CALIFORNIA

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BIRDS

Vol.4 , No. 2, 1973

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WESTERN BIRDS

Volume 4, Number 2, 1973

THE EASTERN KINGBIRD IN CALIFORNIA

Tim Manolis

The breeding status of the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) in
California has been open to question for some time. It has long been
known to breed in south central Oregon (Gabrielson & Jewett 1940) and
northern Nevada (Linsdale 1936). Noting a number of records for the
“Eastern border of the state”, Grinnel & Miller (1944) assumed that the
species “probably” bred in this part of California. Their assumption was
taken as fact by many subsequent authors (Pough 1957, Peterson 1961 ,
etc.) but, as McCaskie & De Benedictis (1966) point out, “ . . . there is
no evidence of this species having nested in California.”

In the summer of 1971, a pair of Eastern Kingbirds nested
successfully at Honey Lake Wildlife Area, near Wendel, Lassen County,
California. This paper documents the first recorded nesting for the
state, and presents all California records of Eastern Kingbirds known to
me. A discussion of the possible significance of these records is also
included.

FIRST NESTING IN CALIFORNIA

On 14 August 1971, Richard Stallcup observed an Eastern Kingbird
in a row of willows along a pond near the headquarters of the Honey
Lake Wildlife Area. While he was showing the bird to Georgianne
Manolis, Anne Manolis, and me, a second Eastern Kingbird joined the
first bird in driving a family group of Western Kingbirds (T verticalis)
away from the willows. One of the two Eastern Kingbirds then flew to
a nest that contained at least two, and possibly three, nearly fledged
young. The nest was an open, cup-shaped structure of twigs, situated in
the fork of a willow branch approximately 6 m above the surface of the
pond. John Revill, then a seasonal aide on the Wildlife Area, had known
of the presence of the adult birds, but not the nest, for a number of
weeks prior to our visit. He and Ian Tait also viewed the nest on this
date. These birds were not seen when I visited the area on 12 June 1971
Western Birds 4: 33-44, 1973 33

EASTERN KINGBIRD

and, judging from the stage of the nesting cycle on 14 August, they
probably arrived sometime in late June or early July. This would be in
keeping with other “arrival” dates for the species in eastern California
(see discussion of spring and summer records below). Two adults and
two fledged immatures were foraging from roadside fences within
100m of the nest on 27 August 1971 . The young were still being fed by
the parents, although they made some attempts to obtain their own
food.

A number of visits were made to the Honey Lake area in May and
June 1972 by the author and others. On 21 May no Eastern Kingbirds
were found around the Headquarters. On 29 May, however, a pair was
observed by Rich Stallcup et al. in the same row of willows where
nesting had occurred the previous year. They appeared to be searching
for possible nest sites, and it seemed probable that the two birds were
either the pair that had nested the previous year or their young. One of
these birds was photographed (Figure 1). Disappointingly, a thorough
search of the area on 10 and 11 June by Bruce Webb and the author
failed to reveal any sign of the birds. Other observers in the area later in
June also failed to find these birds (R. Stallcup and Tim Osborne pers.

Figure 1. One of a pair of Eastern Kingbirds ( T . tyrannus) at the Honey Lake
Wildlife Area Headquarters, Lassen Co., 29 May 1972.

Photo by Bruce Webb

34

EASTERN KINGBIRD

comm.). Why these birds failed to nest is unclear. The habitat did not
appear to have been altered to any extent in the intervening months.
Perhaps, because the birds were present at least two weeks prior to the
arrival time of the nesting pair of the preceding year, they faced
increased competition for nest sites with the earlier nesting Western
Kingbirds, a common species in the area.

Though this is the first documented nest for the state, the species

has quite likely nested in California before. It has been suspected of
nesting at Deep Springs, Inyo Co., in past years (R. Stallcup pers.
comm.), and a pair was suspected of nesting near Lava Beds National
Monument, Siskiyou Co., in the summer of 1970 (Robert Edens, fide
John Revill, pers. comm.).

SPRING AND SUMMER RECORDS

Figure 2 shows the distribution of records of Eastern Kingbird in
California through 1971. The species is quite rare along the coast of
California in the spring and summer, and most of the records for this
time of year come from the Great Basin region east of the Sierra
Nevada and north of the Mohave Desert. This area borders the
southwestern edge of the species’ breeding range in western North
America. Most of the Eastern Kingbirds nesting in the western part of
their range reach the area in spring by first migrating north along the
east coast of Mexico from wintering grounds in South America
(Friedmann et al. 1957). Evidently they then make a broad turn to the
northwest as indicated by the scarcity of spring (March-mid May)
records for the Southwest. There are two records in Arizona (Phillips et
al. 1964) one in Nevada (Grater 1939), and two in southern California
(see appendix).

