Volume 57 Number 2 Article 5

Great Basin Naturalist Great Basin Naturalist Volume 57 Number 2 Article 5 5-7-1997

Late fall and early spring bird observations for Mulegé, Baja Late fall and early spring bird observations for Mulegé, Baja California Sur, Mexico

California Sur, Mexico

Robert C. Whitmore

West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia R. Craig Whitmore

Mulege, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn

Recommended Citation Recommended Citation

Whitmore, Robert C. and Whitmore, R. Craig (1997) "Late fall and early spring bird observations for Mulegé, Baja California Sur, Mexico," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 57 : No. 2 , Article 5.

Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol57/iss2/5

Crt::at Basin NatumhJ'lt 57(2), tel 1997, pp. 131-141

LATE FALL AND EARLY SPRING BIRD OBSERVATIONS

FOR MULEGE, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUB, MEXICO

Robert C. Whitmore! and R. Craig Whitmore2

ABsrRAcr.-Observational data from spring and fall 1996 and ~..pring 1997 for the region near Mulege, Baja California Sur. Mexico, are summarized in tabular form. In addition, new or noteworthy data for 17 species are annotated to provide clarification of previously published records. A umquely plumaKed bird, too far south for a female American Robin

(TIR"-dUoS migratnrltLf) in basic plumage and too far north for the endemic "San [Alue;" Rohin (.lUrdus migrutorius confinis) and

intennediate in coloration between the two, was recorded. Range expansions are documented for several !l-pecies

includ-ing European Starlinclud-ing (Stumns t>ulgtnis), Anoa's Hummingbird (Colypte /'Will), Western MeadO\....lark {SturneUn negle.cta},

White-faced Ibi' (Pl<~adischkhi). and White-fronted ('.oose (Anser ,dbijro"..). Least G,ebc, (Tachyhaj>Ws dominicus), a

species of concern which i<; apparently declining in numbers, and Belding's Yellowthroat (Geothlypis bc~i), a spccie.'l endemic to Baja California Sur, were obselVcd in the fre.'lhwater marsh during all 3 study pcriOOs.

Key words: Btya Culifomin. Stu; Mexico; Mw.egc. bird records, range expansion, desert naris.

The avifauna of Baja Cali/oruia (hereafter BC), the second longest and most geographi-cally isolated peninsula in the world (Grismer

aJ1d McGuire 1993), is one of the most

inter-esting, yet poorly studied, in North America (Wilbur 1987, Howell and Webb 1995). Late 19th and early 20th century natural history work in BC has been summarized by E. D.

Nelson (1921) and

J.

Grinnell (1928). Much of

the recent ornithological effort has been con-centrated in either the coast and mountains of n"'thern BC (Kiff et al. manuscript in prep-aration, Patten et al. 1993, Unitt et al. 1995), lagoons of the Pacific coast (Massey and Palacios 1994), offshore islands (Anderson 1983, Cody 1983), or southernmost regions from La Paz to the cape (Rodriquez-Estrella and Rivera-Rodri-quez 1992, Carmona et al. 1994, Guzman et

aI.

1994). This report summarizes early spring 1996 and 1997 and late faIl 1996 observations for the area near M ulege, Baja California Sur (hereafter BCS).

MuJege is located on the east coast of BCS north of Babia Concepcion and south of Santa

Rosalia, straddling 26"53' ,111 "58W (Fig. 1). Vehicular access is by means of Mexico High-way 1, a reasonably maintained 2-lane asphalt road passable during all but the wettest sea-sons, approximately 800 Ian south of Tijuana, Baja California No,te (hereafter BCN), and 500 km north of the cape. A landing sbip at the

Hotel Serinidad, approximately 2 km east of the town, supports small aircraft, while the nearest commercial air service is to Loreto, approxi-mately 132 km south. Its distance from both the nmthern and southern population centers makes Mulege accessible only to hardy travelers.

