THE EUPHONIA Quarterly Journal of Mexican Avifauna

Editor: Kurt Radamaker Associate Editors: Michael A. Patten, Deb Davidson• Spanish Consultant: Luis Santaella

Consultant: Steve N.G. Howell

Proofreaders: Richard A. Erickson, Bob Pann

Circulation Manager: Cindy Ludden

For an annual subscription to The Euphonia, please send 15.00 dollars U.S. payable to The Euphonia P.O. Box 8045, Santa Maria, California, 93456-8045, U.S.A. Checks drawn on Bancomer in Pesos accepted.

The Euphonia encourages you to send in manuscripts. Appro- priate topics range from recent sightings to scientific studies of Mexican . Feature articles in Spanish are encouraged. Please send manuscripts, preferably on diskette written in Wordperfect (although almost any major word processor file will suffice), to Kurt Radamaker, P.O. Box 8045, Santa Maria, California 93456, U.S.A. Please send summaries for Recent Ornithological Literature to Michael A. Patten at P.O. Box 8561, Riverside, California, 92515-8561, U.S.A. Recent sightings (with details) should be sent to Luis Santaella, 919 Second St., Encinitas, California 92024, U.S.A.

I thank Sophie Webb for the beautiful cover illlustration, and Ed Berresi and his staff at Reprox for the generous donation of the production of the cover. Contents

1 THE BIRDS OF ,

Steve N.G. Howell and Stuart Johnston

19 NEW RECORDS OF HAWK-EAGLE FROM GUERRERO MEXICO

Sophie Webb and Steve N.G. Howell

22 A "BLUE-HEADED" SOLITARY FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA

Gene Anderson

23 RECENT ORNITHOLOGICAL LIT- ERATURE

Michael A. Patten THE EUPHONIA

Volume 2, Number 1, Spring 1992

THE BIRDS OF ISLA HOLBOX, MEXICO

STEVEN. G. HOWELL, Point Reyes Observatory, 4990 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, California 94970

STUART JOHNSTON, 5236 Kirkwood Place N. , Seattle, \Vashington 98103

Isla Holbox lies 10-11 km off the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, from which it is separated by a shallow muddy sound. Paynter ( 19 55) summarized bird records from Isla Holbox up to that time and the only subsequent records from the island are a few ofHowell' s observations includedbyOmateta/. (1989). Duringtheautumnofl984,Howell visited Holbox during 23-26 September and 23-30 November and observed birds in the Gulf of Mexico a few kms off the island on 3-4 February 1982. Johnston visited the island during 12-24 April 1987. Bird observations from these trips provide a preliminary description ofthe island's avifauna. Isla Holbox is 19 km long by up to 1 km wide and aligned roughly east-west , parallel to the mainland coast. Most of the island is covered by effectively impenetrable mangroves and scrub. Observations were thus restricted to the vicinity of the small fishing village ofHolbox, toward the western end of the island, whence several trails originate into the scrub and mangroves. Many species, notably North American migrants, oc- curred only in and around town, probably due to the greater diversity of vegetation, inclu,ding palm groves, bananas, papayas, and citrus trees. Dredging off the dock at the south (inland) side of town provided spoil

The Euphonia 2: 1-18, 1993 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

banks that added to the attraction of the sound for several water birds. Unlike the somewhat muddy south shore, the north shore comprised of fine white sand beaches. An accessible stretch ofbeach, about 2 km long, extended east from the village. In September 1984, the weather was hot and humid (daily temperatures 25-30° celsius) and observations primarily were restricted from dawn to mid-morning and again in late afternoon; clouds regularly built up during the day but dispersed at night to leave dawn clear. A light wind blew constantly from just north of east, and brief but torrential showers occurred around dawn on 24 and 26 September. November 1984 temperatures were more pleasant, tending to cool with the passage oftwo Nortes (southward-bound cold fronts), one of which brought periods of driving rain and 40-50 krnlh winds on 28-29 November. In April1987 the weather was hot and humid, similar to September, with occasional showers suggesting the passage of weak cold fronts. Paynter (1955) recorded 60 species from Isla Holbox: most that he.collected or observed there in December 1950, and another 23 species from the island based solely on specimens collected by G. F. Gaumer (originally reported by Salvin 1888, 1889; Sclater and Shelley 1891). Parkes ( 1970) has shown, however, that ''data on Gaumer specimens are notoriously unreliable'' and so we suggest that Holbox records based solely on Gaumer specimens should be considered hypothetical. While some Gaumer records may be correct (e.g., North American migrants) several are clearly or probably in error, notably Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris gracilis, the race endemic to Isla ), Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani), Black Catbird (Dumetellaglabrirostris), Yucatan Vireo (Vireo magister), and Bananaquit (Coereba jlaveola). These species are typical of islands off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, particularly Isla Cozumel. The affinity ofHolbox, however, is closer to the mainland. For example the resident Yellow-faced Grassquit is the mainland race pusilla rather than the Isla Cozumel race intermedius, · and the only typically Caribbean species known from Holbox is the widespread Zenaida Dove, although Caribbean Dove probably also occurs. Paynter (1955) commented on several other doubtful Gaumer records. Howell recorded 104 species during his visits, 80 in September and 81 in November, with 59 common to both visits. Johnston recorded 121 species in April1987. Our observations add 79 species to the island's avifauna, and confirm 12 other species previously known only from

