele and Roby (1977:338-342) Lack of band recoveries limits understand- credited the 1960 with in- ing of migration patterns in Middle Ameri- troducing the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch ca. Approximate routes can be inferred from (Lorigilla noctis) into the Virgin Islands. species accounts in regional summaries, e.g. Fisk (1979:226) associated 1969 Hurricane Miller et al. (1957), Paynter (1955), Russell Gerda with an exceptional wave of migrants (1964), Land (1970), and Monroe (1968). at her banding station in south . I Knowledge of migration schedules is in propose that Hurricane Fifi was responsible general limited to earliest recorded dates in for the unusual features of the 1974 fall mi- species accounts in Bent (1949, 1950, 1953, gration in El Salvador and that such storms 1958, 1968), Russell (1964), Land (1970), can and do affect migration patterns in Mid- and Monroe (1968); these dates may not dle America. represent normal arrival dates.

12121 HURRICANES AFFECTING MIGRATION 213

FIGURE 1. Tracks of Caribbean tropical cyclones, 1974: (1) H urricane Carmen, 29 August-9 September; (2) Hurricane Fifi, 14-22 September. Solid circles mark positions at 07:OO E.S.T. (Adapted from J. Hope 1975: 9, Fig. 10.)

Passerines originating in western North ly August, as judged by earliest recorded America tend to migrate through western dates for Orchard Orioles (Zcterus spurius) Mexico and the interior highlands. Those and Northern Orioles (I. galhula). Other that arrive in Guatemala are usually at or passerines, e.g. Canada Warblers, begin to near the southern limit of their winter range arrive at the Gulf of Mexico in mid-August. (Land 1970:18-19; see also Monroe 1968: Migration seems to continue at least into 390). Western migrants are sheltered from late October and possibly into November in the effect of most Caribbean hurricanes, but Central America. in 1974 Fifi crossed the isthmus and, al- Species migrating along the Atlantic though its intensity diminished after mak- coast, especially those crossing the Gulfs of ing , it continued to cause devasta- Mexico and Honduras, or flying offshore, tion along its path. are vulnerable to hurricanes that approach Some eastern species of migrants follow or skirt the coast. The season of tropical the coast around Yucatan, some bypass Yu- storms (winds 63-119 km/h) and hurricanes catan at the base of the peninsula, and some (over 119 km/h) extends from May to De- cross the Gulf of Mexico. The extent of cember but nearly all severe storms ap- trans-Gulf migration in autumn is uncertain proaching Middle America have done so although large-scale flights in spring are re- between mid-August and mid-October (Cry ported (Lowery 1951). Paynter (1951: 113- 1965:140-147, charts), a period which co- lI4) provided limited direct evidence of incides with the autumn migration of many south-bound crossings and inferences can species. A severe cyclonic storm can affect be drawn from the presence of fall migrants migrants for three to seven days depending on off-shore islands (see species accounts in upon whether the routes intersect at right Paynter 1955 and Miller et al. 1957). Many angles or tend to parallel each other. south-bound migrants continue along the The time and place where migrants may Caribbean slope, some probably crossing encounter severe storms vary. In the decade the Gulf of Honduras (see Monroe 1968: before Fifi (1964-1973) there were two sea- 390). Other species spread out onto the Pa- sons with no storms along the Atlantic coast cific slope upon reaching southern Mexico of Middle America. In the other eight years and Guatemala. there were six tropical storms and eight hur- For passerines along the Atlantic, the fall ricanes in the western Gulf of Mexico. Yu- migration season begins in late July and ear- catan was battered by six hurricanes and 214 WALTER A. THURBER

FIGURE 2. Isobars showing position of Hurricane Fifi at 07:30 E.S.T., 17 September 1974. Arrows, flying with the wind, give wind directions at reDortinrr shim and land stations. (Adapted from Surface Analysis Map 122 17 Septembe; 1974, WMO Regional Center, %l&i.)