The area features both a brackish water tidal estuary, Rio Mulege, and a small, year-round spring-fed freshwater lagoon. The former is small, <3

km

long, runs primarily west to east, and includes a poorly developed saltwater marsh of cordgrass

(Spartina folwsa,

Gramineae), glass-wort

(Salicornia bigelovii,

Chenopodiac-eae), and saltworl (Batis maritima; plant names follow Roberts [1989]). A narrow mangrove commu-nity, principally black mangrove

(Avicennia

germinans, Avicenniaceae) and red mangruve

(Rhizophora mangle, Rhizophoraceae), occurs

irregularly along tbe estuary and on several small islands within its boundaries. Above tbe high tide zone are scattered stands of mangle dulce (Mayte.ws

phyllnnthaides,

Celastraceae). Lining the southeru edge of the estuary are several "retirement" communities consisting of permanent houses

and

semipermanent

domi·

ciles formed by modifying various types of motor homes and trailers. Many residents pro-vide supplemental food for hirds in the fonn of typical "backyard" grain feeders and hum-mingbird feeders filled witb sugar water. Asso-ciated with these communities are numerous

IOivisioll urR"\:.,,try, PO 8o.l6125, ~t V~aia University, MOI-gaJ",hlWll, wv 26&)().6U5.

2Aplu1ado 10, Q.uis nio Mu1o#. M"u:ge, BajaQilifun';1L SUI:, Mc:dco.

132 GREAT BASIN NATURALIST' [Volume 57

4

6

"

ANNOTATED SPECIES ACCOUNTS

west of the lagoon an arroyo meanders through the center of a broad valley. The arroyo con-tains water only during seasonally heavy rains. Portions of the valley are heavily irrigated with

ancestral water and support citrus orchards, corn, garlic, onions, alfalfa, some truck crops,

and pasture. Annual rainfall averages

<

12 em,

the average computed from numerous years without rain interspersed with an occasional

heavy downpour.

Ornithologically, the Mulege region has re-ceived only anecdotal attention (Wilbur per-sonal communication, Howell and Webb 1992),

even though the area is home to 3 species

endemic to BC, Xantus' Hummingbird (nomen-clature follows the 1983 AOU Check-list with appropriate supplements; see Appendix for scientific names), Belding's Yellowthroat, and Gray Thrasher. In addition, recent observations indicate that a small colony of Least Grebes breed within the freshwater lagoon at Mulege (Howell and Webb 1992, personal observation) and large concentrations of Hooded Oriole breed in the palmar.

Field data were collected during February, March, April, and November 1996 and Febru-ary and March 1997. The data consist of direct observation enhanced with playbacks of

re-corded songs/calls. Here we summarize new, noteworthy or locale-specific information for 17 species, some of which may be considered common, but for which no Mulege records are

provided in published sources (e.g., Nelson 1921, Grinnell 1928, Wilbur 1987, Howell and Webb 1992, 1995). In addition, we provide

tab-ular summarization of our data for all species observed during the 3 time periods. Precise

latitude/longitude locations were determined using GPS (Gannin model #100), while approx-imate (hereafter approx.) locations were deter-mined from an atlas of surface maps (Topo-graphic International, Inc. 1986).

Least Grebe. Observed at the freshwater oasis each day it was visited. In spring adults

were attracted to tape recordings of their ad-vertisement and distress calls. As many as 6

adults could be seen at 1 time within 50 m of the tape player. All birds observed in March were in full adult breeding plumage (red eyes and lack of a white throat). Two juveniles were observed on 26 April 1996. This species was 31 27 29 25 23 110 112 11. 12. 13. 14 15 •

•

•

1e • 17 114

Fig. L Outline map of 2 states in Los Estados Unidas

de :Mexico, Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur,

showing approximate position of prominent locations: 1, Tijuana; 2, Ensenada; 3, Maneadero; 4, San Felipe; 5,

Santo Domingo; 6, Bahia de San Quintin; 7, EI Rosario; 8, Cataviiia; 9, Bahia de Los Angeles; 10, Guerrero Negro;

11, San Ignacio; 12, Santa Rosalia; 13, Mulege; 14, Bahia

Concepcion; 15, La Purfsima; 16, Comondu; 17, Loreto;

18, Ciudad Insurgentes; 19, Bahia Magdalena; 20, La Paz; 21, La Laguna; 22, San

Jose

del Cabo.

ornamental plantings and scattered palms

in-cluding native Mexican fan palm

(Washingtonia

robusta,

Arecaceae) and introduced date palm

(Phoenix dactylifera,

Arecaceae). Dense stands of these species are locally referred to as the "palmar."