2 The Birds ofIsla Ho/box

Gaumer specimens. This brings the total species known from Isla Holbox to 152. Only 21 of the species are confirmed or presumed breeding residents on Isla Holbox: Black and Turkey vultures, Clapper Rail, Rock Dove, Zenaida Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Leptoti/a sp. {probably Caribbean Dove), Mangrove Cuckoo, Groove-billed Ani, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Tropical Kingbird, Tropi- cal Mockingbird, Mangrove Swallow, Mangrove Vireo, "Mangrove" Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Red-wingedBlack- bird, Great-tailed Grackle, and Hooded Oriole. Fourteen others are possible or suspected breeding residents (BR? in the list), and 11 others appear to breed on Holbox and mostly or entirely leave the island in winter (SR and SR? in the list). The remaining species are wintering or transient migrants, non-breedingvisitors and vagrants. While Isla Holbox is not far from the mainland, the intervening water, probably in combination with the island's limited habitat diversity, results in a somewhat depauperate avifauna. For example, on 30 November 1984 around Chiquihi on the mainland opposite, whence the Holbox ferry originates, in a little over an hour Howell recorded 15 presumed resident breeding land birds unknown from Holbox.

In the following list an asterisk (*)indicates species previously unrecorded from Isla pound sign (#) indicates species apparently known previously only from Gaumer specimens.

BR: breeding resident. SR: breeds but apparently mostly or entirely absent in winter. NBV: non-breeding visitor, some present all-year. WV: winter visitor. TM: transient migrant.

February refers to 1982, September and November to 1984, and April to 1987.

Systematic List

*BROWN BOOBY Su/a leucogaster. Two a few miles off Holbox, 4 February. NBV.

3 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

*AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Pelecanus erythrorhynchus. Seven on 25 November, 4 on 18 April. WV.

BROWN PELICAN P. occidentalis. Common, in 1984 maximum 166 on 25 September, in 1987 up to 100/day. In September adults made up about 70o/o ofthe total, but by November, immatures outnumbered adults. Local residents reported the species nests on Holbox (Paynter 1955), although this is not yet confirmed. BR?

*DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT Phalacrocorax auritus. In September, post-roost flights of up to 2660 noted. No such flights in November, although up to 2000 birds seen off and along the beach. Up to 200/day in April, most (99o/o) of the 1984 birds were adults. This species breeds on (B. M. de Montes, pers. com.) and may do so on Holbox. Paynter (1955) reported only Neotropic Cormorant at both locations but his identifications have been questioned (A. R. Phillips, pers. com.). BR?

NEOTROPICCORMORANT P. brasi/ianus. Incontrasttothepreced- ing species, only single birds seen on 26 September and 13 April. NBV?

*ANHINGA Anhinga anhinga. Singles soared over the island on 25 September and 25 November. WV.

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD Fregata magni.ficens. Up to 50/day in September and November, up to 15/day in April. Only 1-2 adult males in September, with 4-5 in November. Common NBV.

GREAT BLUE HERON Ardea herodias. Up to 10 white morph, and 4 blue morph in September, 7 white and 11 blue in November, and 3 white and 1 blue in April. NBV?

GREAT EGRET Casmerodias alba. Up to 25/day in 20 in November, but only singles on five days in April. NBV?

SNOWY EGRET Egretta thula. Up to 250/day counted flying to roost in September, common in November, 1 on 13 April, 2 on 17 April. NBV?

LITTLE BLUE HERON E. caerulea. Daily roost flight maximum of20

4 The Birds ofIsla Holbox adults, 1 immature in September, 50 (mainly adults) in November, but in April only 1 adult, on 14th. WV.

TRICOLORED HERON E. tricolor. Daily roost flight maximum of26 in September, fairly common in November, only singles on 4 days in April. NBV?

REDDISH EGRET E. rufescens. Up to 8 dark and 1 white morph in September, 7 dark and 1 white in November, and 3 dark and 1 white in April. NBV?

*CATTLE EGRET Bub ulcus ibis. Three on 24 September, 46 in off the sea on 25 September, 20 on 13 April, 1 on 19 April, 6 on 23 April. This recent colonist is now a common winter visitor and local breeding resident in the Yucatan first recorded there in 1956 (Denham 1959). TM.

GREEN-BACKEDHERONButoridesstiatusUpto8/dayinSeptember and November, including 5 migrants in off the sea on 24 September, 1- 2 in mangroves on 23 April. BR?

YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON Nyctanassaviolacea. Up to 20/day in September and November. BR?

WHITE ffiiS Eudocimus a/bus. Daily roost flight maximum of83 adults, 23 immatures in September, fairly common in November, (immatures outnumbered adults), 6 adults and 1 immature on 13 April, 20 adults on 20 April. BR?

ROSEATE SPOONBILL Platalea ajaja. Two or three noted most days in September and November, including only one adult. NBV.

WOOD STORKMycteria americana. Up to 3 seen most days, Septem- ber and November. NBV.

