Abstract New records on the distribution of bird species in Mexico help to increase our knowledge of biodiversity, and aid in their conservation. We report the first published records of Prairie Warblers (Setophaga discolor) for the state of Puebla, Mexico. In March 2017 and October 2018 we observed several individuals within the main campus of the “Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla,” Puebla, at 2140 m a.s.l. This location is more than 1,000 km apart from the known, winter range of the species in Mexico; more than 150 km from the winter distribution, and also 1,000 m above the upper elevation limit previously known. These records increase the spatial and altitudinal distribution of the Prairie Warbler in Mexico, and they could reveal a broad ecological tolerance to environmental conditions markedly different to those present in its breeding habitats in North America. More research is needed to establish the species migratory routes, and to determine its habitat preferences during its stay in Mexico.

Resumen Los nuevos registros sobre la distribución de las aves en México ayudan tanto a mejorar nuestro conocimiento sobre la biodiversidad del país como a su conservación. Presentamos los primeros registros publicados del chipe de pradera (Setophaga discolor) para el estado de Puebla, México. En marzo de 2017 y octubre de 2018 observamos a varios individuos dentro del campus central de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, a 2140 msnm. Esta localidad dista más de 1,000 km del área de distribución invernal conocida en México, más de 150 km de su área de distribución potencial durante el invierno, y se ubica 1,000 m por encima del límite altitudinal previamente reportado. Nuestras observaciones amplían el área de distribución espacial y altitudinal del chipe de pradera en México y podrían revelar una amplia tolerancia ecológica a condiciones muy diferentes a las de sus hábitats de reproducción en América del Norte. Por ello, es necesario investigar sobre sus rutas migratorias y sus preferencias de hábitat durante su estancia en el país.

Abstract Cozumel Island is known to be home to the endemic Golden Warbler, Setophaga petechial rufivertex, one of 43 subspecies of the Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia, while the mainland Yucatán Peninsula is home to a subspecies of Mangrove Warbler, Setophaga petechia bryanti, but historically Mangrove Warbler has been absent on the island. On 29 April 2014, we observed and photographed a warbler with extensive chestnut hood resembling Mangrove Warbler at Laguna Montecristo on the north coast of Cozumel. Additional visits on 4-5 August 2014, 13-14 July 2015, and 24 October 2015, in addition to photo-documented reports from resident and visiting birders, has turned up a total of 40+ mostly male Mangrove Warblers in addition to numerous potential females both on the north coast as well as on the south coast of Cozumel. Most records are in mangrove vegetation or a mixture of mangrove with dune or secondary vegetation, with one exception. On the other hand, Golden Warblers were never found in only mangrove habitat. All males photographed had broad breast streaks, darker crowns than rest of head, and both sexes had slightly yellower lores than typical Mangrove Warblers, all being features of Golden Warbler. Genetic studies would be highly desirable to understand the origin of this apparently new population.

Resumen La isla de Cozumel se conoce como la sede del endémico Chipe de Cozumel, Setophaga petechia rufivertex, una de las 43 subespecies del Chipe Amarillo (Setophaga petechia), y en la costa de la península de Yucatán se localiza la subespecie de Chipe Manglero, Setophaga petechia bryanti, esta última históricamente ha estado ausente en la isla. Sin embargo, el 29 de abril de 2014, en Laguna Montecristo, sobre la costa norte de Cozumel, observamos y fotografiamos un chipe con una vasta capucha castaña, similar a la del Chipe Manglero. En visitas posteriores, realizadas el 4 y 5 de agosto de 2014, el 13 y 14 de julio y el 24 de octubre de 2015, los residentes de la zona y observadores de aves registraron un total de 40+ chipes mangleros, casi todos machos, aparte de un potencial número de hembras, que se han visto tanto en la costa norte como en la costa sur de Cozumel en lugares de mangle o mangle mezclado con vegetación de duna o secundaria, con una sola excepción. No encontramos el Chipe de Cozumel en zonas sólo de mangle. Todos los individuos machos fotografiados tenían amplias rayas sobre el pecho, coronas más oscuras que el resto de la cabeza, y tanto el macho como la hembra lores un poco más amarillos que el típico Chipe Manglero, todas éstas son características del Chipe de Cozumel. Estudios genéticos serían de gran ayuda para entender el origen de esta aparente nueva población.