The freshwater lagoon, approximately 1.5 km long and 10-30 m wide depending on

sea-son, is formed by damming the main spring, primarily to prevent tidal saltwater

contamina-tion. It supports a small community, a plantation of date palms, a dense stand of rush

(JuncWJ

sp., Juncacae), and limited citrus and mango orchards. The lagoon is highly impacted by domestic cattle and pigs, which run freely and have trampled significant portions of the edge habitat. Away from the water, habitat abruptly

transforms into sarcocaulescent desert

(Wig-gins 1980) dominated by

Cercidium, Bursera,

J997] BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO, BIRD R£COnDs 133 not recorded in brackish water of tidal Rio

Mulege. Based on playbacks, we estimate that there were at least 8 pairs of Least Grebes in

the oasis; we know of at lea~t 1 successful

nest-ing attempt. Howell and Webb (1992) also

ob-served them in the oasis and cited 2 other

ohservations, from 1987 and 1988. This species

was formerly common in the cape region but

has declined in that area because of habitat degradation (Wilbur 1987:32-33). Since this oasis is highly impactcd by humans and appears

to be degenerating and since this situation is

common at most of the other BC oases (Wilbur 1987, Crismer and McGuire 1993), there is little hope for long-term survival of the local

population.

Western Grebe. One observed at Estero

San Marcus, a saltwater lagoon locatcd approx. 20 km nmiheast of :vtulege (approx. 27°07' ,

112°04'W). Wilbur (1987:34) lists tltis species as "occasional" in the Gulf of California while Howell aod Webh (1995:97) inclode it as a non-breeding (wiotering) species "less common" in the gulf than on the Pacific coast. Howell and Webh (1992) provide 5 winter records, 3 of

which are from the Pacific coast, 1 from the

interior and 1 from tbe Cape region. The loca-tion closest to Mulege is San Ignacio (approx. 27° 17'N, 112 °54'W).

White-faced Ibis. On 12 November !fl96

we observed 4 individuals feeding iu an

irri-gated alfalfa field ahout 8 km west of Mulege. On 15 November 1996 at Rio Mulege, we ob· served 4 feeding individuals on exposed mud flats at low tide. [t cannot be determined if

these 2 sightings were the same individuals.

Wilbur (1987:51) lists this species as a rare

transient, providing 3 location records:

Manea-dero (approx. 31 °44'N, 116°33'W), La Purisima (approx. 26° 12'N, 112°04'W), aod 3 records at La Paz (approx. 24°08'N, 110° 17'W). An im-mature was recorded on 11 June 1991 at San Jose del Cabo (approx. 23°03'N, 109'43'W; Howell and Wehb 1992). The range map in Howell and Webb (1995:147) includes all of Baja as transient/wintering range, but the

account does not provide documentation for

BCS.

Greater White-fronted Goose. On 11

November 1996 nine individuals were in an

irrigated alfalfa field approximately 10 km west of Mulege. Tbey took off, flying due east down the valley toward the town. On 14 November 1996 we observed 9 individuals

from close range

«

10 m) swimming in the freshwatc.- lagoon at Mulege. The furthest south for which Wilbur (1987:53) provides documentation is Bahia San Quintin (approx. 300

27'N, 115°57'W) on the Pacific coast. The range map in Howell and Webb (1995:155)

shows the transient/winter range of tbis sp<...->cies

only on the Pacific coast side of the peninsula, although the west coast of mainland Mexico is included.

Anna's IInmmingbird. We found tllis species to he commoo at feeders, with documented sight records continuously from 29 February through early April 1996, when all hummingbird use of feeders diminished. Howell and Webb (1992) report them in October north of Mulege at Cuerrero Negro (approx. 27°58'N, 114°03'W) on the west coast and south at tbe EI Tripui rCSOli south of Loreto (approx. 26' " 111 °27'W) on the east coast. Wilbur (1987:109) reports that

the species is an "uncommon resident" south

to 30' on the mainland and to 28° on islands. Howell and Webb (1995:425) state that Anna's

Hummingbirds winter south to about Guer-rero Negro. The maximum number we recorded

at any 1 time was 4 individuals (2 males llnd 2 females on 3 March 1996).