*GREATER FLAMINGO Phoenicopterus ruber. Up to 120/day (all adults) in September mainly kept to the shallow inland sound, but also once 98 birds seen in the shallow waters off the beach. None seen in November, and apparently move away with the onset of winter storms.

5 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

Also 3 on 13 April, 4 on 18 April. NBV from the large colony near Rio Largartos, 40-50 km west ofHolbox.

*BLUE-WINGED TEAL Anas discors. Twenty-seven on 24 Septem- ber, 6 on 25 September, up to 4/day in April. TM.

BLACK VULTURE Coragyps atratus. Up to 20/day in September and November, up to 25/day in April. Presumed BR.

TURKEY VULTURE Cathartes aura. Up to 5 in September, 3 in November, and small numbers daily in April. See below. Presumed BR.

*LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE C. burrovianus. Initially all Cathartes were assumed to be Turkey Vultures, but four seen at close range on 24 September clearly were adult Lesser Yellow-headeds; thence up to eight daily seen in September. None identified in November, but many birds too distant for specific identification. The only records for the northern Yucatan Peninsula are from September to April. (Ornat eta/. 1989). WV.

CATHARTES sp. Up to 20 daily in September, 10 in November.

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus. Up to two recorded on most days, Septem- ber and November, and singles on 3 days in April, all apparently of the northern race carolinensis. WV.

*SNAIL KITE Rostrhamus sociabi/is. One juvenile circled low over town on 24 September. There are few records for the northern Yucatan Peninsula (Paynter 1955) and no suitable habitat on IslaHolbox. Vagrant?

BLACK-COLLARED HAWKBusarellus nigricollis. Paynter (1955) reported one in December 1950. NBV?

COMMON BLACK-HAWKButeogallus anthracinus. One adult on 24 November. BR?

*GREATBLACK-HAWKB. urubitinga. One adult on 19 and21 April. BR?

6 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

*SHORT-TAILED HAWK Buteo brachyurus. One light morph adult soared low over the mangroves on 29 November. BR?

*WHITE-TAILED HAWK B. albicaudatus. One adult on 13 April. NBV?

*MERLIN Falco columbarius. Singles on 29-30 November, 17 April. WV.

*PEREGRINE FALCON F peregrinus. One juvenile on 25 November, 1 adult on 12-13 April. WV.

CLAPPER RAIL Rallus longirostris. Frequently heard in the man- groves, one seen on 25 September. BR.

*SORA Porzana carolina. One seen daily, 17-22 April. TM.

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola. Up to 25/day in September, 15 in November, and 22 in April. NBV?

*LESSER GOLDEN-PLOVER P. domini ca. One to two daily during 13-17 April. The first published records for the peninsula are those of Omat et al. (1989). TM.

*SNOWY PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus. Up to 20/day in Septem- ber and November, 5 in April. This species breeds elsewhere along the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (G. & J. Cobb pers. comm.) and may do so on Holbox. BR?

WILSON'S PLOVER C. wilsonia. Up to 50/day in September, 60 in November, and 8 in April. BR?

*SEMIPALMATED PLOVER C. semipalmatus. Up to 35/day in September, 5 in November, and 26 in April. WV.

*PIPING PLOVER C. melodus. Up to 12/day in September and 18/day in November, including a banded bird in November. These represent the first published records for this species in the Yucatan Peninsula although Howell and others (P. Pyle, R. G. Wilson) have seen the species at Rio

7 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

Lagartos in winter (January-March). It appears to be a locally fairly common winter visitor along the north coast of the Yucatan. WV.

KILLDEERC. vociferus. OnlyrecordedinNovember, whenupto4/day. WV.

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERHaematopus palliatus. Up to 6/day in September and November, all adults, and up to 5/day in April. BR?

BLACK-NECKED STILT Himantopus mexican us. Up to 6, including a juvenile, in September, two adults in November. Presumed BR, present in the wet season (June- November).

*GREATER YELLOWLEGS Tringa melanoleuca. One on 23 and 24 September. TM.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS T. jlavipes. Up to 10/day in September and April. TM.

*SOLITARY SANDPIPER T. solitaria. Two on 24 September, 1 on 13 April. TM.

WILLET Catoptrophorus semipalmatus. Up to 30/day in September, 10 in November, 6 in April. WV.

SPOTTED SANDPIPERActitis macularia. Up to 15 on most days in September, 6 in November, 5 in April. WV.

*UPLAND SANDPIPER Bartramia longicauda. One on 15 April. This species appears to be a rare transient in the Yucatan, with previous records in April of 1910 and 1911 (Storer 1961) and October 1984 (Howell1989) . . TM.

*WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus. Up to 8/day in September, 2 in November. WV.

*LONG-BILLED CURLEW N. americanus. Three on 23 September, 1 on 14 April. TM.

8 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

*MARBLED GODWIT Limosafedoa. Two on 23 September, 1 on 25 September. Paynter (1955) reported a "questionable sight record" in December 1950. TM.

RUDDY TURNSTONEArenaria interpres. Up to 40/day in September, November and April. NBV?

*RED KNOT Calidris canutus. Singles on 24 September and 30 November. WV.

SANDERLING C. alba. Up to 100/day in September (80-90% adults), and November (40-50% adults), and up to 23/day in April. WV.

*SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER C. pusilla. Ten juveniles on 23 September and 3 on 24 September. Also one bird on 2 9 November. Howell and others (P. Pyle, S. Webb) have seen and photographed this species regularly at nearby Rio Lagartos from December to February. The north coast of the Yucatan is at the edge of this species' winter range. WV?

*WESTERN SANDPIPER C. mauri. Up to 75/day in September, 50 in November. WV

CALIDRIS sp. Up to 45/day in April, including several Western and probably a few Semipalmated sandpipers.

LEAST SANDPIPER C. minutilla. Up to 500/day in September, 100 in November, and 15 in April. WV.

*WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER C. fuscicol/is. One to two daily, 16- 23 April. TM.

*PECTORAL SANDPIPER C. melanotus. Up to 6/day in April. Al- though not reported from the Yucatan by Paynter ( 1955) this species is a regular transient in the peninsula in both spring and autumn (Storer 1961, Howell and Johnston pers. obs.). TM.

*SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERLimnodromus griseus. Up to 300 in September, 1{)0+ in November, and 100 in April. WV.

9 The Birds ofIsla Hotbox

*POMARINE JAEGER Stercorarius pomarinus. Seven seen off Isla Holbox on 3 February. Offshore WV.

*PARASITIC JAEGERS. parasiticus. One chasing Sandwich Terns off the beach on 24 November. First record for the Yucatan Peninsula. Offshore WV.

LAUGHING GULL Larus atricilla. Up to 160 in September, 300-400 in November, and 55 in April. NBV.

*RING-BILLED GULLL. delawarensis. Upto4first-winterbirdsdaily in November. FirstreportedforthepeninsulabyOrnateta/. (1989). WV.

HERRINGGULLL. argentatus. Upto4immatures/dayinNovember. WV.

*CASPIAN TERN Sterna caspia. One adult on 29 November, 1 on 13 April and 4 on 14 April. WV.

ROYAL TERNS. maxima. Up to 30/day in September, 300-400 in November and 150 in April. Several alternate-plumaged birds and some courtship noted in April. NBV.

*SANDWICH TERNS. sandvicensis. Up to 15 in September, 20 in November and April. Probable NBV.

*FORSTER'S TERNS. forsteri. Two immatures on 23 September, one on 30 November. Although there appears to be only one previous published record ofthis species for the Yucatan Peninsula (Howelll989), Forster's Tern is a regular winter visitor along the north coast of the peninsula (Howell and S. Webb pers. obs.). WV.

' LEAST TERNS. antillarum. Up to 20 juveniles/day in September, and up to 6 adults/day in April, including apparent courtship. The species breeds elsewhere in the northeast Yucatan Peninsula (Ornat et al. 1989). Suspected SR.

*BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger. Different single birds seen on 24 and 25 September. TM.

10 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

BLACK SKIMMERRynchops niger. Nine (including 1 immature) on 25 September, 45 (2 immatures) on 25 September, 4 (2 immatures) on 28 September, 85 on 30November, and 75-100 daily during 13-18 April, but none thereafter. WV.

*ROCK DOVE Iivia. A small population of this exotic species is resident in the village, up to 24 birds counted in September. Presumed BR.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE Zenaida asiatica. One seen daily in Novem- ber, up to 50-60/day in April. This species also engages in marked seasonal movements elsewhere near the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (G. & J. Cobb, pers. com.). SR, rare in winter.

#ZENAIDA DOVE Z. aurita. Up to 20 daily in September, 5 in November, 10 in April. Presumed BR.

*MOURNING DOVE Z. macroura. Singles on 29 November and 19 April. WV.

#COMMON GROUND-DOVE Columbina passerina. Commonly seen in September, November and April. Presumed BR.

# sp. One flushed and seen briefly on 21 Aptj.l, probably a Caribbean Dove, L. jamaicensis. [Presumed BR (uncommon?).]

#AMAZONA sp. One to two seen on several days in April (apparently White-fronted Parrots A. albifrons) may have been escapes from captivity.

*YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO Coccyzus americanus. Singles on 13 and 15 April. TM.

MANGROVE CUCKOO C. minor. Paynter (1955) reported one in December 19 50. Presumed BR.

GROOVE-BILLED ANI Crotophaga sulcirostris. Up to 4 in Septem- ber, 8 in November and 9 in April. Presumed BR.

*LESSER NIGHTHAWK Chordeiles acutipennis. One to 2 seen on 3

11 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

dates, 12-22 April, and a pair on 16 April, including "singing". SR.

*COMMON NIGHTHAWK C. minor. One flew over, calling, on 15 April. TM.

CHORDEILES sp. One on 15 April.

PAURAQUE Nyctidromus albicollis. One on 21 April, 2 on 22 April, 3- 4 on 23 April. Paynter (1955) reported finding the remains of one in December 1950. SR?

#GREEN-BREASTED MANGOAnthracothorax prevostii. One on 19 and 21 April. SR?

FORK-TAILED EMERALD Chlorostilbon canivetii. One on 20 and 21 April, 1 on 23 April. None seen in September or November, but Paynter (1955) reportedafewinDecember 1950. SR?Mostmaywithdrawtothe mainland in winter.

CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD Amazilia rutila. One to two seen most days in September, November and April. Presumed BR.

MEXICAN SHEARTAIL Calothorax eliza. Paynter (1955) collected one in December 1950. Vagrant?

#RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD Archilochus colubris. Up to 4/day in April. TM.

BELTED KINGFISHER Ceryle alcyon. Up to three daily in September, four in November and singles on two days in April. WV.

· *GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER Melanerpes aurifrons. Up to 3/day in April. The lack of previous records of this normally conspicu- ous species suggests it may be a recent arrival on Holbox. Apparently a fairly common BR.

LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERPicoides scalaris. One seen on 21 April. Paynter ( 195 5), in reference to his December 19 50 visit, reported "a single bird was seen" but in the next sentence stated "none was

12 The Birds ofIsla Holbox observed by us.'' Possible BR (rare?).

*YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIAE/aeniaflavogaster. Small number seen daily in April. This species mostly withdraws from much of the Atlantic Slope of Mexico in winter (Howell pers. obs.), apparently in response to Nortes which bring cool wet conditions. Fairly common SR.

*COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER Todirostrum cinereum. One on 16 an easily overlooked species. BR?

*EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE Contopus virens. One on 15 April. TM.

* EMPIDONAX sp. One on 21 April. TM.

*BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERMyiarchus tyrannulus. Small numbers daily in April. As with Yellow-bellied Elaenia, this species largely withdraws from the Atlantic Slope of Mexico in winter. Fairly common SR.

*SOCIAL FLYCATCHERMyiozetetes simi/is. One on 25-26 Septem- ber and up to 3 daily in April. SR?

TROPICAL KINGBIRD Tyrannus melancholicus. Common and con- spicuous BR. As in most open coastal areas ofthe Yucatan the closely related Couch's Kingbird (T. couchii) was absent.

*EASTERN KINGBIRD T tyrannus. One on 25 September and up to 4/day during 14-23 April. TM.

*SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER T. forjicatus. One on 17 April. TM. This species is an uncommon to rare but apparently regular transient and winter visitor to the Yucatan Peninsula, with records from October to May (Howell1989, B. M. de Montes pers. comm., Howell pers. obs.).

*PURPLE MARTIN Progne subis. Three on 23 September, 20 on 24 September, 2 on 19 April. TM.

PROGNE sp. Four on 15 April.

13 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

*TREE SWALLOW Tachycineta bicolor. One on 17 April. TM.

MANGROVE SWALLOW T. a/bilinea. Up to 25 on most days in September and November, and 15-20 in April. Presumed BR.

*NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW Stelgidopteryx serripennis. One to two on 5 dates, 13-19 April. TM.

*BANK SWALLOW Riparia riparia. Singles on 24 September and 16 and 19 April. TM.

*CLIFF/CAVE SWALLOW Hi run do pyrrhonota/fulva. One on 19 April.

*BARN SWALLOW H. rustica. Five on24 September, 8 on 25 September, a late individual on 29 November, and up to 50/day in April. TM.

*SWAINSON'S THRUSH Catharus ustulatus. One on 23 April. TM.

AMERICAN ROBIN Turdus migratorius. Paynter (1955) recorded this species in December 1950. Vagrant?

#GRAY CATBIRD Dumetella carolinensis. One on 20 April. TM.

TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD Mimus gilvus. Common and conspicu- ousBR.

*WHITE-EYED VIREO Vireo griseus. One on 19 April. TM.

MANGROVE VIREO V pal/ens. Fairly common to common BR in mangroves and scrub.

*RED-EYED VIREO V olivaceus. Singles on 6 days, 13-21 April. TM.

*TENNESSEE WARBLER Vermivora peregrina. Up to 2 on 4 days, 13- 23 April. TM.

#NORTHERN PARULA Parula americana. One in the village in November, 1 on 21 April. WV.

14 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

#YELLOW WARBLER Dendroica petechia. Up to 4 on 8 days, 13-22 April. TM

YELLOW [MANGROVE] WARBLER D. petechia erithachorides. Common and conspicuous BR.

*CAPE MAY WARBLER D. tigrina. Singles on 20 and 23 April. TM.

*BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER D. caerulescens. One in the village in November. WV.

#YELLOW-RUMPED [MYRTLE] W ARBLERD. coronata. One on 16-17 April. TM.

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER D. domini ca. One in the village in November; and singles on 16 and 18 April. WV.

*PRAIRIE WARBLER D. discolor. One on 24 September. TM.

PALM WARBLER D. palmarum. A late migrant, none seen in Septem- ber but common by November. Up to 4/day in April included an individual of the race hypochrysea, with all-yellow underparts, on 15 April, appar- ently the first record of this race in Mexico (cf. Paynter 19 55, Miller eta/. 1957). wv.

*BLACKPOLL W ARBLERD. striata. One on 23 April. Although not recorded from the Yucatan Peninsula by Paynter ( 1955) or A. 0. U. ( 1983 ), this species appears to be a rare transient through the north and east of the peninsula in both spring and autumn (Paulson 1986, Zimmerman 1969, G. & J. Cobb pers. comm.). TM.

#BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Mniotilta varia. Two seen in November and singles on 22 and 23 April. WV.

#AMERICAN REDSTART Setophaga ruticil/a. One in November, 1 on 14 April and singles on 15 and 21-23 April. WV.

*PROTHONOTARY WARBLER Protonotaria citrea. Two on 15 April, 5-6 on 23 April. TM.

15 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH Seiurus noveboracensis. Up to 10/ day in September and November, up to 4/day in April. WV.

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT Geothlypis trichas. At least 3 indi- viduals in November, up to 4/day in April. WV.

#HOODED WARBLER Wilsonia citrina. One on 15 April. TM. / *SUMMER TANAGER Piranga rubra. One to two on 3 days, 13-20 April. TM. /

NORTHERN CARDINAL Cardinalis cardinalis. Fairly common BR.

*BLUE GROSBEAK Guiraca caerulea. Up to 8 on 7 days, 12-23 April. ™· *INDIGO BUNTING Passerina cyan ea. Three seen in November, up to 10 on 6 days in April. WV or late TM.

*DICKCISSEL Spiza americana. One on 16 April. TM.

YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT Tiarisolivacea. FairlycommonBR.

*LARK SPARROW Chondestes grammacus. One in the open beach scrub on 23 September. Fourth record for the Yucatan Peninsula, all September to March (B. M. de Montes pers. comm., Howell pers. obs., Paynter 1955). Vagrant.

#SAVANNAB SPARROW Passerculus sandwichensis. At least 3 seen in November. WV.

GRASSHOPPERSPARROWA. savannarum. Paynter(l955) collected one in December 1950. WV.

SAVANNAH/GRASSHOPPER SPARROW Singles on 13-14and 19 April.

*WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW Zonotrichia leucophrys. One im- mature seen daily, 23-29 November. Fourth record for the Yucatan

16 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

Peninsula (Howell1989, B. M. de Montes pers. comm.), all being from mid October to November. Vagrant.

*BOBOLINK Dolichonyx oryzivorus. One on 20-21 April, 3-4 on 23 April. TM.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Agelaius phoeniceus. Up to 15/day in September, up to 25/day, including singing , in April. Not seen in November (when common at Chiquita on the mainland opposite) al- though Paynter ( 1955) recorded the species on Holbox in December 1950. BR.

*MELODIOUS BLACKBIRD Dives dives. Two in the village in September, 1 in November, 2 in April. Uncommon BR?

*GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE Quiscalus mexicanus. Howell saw 25- 30 birds in the village in September and November, and Johnston found an active nest in April. Apparently has colonized Holbox since Paynter's 1950 visit. Fairly common BR.

*BRONZED COWBIRD Molothrus aeneus. Singles on 24 September and 12 and 14 April. Uncommon SR?

#ORCHARD ORIOLE Icterus spurius. Up to 4 on 7 days, April.

HOODED ORIOLE I. cucul/atus. Fairly common BR.

*NORTHERN [BALTIMORE] ORIOLE I. galbula. One on 21 April. TM.

RESUMEN

Se analisa Ia avifauna de la Isla Holbox, A 10-11 km de la costa noreste del Estado de Yucatan, Mexico, anotando observaciones antiguas (Guamer y Paynter) y recientes (Howell y Johnston). Se ha registrado un total de 152 especies de avs para Ia isla y aguas limitrofes de las cuales 21 son residentes anidantes, 14 otras son posibles residentes anidantes, 11 anidan en el verano pero luego se marchan, y el resto son aves migratorias transei:mtes o invemantes o accidentales.

17 The Birds ofIsla Holbox

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the people of the small fishing village of Holbox for their hospitality during our visits to the island. This is contribution number 565 of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory.

LITERATURE CITED

American Ornithologists' Union. 1983. Check-list of North American Birds. 6th ed. A.O.U., Washington, D.C. de Montes, B. M. 1986. A Checklist of the Birds of Central and Northern , Mexico. Published by author. Denham, R. 1959. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) on Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Auk 76: 359-360. Howell, S. N. G. 1989. Additional information on the birds of the Bank, Mexico. J. Field Ornithol. 60:504-509. Miller, A. H., H. Friedmann, L. Griscom and R. T. Moore. 1957. Distributional Check-list of the Birds of Mexico. Part 2. Pac. Coast Avif. 3 3. Ornat, A. L., Lynch, J. F., and de Montes, B. M. 1989. New and noteworthy records ofbirds from the eastern Yucatan Peninsula. Wilson Bull. 101:390-409. Parkes, K. C. 1970. On the validity of some supposed ''first state records'' from the Yucatan Peninsula. Wilson Bull. 82:92-95. Paulson, D. R. 1986. Bird records from the Yucatan Peninsula, Tabasco and Chiapas, Mexico. Burke Mus. Contr. in Anthropol. and Nat. Hist. 3. Paynter, R. A., Jr. 1955. The ornithogeography of the Yucatan Peninsula. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. Yale Univ. Bull. 9. Salvin, 0. 1888. A list of the birds of the islands of the coast of Yucatan and the bay of . Ibis 30:241-265. Salvin, 0. 1889. A list of the birds of the islands of the coast of Yucatan and the bay of Honduras. Ibis 31:359-379. Sclater, P. L., and Shelley, G. E. 1891. Catalogue ofbirds in the British Museum. Vol. 19. London. Zimmerman, D. A. 1969. New records of wood warblers from New Mexico. Auk 86:346-347.