eight tropical storms, including some of the ber and as a hurricane on the 17th (Fig. 2). above, which crossed it, brushed its tip, or Its center entered the Gulf of Honduras on paralleled its coasts. Farther south, three 18 September, made landfall in Guatemala tropical storms passed the mouth of the Gulf on the 19th, and crossed to the Pacific, re- of Honduras, one hurricane crossed it, and named Orlene. The maximum sustained one hurricane travelled its length, the route wind velocity was 176 km/h, attained in the followed later by Fifi but with less destruc- Gulf. Among the highest velocities reported tion. (Data from Cry 1965.) on land were 213 km/h on Isla de Guanja, 158 km/h at La Ceiba, Honduras, and gusts up to 185 km/h in . Heavy rains, up HURRICANES AND MIGRANTS to 50 cm, fell for more than two days in Hon- CHARACTERISTICS OF HURRICANE FIFI duras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize. In 1974 two hurricanes made landfall in (Data from Hope 1975:15-16, Table 5.) Middle America; Hurricane Carmen ap- Typical of all Caribbean cyclonic storms, proached and crossed Yucatan between 1 the winds of Fifi spiraled inward counter- and 6 September, and Hurricane Fifi ap- clockwise (Fig. 2). Birds in the northern and proached and entered Central America be- northwestern sectors encountered winds tween 17 and 20 September (Fig. 1). The which tended to push them inland; birds in dates and routes suggest that Fifi was the the western sector were pushed southward. more closely associated with the unusual The center of such a storm need not actually wave of early migrants at Cerro Verde but intersect a migration route to affect mi- two hurricanes close together may have had grants; the winds sweep a wide belt. Fifi a cumulative effect. may have been affecting migrants before Fifi, moving in from the Atlantic, was noon on 17 September when a ship 125 km classified as a tropical storm on 16 Septem- east of Yucatan (the northernmost reporting HURRICANES AFFECTING MIGRATION 215 station in Fig. 2) reported winds of 111 km/ colubris), about on schedule (earliest date h from the northeast (Hope 1965). 23 September) and in usual numbers; Most of the birds driven by Fifi into the Swainsons’ Thrushes (Cuthurus ustulutus), forests of Mexico and Belize would have about on schedule (earliest date 26 Septem- been grounded immediately by the high ber), one netted and a few seen; Empidonux winds and succeeding torrential rains (see flycatchers (probably E. minimus and E. Sutton 1945:603-606). Probably the birds truiZliiluZnorum), which usually pass through then required several days to recuperate in mid-September (earliest date 3 Septem- from the stresses endured, especially be- ber); Black-and-white Warblers (Mniotiltu cause heavy rains severely reduce available vuriu), nine netted, this a regular migrant food and make feeding difficult (Leek arriving as early as 5 August but usually dis- 1972:846, Foster 1974:723). After the nor- persed and rarely over one or two taken at mal subtropical high pressure system was one site during a single period. Accompa- reestablished, the birds were able to contin- nying the above were species seen rarely or ue southward; being west of their tradition- not at all at Cerro Verde: four Mourning al routes some of them might have arrived Warblers (Oporornis philudelphiu) which in El Salvador. winter occasionally in the lowlands (earliest date 27 September); one Northern Oriole, THE 1974 AUTUMN MIGRATION IN abundant in the lowlands (earliest date 26 EL SALVADOR September); one Indigo Bunting (Pusserinu The first migrants recorded at Cerro Verde cyuneu), abundant in the lowlands but re- were a few Townsends’ Warblers (Dendroi- corded only once before at Cerro Verde ca townsendi) on 29 September at the end (earliest date 9 0 c t ob er ) ; an American Kes- of one week of clear, calm weather; this trel (Fulco spurverius, usually in the low- species is usually common at Cerro Verde lands but an occasional visitor to Cerro in mid-September (earliest date 2 Septem- Verde in mid-October; two Olive-sided Fly- ber). catchers (Nuttullornis borealis), single in- Late on 1 October began a four-day peri- dividuals previously recorded in 1912, od of violent winds, dense clouds with 1926, and 1972 (Dickey and van Rossem mountain fog, and heavy downpours. That 1938:371; pers. observ.). night a major wave of