Rufous HUffiJningbird. For this report we assume that individuals with rufous tails and

green backs were Allen's Hommingbirds while

those with rufous tails and rufous backs were

Rufous HUmnUngbirds (although this may be unreliable; Phillips 1975, Kaufman 1990). From 1 March through 2.5 March 1996 they were abundant at feeders, with peak numbers (>7 males and > 5 females seeo at 1 time) on 3 March. The last individual (1 female) was seen on 25 March. When present, we noted that they donJ..inated all other species at the

feed-ers, including the much larger Xanlus'

Hum-mingbird. Howell aod Webb (1995:428) do not

include this species on their range map for

BCS, while Wilbur (1987:109-110) states tbat it is an "... uncommon spring and fall tran-sient the length of the peninsula...." None of

Wilbur's documented sites, howevel~ include

Mulege. Phillips (1975) postulates a spring

migration route out of the state of Sinaloa into Sonord, :\1exico, and across the Sea of Cortez

at approximately 30° N. Our data indicate that

the crossover is at least 26" and possibly fur-ther south.

134 GREAT BASIN NATURALIST [Volume 57

departing nearly 2 wk before the last Rufous Hummingbird. Howell and Webb (1995: 428--429) do not include this species in BCS, while Wilbur (1987:110) lists them as common

to abundant transients in ". , . northwestern

Baja Califomia . . . ," presumably not BCS. Phillips (1975) summarizes specimen locations

for this species, noting only 6 spring

speci-mens, 1 each on 22 February 192.5 at Santo Domingo (approx. 30' 46'N, 115' .57'W on the Pacific coast) and 25 February 1925 at San Quintin (approx. 30'27'N, 115'57'W on the Pacific coast), and 4 on 2 March 1945 at Isla Ccdros (a continental island approx. 28' 15'N, 115'20'W on the Pacific side). There were no

specimen records for BCS and nOile for

main-land Mexico for April and May. Our data sup-port the contention that Allen's Hummingbirds

complete their northward migration before

Rufous Hummingbirds but not the supposition

that they cross the Sea of Cortez at about 30' north.

Costa's Humminghird. Although it is widely

known that this species is the most abundant hummingbird in desert areas of Be, we report

3 unusual nest locations. The 1st site was an

active nest with 2 eggs that was constructed

on a piece of fishnet material slung under a blne glass fishing float nscd as a decoration

hanging on a patio outside a home.

Interest-ingly, the nest was adomed with pale blue plastic fibers (perhaps from a pinata?) which nearly exactly matched the glass of the float. We discovered the nest when it had 2 eggs, both of which hatched and later fledged. The

2nd and 3rd nests were located under the edge of television satellite dishes adjacent to patios. The contents of the 1st Costa's nest were

unknown, but the female was silting tight from 1 March through 15 March 1996. Its ultimate

outcome is likewise unknown. The 2nd nest contained 2 nestlings that were being fed as of

9 March 1997.

Red-breasted Sapsucker. One, an adult

male, was observed on 3 consecutive days in

early March 1997 in the mixed mesquitc!"pal-mar" habitat edging Rio Mulege. We place

these observations on record, since Wilbur

(1987:111-112) states that they are a "... sparse

winter visitor October to February throughout

..." Be

and provides only Grinnell's (1928)

location summaries, none of which is within

250 km of Mulege.