18 NEW RECORDS OF HAWK- EAGLES FROM GUERRERO, MEXICO

SOPHIE WEBB AND STEVEN. G. HOWELL, Point Reyes Bird Observatory, 4990 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, California 94970.

During Aprill988, we observed two species of hawk-eagle on the Pacific Slope of the Sierra Madre del Sur in Guerrero, Mexico. These sightings occurred in mixed coffee tinea and humid forest at about 13 70 m elevation. On 13 April, WebbfoundanadultBlackHawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus) perched about 6 m up in a tree. It was large and overall blackish, with a partially raised distinctly white-streaked crest, and feathered thighs and tarsi coarsely barred with white. From below, the relatively long tail showed three white bands: two were distinct and one was partially hidden by the black and white barred under tail-coverts. After approximately a minute of observation, the bird flew, showing the heavily barred under- wings creating a black-and-white checkered appearance. Later that day, and also on 11 April, we observed an adult Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) soaring. On 13 April it was mobbed by a Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus), which appeared to be about half the hawk-eagle's size. The large broad wings of the hawk-eagle showed some barring and the primaries formed a translucent panel. The relatively long tail was held closed to slightly spread and was strongly banded black and white. The white throat bordered by bold black malars and rufous on the upper chest and sides was distinct. The rest of the underparts looked mottled or barred black and white. While soaring the bird often gave loud piping whistles typical ofthe species: ''whi whee-whee-wheep'' and ''whi wings. There are few records of these two hawk-eagles from the Pacific slope of northern Middle America. While Ornate Hawk-Eagles occur on the Pacific slope from eastern to (Binford 1989, Thurber eta/. 1987, Vannini 1989), the only records north ofthe Isthmus of Tehuantepec are from Colima and adjacent Jalisco (Schaldach 1963, 1969); however, there are no recent reports. Black Hawk-Eagle has been whee-whee-whee-whee''. It accompanied the calling by quivering its

The Euphonia 2: 19-21, 1993

19 New records ofHawk-Eagle from Guerrero Mexico infrequently recorded from El Salvador (Thurber et a/. 1987), and (Vannini 1989), but there are no previous records of this species from the Pacific Slope of Mexico. Thus, these sightings comprise a significant range extension for Black Hawk-Eagle and add to the knowledge of Ornate Hawk-Eagle distribution.

Ornate Hawk-Eagle Sketch by Shawneen Finnegan

RESUMEN

Se describen observaciones de do especies de aguilas del genero Spizaetus: Aguila tirana (Spizaetus tyrannus) y Aguila elegante (Spizaetus ornatus), el 13 y 14 de abril 1988, en del sur en el estado de Guerrero, Mexico en bosque hiunedo mezclado con tinea de cafe, a una altura de 1400 m. Hay muy pocos registros de estas dos especies en la vertiende del Pacifico en e1 Norte de Mesoamerica. S. ornatus ocurre desde Oaxaca oriental hasta El Salvador, y los imicos registros al norte del Istmo de Tehuantepec son

20 de Colima y Jalisco y no recientes. S. tyrannus ha sido registrada in frecuentemente en El Salvador y Guatemala y numca en Ia vertiende occidental de Mexico. Estos dos registros representan pues una extension significante en Ia distribuci6n deS. tyrannus, y aumentan el conocimiento de Ia distribuci6n de S. ornatus.

LITERATURE CITED

Binford, L. C. 1989. A distributional survey of the birds of the Mexican State of Oaxaca. Ornithol. Monog. No.3. Am. Ornithol. Union, Washington, DC. Schaldach, W. J., Jr. 1963. The avifauna of Colima and adjacent Jalisco, Mexico. Proc. W. Found. Vert. Zool. 1:1-100. Schaldach, W. J., Jr. 1969. Further notes on the avifauna of Colima and adjacent Jalisco, Mexico. An. Inst. Bioi. UNAM 40, Ser. Zool. (2):229-316 Thurber, W.A., J.F. Serrano, A. SermenoandM. Benitez. 1987. status of uncommon or previously unreported birds ofEl Salvador. Proc. W. Found. Vert. Zool. 3:109-293. Vannini, J.P. 1989. Neotropical raptors and deforestation: notes on diurnal raptors at Finca El Faro, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. J. Raptor Res.23(2):27-38.

21 A "BLUE-HEADED" SOLITARY VIREO FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA

Gene Anderson, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A.

The Eastern or ''Blue-headed'' race ofthe Solitary Vireo (Vireo soli tarius solitarius) is apparently unrecorded for Baja California (Wilbur 1987: 13 9). I observed a bird apparently ofthis subspecies at El Descanso, approx. 30 km north of Ensenada, on January 16, 1988. The bird differed from western races in having a very "blue" (blue-gray) head, a grass-green back and bright butter-yellow underparts. Western races are more uriiformly gray-green or olive-green, without the intense colors and, above all, without such strong and sharply demarcated contrasts between the colors. The bird was feeding in the dense willow thicket near the mouth of the Rio Descanso. It was observed at close range for about 15 minutes total time, over a period of half an hour. TheEl Descanso willow grove is an important wintering area that often produces interesting records, such as a Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens; Wilbur 1987: 142-143). The whole area of the river mouth is important and rich in birds. It deserves attention from biologists and conservationists.