migrants arrived Unusual migrants were not limited to which included: many Townsends’ War- Cerro Verde. At the next station (Las Minas blers, 19 netted; Wilsons’ Warblers (Wilson- de San Cristbbal, 13”35N,’ 88”05W,’ 300 m ia pusillu), usually common in mid-septem- elevation) I netted: another Golden-winged ber (earliest date 2 September), 34 netted; Warbler; three Canada Warblers 18-23 Oc- Tennessee Warblers (Vermivora peregri- tober, very late; one Hooded Warbler (WiZ- na), about on schedule and in usual num- soniu citrinu), previously recorded once in bers (earliest date 25 September), 15 netted; 1925 and again in 1926 (Dickey and van MacGillivrays’ Warblers (Oporornis tol- Rossem 1938:502). In the meantime, A. Ser- miei), about on schedule (earliest date 25 meiio (pers. comm.) collected a Kentucky September) but in increased numbers, 16 Warbler (Oporornis formosus) on 30 Octo- netted; Canada Warblers, an irregular tran- ber near Cerro Verde, one previous record sient usually in small numbers, if present at in 1925 (Dickey and van Rossem 1938:498) all, in early September (earliest date 4 Sep- and I added a third record in 1979 following tember), this wave peaking 6 October, very Hurricanes David and Frederick. At a high- late for the species, (IO-year record: one land station (Los Planes de Montecristo, netted 1972; 23 netted and many seen at 14”26N,’ 89”22W,’ 1,850 m elevation) I re- Cerro Verde, others elsewhere, 1974; one corded: Lincolns’ Sparrows (Melospizu Zin- netted 1976; 30 netted and large numbers colnii), common, eight netted, one previous seen 1977; four netted 1978). Accompany- record in 1927 (Dickey and van Rossem ing these were: one Summer Tanager (Pir- 1938:570) and three collected in 1942 (Mar- angu rubru), usually in the lowlands (earli- shall 1943:33); Nashville Warblers (Vermi- est date 2 October); one Golden-winged voru ruficupillu), common, 13 netted, pre- Warbler (Vermivoru chrysopteru) recorded viously unreported in El Salvador. Back twice before in El Salvador (B. Monroe, Jr., again at Cerro Verde in January 1975 I net- pers. comm.; pers. observ.); one Chestnut- ted: six Nashville Warblers of many seen; sided Warbler (Dendroicu pensylvunicu) two Lincolns’ Sparrows, no others seen; not previously recorded for the country. three Hermit Thrushes (Cuthurus guttutus) During succeeding days of good weather, of 6-10 seen, not previously reported for the 6-11 October, the following appeared: country. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus In summary, during the early season at 216 WALTER A. THURBER

Cerro Verde, mid-September to mid-Octo- on the basis of my 10 years ’ experience); ber, I saw: five species delayed two or more that Canada Warblers might arrive at all (5 weeks; three species in greater numbers in lo), in increased numbers (2 in 10 with than usual (except for Canada Warblers after one instance following Anita), and one in 1977); four lowland month late (1 in 10); that Nashville Warblers species rarely seen at Cerro Verde; two might extend their range into El Salvador species reported only a few times in El Sal- (less than 1 in 10); that a Chestnut-sided vador; one species not previously recorded Warbler might wander in from the Carib- for the country. Appearing elsewhere that bean slope (less than 1 in 10); and so on for autumn: three species each reported only an additional I5 or so events. one to three times before; two species not The probability P, that all these events, previously recorded. including Hurricane Fifi, might occur at about the same time is the product of the AFTERMATH OF FIFI individual probabilities: P, = P,. P,. P, . . . A curious aspect of the 1974 autumn migra- P, where m is the mth event considered, tion has been the return of some of the un- obviously a vanishingly small value. usual species in succeeding years. Nash- With coincidence ruled out, one may ville Warblers, previously unreported, search for a cause-effect relationship, either reappeared in the winter of 1975-76, the fall among the events being considered or by of 1976, and one bird banded in October considering some previously unmentioned 1975 was retaken in March 1978. Hermit factor. In the interests of parsimony I invoke Thrushes, previously unreported, were the winds of Hurricane Fifi as the common present again in the winter of 1975-76 and cause of the other events. The remainder of the autumn of 1977. Lincolns’ Sparrows, re- the discussion will be based on the assump- ported a few times in 1920 and 1942, and tion that Fifi was responsible for the unusu- not seen previously at my banding stations, al features of the 1974 migration in El Sal- reappeared in considerable numbers in vador. 