American Robin. One individual was

ob-served by 3 people over a 2-h period on 15 November 1996 at the Rancho La Ventana,

approximately 10 km west of Muleg6 in an agricultural area. The bird in question was ex-tremely gray in coloration and was initially identifIed by us as a female American Robin in basic plumage. However, after examining our

field notes, field guide illustrations, several

American Robin females collected in Baja or

nearby desert locales, and 8 specimens of "San Lucas" Robins collected in Baja, we are left

undecided about the positive identification of this bird. The back, wings, nape, crown, and forehead were too gray and the breast and abdomen were not rufous enough for a desert area American Robin female in unworn basic plumage. However, the breast and abdomen were not as "washed out" as a typical "San Lucas" Robin. In either event the record is of

note since Wilbur (1987:132) lists American

Robins as an ". . . uncommon migrant and winter visitor, chiefly in the north ..." with supportive sightings including December at

Bahia de Los Angeles (approx. 29'N, 113'34'''"') and May at La Laguna (approx. 23'06'N, 109' 36'W) in the cape region. In addition, he

lists the "San Lucas" Robin as native only to the mountains of the cape region. Howell and

Webb (1995:592) include similar information

from the above locations in their range maps. Neither reference includes the area surround-ing Mulege. In addition, American Robins are

listed as breeding in BCN (Howell and Webb 1992). In summmy, the individual we observed was more than 200 km south of the published

range of the American Robin and more than

300 km north of the range of the "San Lucas" Robin. The plumage did not fit "perfectly"

either of the two, but was closer to the latter. European Starling. During November we

observed this species daily in the agricultural valley west of Mulege. This species was less

common in spring of 1996, but during spring

1997 many individuals were observed

defend-ing potential hole nest locations amongst the

card6n (Pachycereus). This is south of previ-ously published winter sightings at Guerrero Negro (approx. 27'58'N, 114 '03'W; Wilbur 1987:137, Howell and Webb 1992, 1995:613).

This species appears to be continuing its south-ward colonization route.

Pyrrhuloxia. Observed commonly during

1997] BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO, BIRD RECORDS 135 of habitats including backyard feeders,

irri-gated cropland, opeu desert and mixed scrub, contrary to Grinuell (1928: 184) who confines

the species to mesquite (Prosopis sp.,

Mimos-oideae) associations. Mulege is ncar the

north-ern edge of the year-round range of this and

the following specics (Wilbur 1987:148, How-ell and Webb 1995:682). Supporting spring

documentation for Pyrrhuloxia includes "very

rare" at Santa Rosalia (approx 27°20'N, 112° 16'W, approx. 30 km north of Mulege), "fairly common" at Sauta Aguenda (approx.

2T03'N, 112° 25'W, betweeu Santa Rosalia

and Mulege), Bahia Agua Verde (approx. 25°28'N, 111 °15'W, south of Loreto), aud El Triunfo (approx. 23 °45'N, 110 °

to'w,

south of La Paz).

Northern Cardinal. Observed on several

dates and at several locations, including 3

March 1996 in mixed shrub habitat, 7 March 1996 at a feeder iu the Oasis Rio Mulege, and

captured on 8 March 1997 in a mist net located

in desert scrub habitat 10 km west of town.

Many of the contour feathers covering the back

of this individual were either entirely gray or

tipped with gray, typical of desert-dwelling

cardim-us in basic plumage, This gave a pale cast to the overall ventral appearance. Northern Cardinals are common and widespread south

of Santa Rosalia (approx. 27°20'N, 112° 16'W; Wilbur 1987:148, Howell and Webb HJ9,5:

681-682), although no records for Mulege are included.

Clay-colored Sparrow. In November this

species was observed on multiple days, often

within flocks of Lark Sparrows and Brewer's

Sparrows, foraging in the edges of irrigated

fields approx. 10 km west of Mulege. They are

"common winter visitors to the Cape District

October to April ... only a few reports north oflat 25° ..." (Wilbur 1987:153). Documented records include Cataviiia (approx. 29 °44'N, 114 °43'W) and San Ignacio (approx. 27° 17'N, 112°54'W), Howell and Webb's (1995:716)

range map does not include the Muleg6 area.