RESUMEN

Se describen un observaci6n ( el primero para Baja California) de Vireo solitarius solitarius en un sausal en el valle del Rio Descanso, 30 km norte de Ensenada, Baja California, 16 enero 1988.

The Euphonia 2: 22, 1993

22 RECENT ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE

Anderson, G. 1992. Can ancient Maya wisdom save our favorite birds from the cows? Western Tanager 58(6): 1-4. Anderson presents an impassioned plea to "eat less beef," after describing the horrors of ganaderizacion ("cattleization") in Mexico. The story is interesting, thought -provoking, and, I hope, effective. A brief annotated list is presented at the end of the story, which includes birds seen by Anderson at , Quintana Roo, during his stay there from February through early August 1991. [Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA 92521.]- M.A.P.

Brown, B. T.; W. C. Leibfried, T. R. Huels, andJ. A. Olivera. 1991. Prey remains from Bald Eagle nests in Sonora, Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 36:259-262. Seven samples of prey remains were examined from three of the five known Bald Eagle nests in the Rio Yaqui area of Sonora. Nesting eagles were found to feed mainly (72% ofbiomass taken) upon fish, with introduced catfish (Ictalurus sp. ), carp ( Cyprinus carpio), and river carpsucker (Carpi odes carpio) being the three most commonly captured. About 18% oftheir diet was birds, with American Coot (Fulica americana) being the most common victim. Surprisingly, remains from cottontail, ground squirrel, and skunk were also found in the [P. 0. Box 3741, Tucson, Arizona, USA 85722.]- M.A.P.

Hinkelmann, C. 1990. [Biogeography and systematics in tropical hummingbirds (Trochilidae).], in Current Topics in Avian Biology (R. vandenElzen,K.-L. Schuchmann,andK. Schmidt-Koenig,eds.),pp. 25- 30. Proc. Inter. Centennial Meeting, Deutsche Ornithol.-Gesellschaft. This article is in German, with an English abstract. Using '' cladistically oriented investigations,'' Hinkelmann examines species limits within the Little Hermit (Phaethornis longuemareus) complex. After presenting some morphological characters that he examined (but no data), he recognizes four species in this complex which he states ''possibly orginated in forest refuges' ' during the Pleistocene.'' He calls these hermit specit:s striigularis (ranging from southeastern Mexico to Colum- bia), longuemareus (Venezuela), atrimentalis (southern Colmbia to

The Euphonia 2: 23-24, 1993

23 Recent Ornithological Literature

Peru), and idaliae (southeastern Brazil). All ofthese were considered one polyphetic species in the "Peter's Checklist" (Museum Comp. Zool., Harvard Univ., 1945). More recently, Sibley and Monroe (Distribution andTaxonomyofBirdsofthe World, 1990)splitida/iaefromlonguemareus, but they leave the other three ''species'' under the single moniker ofLittle Hermit, Phaethornis longuemareus. [Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 150-164, 5330 Bonn 1, Germany.] - M.A.P.

Parkes, K. C. 1990. Additional records of birds from Oaxaca, Mexico. Occasional Papers ofthe Western Foundation ofVertebrate Zoology No. 5. 13 pp. Lawrence C. Binford did not consult the "small" collection of Oaxaca specimens housed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History prior to publication of his excellent A Distributional Survey ofthe Birds ofthe Mexican State ofOaxaca (Ornithol. Monograph 43, 1989). Parkes' clearly written paper places the Carnegie data on record and supplements Binford's monograph. Most of the data (92 study skins, 11 alcoholic specimens, and one skeleton) presented are additional records of rare species, stomach contents, or soft parts coloration. Parkes indicates that "in no instance do the Carnegie data warrant changes in Binford's assessments of relative abundance.'' [Available for $3.00 US from the WestemFoundationofVertebrateZoology, 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo, California, USA 93010] - M.A.P.

Winker, K., M.A. Ramos, J. H. Rappole, and D. W. Warner. 1992. A note on Campylopterus excellens in southern Veracruz, with a guide to sexing captured individuals. Journal ofField Ornithology 63:339- 343. Ecological and sexing information are presented for the Long-tailed Hermit, a species occurring rather sparingly in the tropical rainforests of the Isthmus ofTehuantepec. Male song, displays, and ritualized combat are described. Interspecific behavior with the Violet Sabrewing (C. hemileucurus) are also described. A formula is presented for sexing individuals in-hand: wing chord+ tail> 123.9 mm for, wing chord+ tail < 120.7 mm for . Some potentially useful ageing criteria are also mentioned. [Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church Street, SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 55455.] - M.A.P.

24 tJ:j 0

(X) 0 tr1 -t.>. \Jl

(/)

5

-!iS . () :E

0 -! iS .

\0 \.N -t.>. \Jl _0\ s: )>