1975-76. A banded Hooded Warbler, re- ported only twice in the 1920s,’ was recap- DISRUPTED MIGRATION PATTERNS IN 1974 tured in autumn 1976. At Cerro Verde the first waves of Town- sends’ Warblers and Wilsons’ Warblers HURRICANE ANITA were delayed two to three weeks, Empido- I mention this 1977 hurricane because of its nax flycatchers almost a month. Townsends’ relevancy to the following discussion. Anita Warblers migrate along the Pacific slopes was identified as a tropical depression on (Miller et al. 1957:250-251). Western races 29 August south-southwest of . of Wilsons’ Warblers migrate through west- Moving westward it intensified rapidly, ern Mexico (Miller et al. 1957:266-267). reaching hurricane strength just prior to Empidonax species migrate along either making landfall on the Mexican coast on 2 the Pacific or Atlantic or both (Miller et al. September. Anita is ranked as the fourth 1957:86-89). Birds on the Pacific slopes most intense storm ever in the Gulf; surface were not necessarily deflected by Fifi but winds attained 280 km/h. (Data from Law- may have been delayed by the inclement rence 1978:81-82, Table 2.) Beginning on weather and the need to recuperate after- 4 September and peaking on the 9th at Cer- wards. Possibly Empidonux flycatchers ro Verde came the largest wave of Canada were delayed the longest because of diffi- Warblers in my experience; they were truly culty in finding flying insects after heavy abundant and I netted 30. No other unusual rains; in El Salvador these birds feed exclu- migrants were recorded. sively by sallying, whereas Townsends’ Warblers feed also by gleaning and Wilsons’ DISCUSSION Warblers chiefly by gleaning (pers. observ.). COINCIDENCE OR CAUSE-EFFECT? Canada Warblers arrived at Cerro Verde Was the near conjuncture of Hurricane Fifi in increased numbers three to four weeks and the abnormal 1974 migration mere co- later than usual. This species migrates along incidence? That migration was not a single the Atlantic slopes of Mexico including Yu- event but an aggregate of many events-the catan and off-shore islands (Miller et al. arrival of thousands of birds (Emlen 1975: 1957:267). Bent (1953:655-656) gave 18-19 130). Quantification of probabilities must be August as early dates of arrival in south Tex- limited to crude estimates such as: the prob- as; a bird flying over the Gulf was taken 30 ability that a first wave of Wilsons’ Warblers August (Paynter 1951: 113). These dates might be delayed over two weeks (1 in 10 suggest that migrating Canada Warblers HURRICANES AFFECTING MIGRATION 217 could have encountered Carmen. Probably Fifi. In the cases of a Nashville Warbler the birds ’ delay in arriving at Cerro Verde banded at Cerro Verde and retaken there a was due to being grounded by Carmen and/ season later, and a Hooded Warbler banded or Fifi. Their increased numbers may have at Las Minas de San Cristobal and retaken been the result of additional birds being there two seasons later, there is little like- pushed into routes that lead to El Salvador, lihood that they returned by chance. The and/or grounded birds accumulating at shel- probability that a banded bird might chance tered places from which they resumed flight again on the banding site is l/n where n is simultaneously. (A similar explanation may the total number of suitable sites within the apply to the concentration of this species birds’ range; I/n is obviously an insignificant following Anita in 1977.) value. Of the species that appeared unexpect- To account for the return of individuals of edly in El Salvador in 1974, the following the four species, I propose that a hypothesis migrate chiefly or exclusively along the At- formulated by Schwartz (1963:481-484) is lantic slopes: Golden-winged Warblers applicable. Schwartz, in Venezuela, trans- (Miller et al. 1957:238, Land 1970:282, ported banded Northern Waterthrushes Monroe 1968:324); Chestnut-sided War- (Seiurus noueboracensis) lo-25 km away blers (Miller et al. 1957:254, Land 1970:293, from the capture sites on their wintering Monroe 