Song Sparrow. The distributiou of this

spe-cies in central Baja is problematic. Although

listed in both Wilbur (1987:157-158) and Howell and Webb (1995:725) as present at the

same latitude as Mulege, the text description in Wilbur lists locations only west of the cen-tral mountains, including records from San

Ignacio (approx. 2T30'N, 112°50'W) south to

Comondu (approx. 26 °lO'N, 111° 40'W; Wilbur

1987). This matches the range map given in Grinnell (1928:176, Figure 13). For latitude 26 °_27° N the range map in Howell and Wchb

identifies the area east of the central moun-tains. Given the species song/call, especially in

spring (March/April), it should have been easy

to observe. However, we have no records from

early springl1ate fall 1996, although a single male did respond to a song playback on 2 dif-ferent days at the freshwater lagoon in early March 1997. Song Sparrows are known from 3

additional areas in BC: northwest coastal

moun-tains south to El Rosario (approx. 300 03'N, 115° 44'W), Rio Colorado (exact location un-known but approx. 31 °50'N, 114 °15'W), and a

small population discovered recently in the

oasis at Cataviiia (approx. 29°44'N, 114°43'W; Howell and Pyle 1990).

Western Meadowlark. This species was

heard/seen regularly, March 1996 and 1997 and November 1996, in irrigated alfalfa fields approx. 10 km west of Mulege. They are known

breeders in northwestern BC with winter

records south to San Ignacio (approx. 2T20'N,

Il2"50'W; Wilbur 1987:160-161). Howell and Webb (1992, 1995:738) include all of BCS as

winter range and include 1 summer record

from Ciudad Insurgentes (approx. 25° 10'N, 111°45'W), taking advantagc of recent

agricul-tural development.

Brown-headed Cowbird. Although nonc were observed during spring 1996 or 1997, a small flock «20 individuals) was observed on 13 November and again on 15 November 1996 foraging in a heavily grazed alhlfa field in the agricultural valley approx. 10 km west of

Mulege. Although the range map in Howell and Webb (1995:742) places the year-round

range of this species throughout BC, no

docu-mentation is provided. Wilbur (1987:162) lists

this species as a regular winter visitor south to the cape district, with 1 supportive record for

La Paz (approx. 24°10'N, 1100

35'W) in Janu-ary, but as a breeder only in BCN. Our data

support the contention that cowbirds are win-ter visitants to the Mulege, not year-round residents.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank John and Jane Boyd, Russell and

Joanne Evans, Ted and Ann Manyk, and Gene

and Lydia Tobias for access to their property/

136 GREAT BASIN NATURALIST [Volume 57 observations and anecdotal information. VVe

thank S. R. Wilhur, D. W. Anderson, S. N. G. Howell,

J.

Guzman, E. Palacios, B. Massey, R.

Rodriguez- Estrella, and L. F Kiff for advice,

encouragement, and updated observational

data. We thank K. Parkes at the Camegie Museum of Natural History, Pittshurgh, Penn-sylvania, for access to and advice concerning

specimens of American Robin, "San Lucas"

Robin, and Northem Gardinal. In addition, we thank M. M. Campbell and 2 anonymous re-viewers for constructive comments for the im-provement of earlier drafts. We thank L. Gribko and

J.

Bell for assistance with Figure 1. Travel fundiug for Rohert G. Whitmore was obtained from the College of Agriculture and Forestry at West Virginia University. Finally, we thank Ruth M. Whitmore for continued patience and

cheerful support, even in the early morning

hours. This manuscript is published with the approval of the Director, West Virginia Agri-cultural and Forestry Experiment Station, as Scientific Publication #2606.

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KleptopardSitism and other intemctions of crested caracara in the cape region, Baja California, Mexico. Journal offield Ornithology 63: J.77-180.

TOI'(X;IIAI'liIC INTF.RNATIONAI.. INc..;. 1986. Baja topographic

atlas directory. Box: 5794, San Clemente, CA

92676-8794.

UNITf, P., A. M. REA, E. PALACIOS, E. MELLrNK, L. ALFARO,

AND S. GONzALEZ. 1995. Noteworthy records of birds

in northwestern Raja California, Mexico. Western

Birds 26: 144-154.

WIGGINS, 1. L 1980. Flom uf Baja California. Stanford ni-versity Press, Stanford, CA. l()'J....5 pp.

WILBUII, S. R. 1987, Binls of Baja California. University of

C~litomiaPress, Berkeley. 253 pp.