Nós avaliamos as distribuições de abundância em três espécies de parulídeos na porção sul da Mata Atlântica do Brasil: a Mariquita (Parula pitiayumi), o Pula-pula (Basileuterus culicivorus) e o Pula-pula-assobiador (Basileuterus leucoblepharus). Três diferentes tipos de formações florestais compõem esta região da Mata Atlântica: a floresta estacional semidecidual (FES), a floresta ombrófila mista (FOM) e a floresta ombrófila densa (FOD). Estes tipos de floresta ocupam altitudes diferentes: FES ocorre entre 200 m e 800 m, a FOM é encontrada entre 800 m e 1200 m de altitude e a FOD ocorre desde o nível do mar até 2000 m. Nós usamos pontos de escuta em 15 áreas florestais localizadas nos três tipos de floresta. O Pula-pula-assobiador e a Mariquita apresentaram maior abundância na FOM e uma correlação positiva entre abundância e altitude. Já o Pula-pula não apresentou diferença significativa de abundância entre os três tipos floresta nem correlação entre abundância e altitude. Nós sugerimos que a diferença de ocupação dos estratos de floresta por Pula-pula é resultante do fato desta espécie ser mais generalista e, portanto, menos sensível a variações na estrutura de vegetação entre os tipos de floresta quando comparada às duas outras espécies de parulídeos.

We evaluated the distribution of abundance of three species of warblers in the southern portion of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF): Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi), the Golden-Crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus) and the White-Rimmed Warbler (Basileuterus leucoblepharus). Three types of forests comprise this region of the Atlantic Forest: seasonal semi-deciduous forest (SF), mixed rain forest (MF) and dense rain forest (DF). These forest types occur at different elevations: SF ranging from 200 to 800 m, MF ranging from 800 to 1,200 m and DF ranging from sea level up to 2,000 m. We used point counts in fifteen study areas distributed in the three forest types. The White-Rimmed Warbler and the Tropical Parula had higher abundances in MF, and their abundance was positively correlated with the elevation. The Golden-Crowned Warbler did not present a significant difference in abundance among the forest types, and no correlation between abundance and elevation was found. We suggest that the difference in the occupancy of the forest strata by the Golden-Crowned Warbler is because this species is more generalist and thus less sensitive to variations in the vegetation structure among the forests types when compared to the other two warbler species.

La bijirita del pinar (Dendroica pityophila) y la chillina (Teretistris fernandinae) son dos especies de ave residentes permanentes en Cuba, que conviven en la región occidental. Se estudió la distribución vertical de estas dos especies en los bosques de pinos. Durante 2007 se realizaron seis muestreos en pinares del Tibisí, Minas de Matahambre Pinar del Río, para determinar el uso diferencial de los estratos del bosque, empleando el método de parcela circular de radio fijo. En los 360 conteos realizados la bijirita del pinar alcanzó mayores abundancias (3.33±0.14ind/UM) que la chillina (2.32±0.24ind/UM). Para cada especie no hubo diferencias en los valores de abundancia entre ambas formaciones vegetales. Se encontraron diferencias en la frecuencia en que cada especie usa los diferentes estratos de la vegetación. La bijirita del pinar utilizó con mayor frecuencia el estrato alto del bosque; en el estrato bajo solo fue observada durante la etapa reproductiva. La chillina tiene preferencia por el estrato bajo y medio, aunque emplea el alto con menor frecuencia.

Vertical distribution of the birds Dendroica pityophila and Teretistris fernandinae (Passeriformes: Parulidae) in Pinar del Río, Cuba. The Yellow-Headed Warbler (Teretistris fernandinae) and the Olive-Capped Warbler (Dendroica pityophila) are two bird species that co-exist in Western Cuba. Their spatial distribution has not been studied. This study evaluated their vertical distribution in pine forests during 2007. Six field trips were conducted to the Tibisí pine groves, Minas de Matahambre, Pinar del Río, Cuba, to determine the differential use of forest strata, with the fixed-radio round parcel method. A total of 30 counting points were located in every forest formation. The forest stratum was recorded for each detected bird according to three categories: low stratum (0-2m over ground), medium stratum (2-6m) and high stratum (6m or more). From the 360 counts carried out, the Olive-Capped Warbler reached greater abundances (3.33±0.14ind/UM) than the Yellow-Headed Warbler (2.32±024ind/UM). No abundance differences were found among both forest formations. The Olive-Capped Warbler had the highest frequency in the high stratum and it was observed in the low stratum only during the reproductive season. The Yellow-Headed Warbler had a preference for the low and medium strata, and was seen less frequently in the high stratum. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (4): 1263-1269. Epub 2009 December 01.