1968:333); Kentucky Warblers grounds. Four of four “old” residents (birds (Miller et al. 1957:258, Land 1970:296-297, present at least one previous season) re- Monroe 1968:336); Hooded Warblers (Mil- turned to their former wintering grounds. ler et al. 1957:266, Monroe 1968:340). In- Fourteen of 14 “new” winter residents dividuals of these species caught in the failed to do so. Schwartz concluded, “What northern or northwestern sectors of Fifi the bird learns on its first trip south does would have been driven inland and, if they not enable it to orient to its new winter resumed a southward course, some would home if artificially removed from it; but have arrived in El Salvador. once having flown north from the winter ter- After Fifi, two species wintered beyond ritory, the bird-even if artificially re- their usual range, Hermit Thrushes and moved-is thereafter able to return to this Nashville Warblers, both normally winter- winter home.” ing to Guatemala (Land 1970:261,284). The Ralph and Mewaldt (1975:698-705), us- Hermit Thrushes are of the Rocky Mountain ing migratory Zonotrichia sparrows in Cal- race, C. g. auduboni, as judged by measure- ifornia, released about 400 adults and 400 ments and photos. A Nashville Warbler col- subadults far from the capture stations. The lected was assigned to the western race, V. following year none of the adults was re- r. ridgwayi, by J. Farrand, Jr. (E. Eisen- captured at the release sites and 17% were mann, pers. comm.). Another species, the retaken at the original capture sites. About Lincolns’ Sparrow, usually wintering to 3% of the subadults were recaptured at the Guatemala (Land 1970:349) and Honduras release sites and 8% at the original capture (Monroe 1968:385), seems to have extended sites. Ralph and Mewaldt suggested a form its range back into El Salvador after being of learning, “site fixation.” Their data sug- absent for some years. Van Rossem (Dickey gest that the sparrows had some means of and van Rossem 1938:570) and Marshall relocating specific sites, the original winter- (1943:33) collected a western race of this ing grounds of the adults, the new wintering species (M. 1. alticola) in El Salvador. These grounds of some of the subadults. three races migrate through western and Ralph (1978:243) invoked learning to ex- central Mexico (Miller et al. 1957:188-189, plain the different age compositions of 240, 398). Had individuals arrived in west- south-bound migrants moving inland and ern Guatemala just before Fifi made land- along the coast of eastern North America- fall, they would have encountered strong 35% adults inland vs. 10% adults along the winds in Fifis’ western sector and could coast. He considered that those young “dis- have been swept southward beyond their oriented” birds surviving the many hazards usual limits into El Salvador. of offshore flight during their first migration do not “repeat the mistake” and thereafter WINTER RANGE EXTENSIONS migrate inland. Data are too few to allow more than spec- The migrants that found their way back to ulation about the causes for the unexpected El Salvador (two individuals with pinpoint reappearance of Hermit Thrushes, Nash- accuracy) must have learned how to orient ville Warblers, Lincolns’ Sparrows, and one themselves towards their new wintering Hooded Warbler in years subsequent to grounds. To me, it seems more probable 218 WALTER A. THURBER that their orientation was learned during the cardinals, grosbeaks, buntings, towhees, finches, northward flight, as Schwartz suggested, sparrows, and allies. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 237. than during their first arrival under the CRY, G. W. 1965. Tropical cyclones of the North At- lantic ocean: tracks and frequencies of hurricanes severe stresses of the hurricane which and tropical storms, 1871-1963 (with supplement). brought them. U.S. Dep. Commer., Weather Bur., Tech. Pap. 55. DICKEY, D. R., AND A. J. VAN ROSSEM. 1938. The CONCLUSIONS birds of El Salvador. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser. 23: l-609. The effects of Hurricane Fifi, augmented EMLEN, S. T. 1975. Migration: orientation and navi- perhaps by Carmen, were to delay the pas- gation, p. 129-219. In D. S. Farner and J. R. King, sage of certain species, cause local concen- [eds.], Avian biology. Vol. 5. Academic Press, New trations of migrants, deflect individuals York. from their normal routes, and bring about at FISK, E. J. 1979. Fall and winter birds near Home- stead, Florida. Bird-Banding 50:224-243. least temporary extensions of winter ranges. FOSTER, M. S. 1974. Rain, feeding behavior, and Probably migrants through Middle America clutch size in tropical birds. Auk 91:722-726. have long been and will continue to be so HOPE, J. R. 1975. North Atlantic tropical cyclones, affected by severe storms. The effects are 1974. Mariners Weather Log 19:8-18. unpredictable because of the marked irreg- LAND, H. C. 1970. Birds of Guatemala. Livingston Publ. Co., Wynnewood, PA. ularity of these storms and the minor irreg- LAWRENCE, M. B. 1978. North Atlantic tropical cy- ularities of migration patterns. Probably clones, 1977. Mariners Weather Log 22:79-84. large scale disruption rarely occurs, only LECK, C. F. 1972. The impact of some North American when an especially severe storm intersects migrants at fruiting trees in Panama. Auk 89:842- 850. a major wave or series of waves of migrants. LOWERY, G. H., JR. 1946. Evidence of trans-Gulf mi- The extensions of winter ranges of a few gration. Auk 63:175-211. species into El Salvador, should these prove LOWERY, G. H., JR. 1951. A quantitative study of the permanent, will show that cyclonic storms nocturnal migration of birds. Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist. 3:361-472. can have a lasting effect on the distribution MARSHALL, J. T., JR. 1943. Additional information of migrants, introducing species into areas concerning the birds of El Salvador. Condor that have become suitable for wintering. 45:21-33. Undoubtedly tropical cyclonic storms have MAYHEW, D. F. 1949. and bird had a long-lasting effect on regional lists flight. Science 109:403. MILLER, A. H., H. FRIEDMANN, L. GRISCOM, AND R. and distribution maps by adding accidentals T. MOORE. 1957. Distributional check-list of the which could not be recognized as such by birds of Mexico. Pac. Coast Avif. 33, part 2. compilers for lack of comparative data; MONROE, B. L., JR. 1968. A distributional survey of these records will be corrected eventually the birds of Honduras. Ornithol. Monogr. 7. but, meanwhile, investigators should inter- PAYNTER, R. A., JR. 1951. Autumnal trans-Gulf mi- grants and a new record for the Yucatan peninsula. pret such lists and maps with caution. Auk 68:113-114. PAYNTER, R. A., JR. 1955. The ornithogeography of ACKNOWLEDGMENTS the Yucatan Peninsula. Peabodv Mus. Nat. Hist. I thank A. Cooperman, Dick DeAngelis, and Bill West Bull. 9. of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- PETTINGILL, 0. S., JR. 1970. Ornithology in laboratory tion for searching out and sending me information on and field. Burgess Publ. Co.. Minneauolis. Caribbean storms. I also thank James Gulledge, Burt RAFFAELE, H. A.,AND D. ROB;. 1977.*The Lesser Monroe, Jr., and C. John Ralph for their comments on Antillean Bullfinch in the Virgin Islands. Wilson this paper. Jean Johnson prepared the figures. Bull. 89:338-342. RALPH, C. J. 1978. Disorientation and possible fate of LITERATURE CITED young passerine coastal migrants. Bird-Banding 49:237-247. BAGG, A. M. 1967. Factors affecting the occurrence of RALPH, C. J., AND L. R. MEWALDT. 1975. Timing of the Eurasian Lapwing in eastern North America. site fixation upon the wintering grounds in spar- Living Bird 6:87-121. rows. Auk 92:698-705. BENT, A. C. 1949. Life histories of North American RUSSELL, S. M. 1964. A distributional study of the thrushes, kinglets, and their allies. U.S. Natl. Mus. birds of British Honduras. Ornithol. Monogr. 1. Bull. 196. SCHWARTZ, P. 1963. Orientation experiments with BENT, A. C. 1950. Life histories of North American Northern Waterthrushes wintering in Venezuela. wagtails, shrikes, vireos, and their allies. U.S. Natl. Proc. XIII Int. Ornithol. Congr. (1962):481484. Mus. Bull. 197. SUTTON, G. M. 1945. Behavior of birds during a Flor- BENT, A. C. 1953. Life histories of North American ida hurricane. Auk 62:603-606. wood warblers. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 203. BENT. A. C. 1958. Life histories of North American Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 blackbirds, orioles, tanagers, and their allies. U.S. Sapsucker Woods Roud, Zthacu, New York 14853. Ac- Natl. Mus. Bull. 211. cepted for publication 7 September 1979. BENT. A. C. 1968. Life histories of North American