Received 3 ]lJnuary 1997

1997]

BAJA CALIFORNL~ SUR, lEXICa, BIRD REcORDS

137

APPENDIX

Summary of observational bird data arranged by habitat type. Abundant (A) == seen daily with little or no effort, com· mon (C) = usually seen in appropriate habitat by experienced observer, fairly common (F) = seen more than once in

appropriate habitat by experienced observer, uncommon (U) = seen in appropriate habitat by experienced observer

looking specifieaUy for that species, rare (R) = seen once in appropriate habitat by experienced observer.

Habitat type

Pelagic Freshwater Saltwater Irrigated Sarcocaulescent

and shore _lagoon3 _{estua.ry3 cropland' desert}

Speciesl Status2 Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa Least Grebe Re C C (TachybapttlS dominicus) Pied-biJIed Grebe Re F F (Podilymbu, pod;c..,,) Eared Grebe Mi A A (Podiup, nigriroUi.s) Blue-footed Booby Re C C (Su!o nebouxii) Brown Booby Re A A (Sula leucogaster) Brown Pelican Re A A (Pelecalw$ occidentalis) Double-crested Cormorant Re A A (phalacrcx;m-"" auritw) Brandt's Cormornnt Re C C (p1w.IOCf"ocorax penicillatus) Magnificent Frigatebird Re A A (Fn~gata magniftcens)

Great Blue Heron R. C C C C

(Ardea herodias)

Creat Egret Re C C C C C C

(Cas_odi", alba)

Soo·w)' Egret Re C C C C C C

(Egretta thula)

Little Blue Heron Re F F

(Egretf.a caerulea) Tricolored Heron Re U U (EgreHa tricalor) Reddish Egret Re F F (E.,,<¥'ettQ 1'Ujescetl3) Cattle Egret Re F F F F (Bubulcn, ilm) Creen-bad,ed Heron Re U U (Butor1des striatus) Black-crowned Night-Heron Un C C (Nycticorax) Yellow-crowned Nigbt-Heron Un F F (Nycticorox violacen3) White-faced Ibis Wi _{U U} (pkgadi' ch;h;)

Greater White-fronted Goose Wi R R

(A.,e.- a/hi!ro.,)

Green-winged Teat Wi U U

(Anas crecca)

Mallard Wi F F F F

138 GREKf BASIN NATUIIALfST [Volume 57

Habitat type

Pelagic Freshwater Saltwater Irrigated San:o(;aulesccnt

aud shor~ lagoon3 estuarr cropLandJ _desert

Speciesl Status2 Sp Fa _51' F

,

5p Fa _51' Fa _51' Fa Northern Pintail Wi

e

e

(AWlS """ta) Rllle~winged 'leal Wi F F (AntIS discors) Cinnamon Teal Wi U U (J\nas septen.t:rio1ltdiutn) Gadwall Wi U U lJ U (Nws ""epero) American Wigeon Wi

e

e

(AWlS ameri=ul) Redhead Wi (Aythya collari..~) Ring-necked Duck Wi F F F F (Aythya a1TU!rWww) Lesser Scaup Wi

e

e

e

e

(Aythya _/finis) Bufflehead Wi F ~' (Bn""phala allJeola)

Ruddy Duck _lie

e

e

(Oxyurajamaiu'nSls)

Osprey lie A A F F A A

(pandion lwliCletus)

('..ooper's Hawk I\e U U U U

(Accipiter conrert)

Northern Harri~l' lie U

(Circus cyane.us)

Harris Hawk _lie U

(Ptl.rtlbuteo lmcifl,ctus)

Red-tailed Hawk lie

e

e

e

c

(Buteo jamuicens-is)

American Kestrel lie

e

e

e

c

(11IIIeo sparoerius)

Mel·lin Wi U

(Fa1ro columJuwius)

Peregrine Falcon lie U

(Fulco peregrinu.~)

California Quail I\e A A A A

(Callipepla eaU/onlWa)

Som lie F F U U

(poruma carolina)

Common Moorhen lie F F

(Gallmula chlamp,,,)

American Coot lie A A

e

e

1997]

BAJA CAUFORNIA SUR, MEXICO, BIRD RECORDS 139

Habitat type

Pelagic Freshwater Saltwater Irrigated Sarcocaulescent

and shore lagoon3 _{estuary,) cropland}3 _desert

Speciesl Status2 Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp F. American Avocet Wi U U (Recuroirostra americana) Greater YeLLowlegs Wi U F U F (lHnga melano1euw) Solitary Sandpiper Wi F F (Tringa solitari-a) Willet Wi C C C C (Cataptrophorus semipalmatus) Spotted Sandpiper Wi _F f F F (Actitis '11Ull,'Ularia) Whimbre1 Wi F F F f (Numenws phaeOJnu) Long-billed Curlew Wi F F F f F f (Numeniw americanus) Marbled Godwit Wi F F (Limo,a fedoa) Sanderling Wi U (Calidris alba) Bonaparte's Gull \\, _{A A} (Larus philadelphw) Heerman's Gull Re C C C C (LantS heennanni) Yellow-footed Gull Re C C C C (£Crus livens) Elegant Tern Re C f C f (Sterna elegans) "''hite-winged Dove Re F F C A C A (Zenaida asiatica) Mourning Dove Re U U U U U U (Zenaida m=ra) Common Ground-Dove Re F F F f C C F f (Colummna passerina) Greater Roadrunner Re F F F F (Geococcyx californianus)

Great Horned Owl Re F F F f F F

140

GREAT BASIN NATURALIST _{[Volume 57}

Habitat type

Pelagic Freshwater Saltwater Irrigated Sarcocaulescent

and shore lagoon3 _{estuary3 cropland}3 _desert

Species1 Status2 Sp _Fa Sp _Fa Sp _{Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa} Ladder-backed Woodpecker Re F F F F (Picoides scalaris) Gilded Flicker Re _{F F F F} (Colaptes cm-ysoides) Gray Flycatcher Wi _{U F U F} (Empidonax wrightii) Black Phoebe Wi C C (Sayornis nigricans) Say's Phoebe Wi _{U U U U} (Sayomis saya) Vermilion Flycatcher Re A A (Pyrocephalus rohinus) Ash~throated Flycatcher Re C C (Myiarchus cinerascens) Cassin's Kingbird Wi _{C C} (Tymnnus oociferans) Violet-green Swallow Re _{F F} C C (Tachycineta thalassina) Tree Swallow Wi C _F (Tachycineta bicolor)

Western Scrub Jay Re F F F F

1997] BAJA CALlFORNIA SUR, MEXICO, BIRD RECORDS 141

Habitat type

Pelagic Freshwater Saltwater Irrigated SarcocauJeseent

and shore lagoon3 _{estuary) cropland:3 desert}

Species l Status2 _{Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa Sp Fa} Yellow-rumped Warbler Wi C C C C C C (Dendroica camnata) Belding's Yellowthroat Re C C (Geuthlypis beldingi) Orange-crowned Warbler Wi F F F F F F (Venni1JOra celata) Northern Cardinal Ro U U U U F F (Cardinalis) Pyrrhuloxia Re F F F F F F (Cardinalis sinuatu.~)

Green-tailed Towhee _{"Vi C C F F}

(Pipilu chlorurus) Clay-colored Sparrow Un U (Spizella pallida) Song Sparrow Un R (Melospiza melodia) Brewer's Sparrow Wi F F (Spizella breweri) Black-chinned Sparrow Rc U (Spizella atrogularis) Lark Sparrow Wi A A (Chonaestes grammacus) Black-throated Sparrow He C C (Amphispiza bilineata) \Vhite-crowned Sparrow Wi A A A A C C (Zonotrichia leucuphrys) \\Testern Meadowlark _Un C C (Stumella neglecta) Brown-headed Cowbird Un U (Molothrus ater) Hooded Oriole He A A A A F F (Icterus cuct/llatus) House Finch He C C C C C C F F (Catpodacus mexicanus) Lesser Goldfinch He F F (Carduelis psaltria) House Sparrow Re A A A A (Passer dorMStU::llS)

lCommon and scientific names follow American Ornithologist., Union Chc<,k-list of ~orth Amerklln Birds (1983) and sopplements (19tl5, 1987, 19H9, 1991, 1993,1995).

2Re .. year-round resident, Mi = migrant, Wi = winter resident, On = .,tatus uneertain.