It seems logical to assume that most records of Eastern Kingbird in
California in late May, June, and July are of birds that have entered the
state from the northeast. Possibly these birds were bred the preceding
year along the western edge of the species’ range. An analysis of
banding records of the Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), a sedentary
species that has expanded its range northward in eastern North America
in this century, indicates that the percentage of birds in their first
breeding season was higher on the periphery of the species’ range than
within the center, and that birds bred on the margins of the range were
more likely to be pioneers (Dow and Scott 1971). The relative lateness
of the “spring” records also supports the theory that the birds are
entering the state in a round about way from the east. The earliest

35

EASTERN KINGBIRD

northern California record (May 17) is nearly two weeks later than the
earliest Oregon record (May 5) listed by Gabrielson and Jewett (1940).
It is interesting, however, that the two earliest spring records for
northern California are from the foothills of the Sacramento Valley,
west of the Sierran crest. These two records, taken in conjunction with
the handful of other spring records from the Southwest, indicate that a
very small number of Eastern Kingbirds may migrate north through the

Figure 2. Distribution of California records of Eastern Kingbird (T. tyrannus ) by
counties. Open circles = spring or summer record. Solid circles = fall record. As
might be expected, there is a lack of records from forested regions of the state.

36

EASTERN KINGBIRD

Southwest in the spring, perhaps after having wintered in the range of
the Western Kingbird (see discussion of fall migration).

By June of any year, then, a number of Eastern Kingbirds probably
find their way to the eastern border of California. The habitats present
there are similar to those in the established breeding range in Oregon,
and most of these birds seem inclined to migrate no farther, considering
the scarcity of June and July records west of the Sierra Nevada. If one
of these birds is able to find a mate the pair will no doubt attempt to
nest. The nesting record at Honey Lake and the other suspected
California nestings indicate that this occasionally happens. In the Great
Basin, suitable nest sites are not plentiful. Eastern Kingbirds strongly
prefer to nest in the immediate vicinity of water. Fifty percent of 70
nests checked by Davis (1955) were at a mean height of 7m over water.
The site preferred for nesting is a tree or large bush along a pond or
stream. Such sites are naturally scarce in this region, but changes
involved with the settlement of the area have included the creation of
artificial ponds and stands of deciduous shade trees. It is possible that
man’s- alteration of the landscape of the northern Great Basin in this
fashion has allowed the breeding population of Eastern Kingbirds in
this region to increase and extend its range westward. This is reported
to be the case with the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus ) (Bent 1958).
It is possible that the Eastern Kingbird will be found breeding elsewhere
in northeastern California, and that it may eventually become an
established breeding species in this part of the state.

FALL RECORDS

There are 60 records of Eastern Kingbirds, involving at least 65
individuals, for the months of August, September and October, prior to
1972 (see appendix). For my purposes, I will consider these records as
migrants. However, the nesting record for Honey Lake, which is not
included in this summary, indicates some of the records of Eastern
Kingbirds in northeastern California in August may be of birds still on
their breeding or summering grounds. These fall records are graphed in
Figure 3. In cases where a bird remained at a given locality for more
than a day, only the date on which the bird was first noted is used.
Records of two or more birds present at the same place on the same
day are considered one record.

The records for interior counties are scattered through August and
the first half of September, with a slight peak in the second week of
September. Along the coast from Marin County south we find the great

37

EASTERN KINGBIRD

majority of fall records. The mean date for coastal records is 17
September, nearly two weeks later than the mean date for interior
records (5 September).

Binford (1971), discussing the records of Northern Waterthrush
(Seiurus noveboracensis) in California, proposed a theory in which two
or more separate phenomena could account for the difference in the
patterns of coastal and interior records for that species. These
phenomena were (1) a regular migration along the eastern edge of
California, and (2) a vagrant migration from the east, precipitating a few
birds in the eastern counties in mid -September and a number of birds
along the coast in September and October. While the data for the
Eastern Kingbird, particularly in the interior, is regrettably meager, the
traces of patterns present have some interesting parallels with patterns
Binford (1971) noted for the waterthrush. Particularly striking is that
for both species there is a two week difference in the mean date of
occurrence in coastal versus interior counties.

DISCUSSION

Some of the coastal records, particularly those in late September and
October, are probably of vagrants that have wandered considerably
west of their usual migration paths and have been concentrated along
the edge of the Pacific Ocean. A number of papers have recently dealt
with possible reasons for this type of vagrancy, particularly among the
Parulidae (McCaskie 1970, Bagg 1970, Austin 1971). Studies of fall
vagrancy of any species of Tyrannidae, however, should take into
account the well known tendency for some members of this family to
wander north in the fall. The occurrence of Tropical Kingbirds (T.
melancholicus ) in coastal California is a good example. Perhaps any
Eastern Kingbirds that wander north in the fall find it difficult to
retrace the same paths southward.

The majority of interior records, as well as many of the early
September and August records in coastal areas, may be due to a second
phenomenon. Kingbirds are considered diurnal migrants (Van Tyne &
Berger 1959), and like many other species that migrate by day, they are
somewhat gregarious during migration. It is quite likely that they are
influenced during migration by flocking behavior and topographic
patterns to a greater extent than are night migrants. Gabrielson and
Jewett (1940) note the intermixing of Eastern and Western Kingbirds in
loose flocks of family groups in Oregon during August. In this situation
it would seem possible for an Eastern to migrate south with a flock of

38

EASTERN KINGBIRD

Westerns. Many summer records of Eastern Kingbirds in California, for
example, no doubt pertain to summering, non-breeding individuals that
might join a post-breeding group of Westerns. A number of the fall
records from the southern coast and the interior, where Western
Kingbirds are common migrants, tend to substantiate this theory. In the
San Diego and Santa Barbara areas, a good number of the records of fall
Eastern Kingbirds are of individuals associated with flocks or roosts of
other kingbirds (Guy McCaskie, pers. comm.). Both of the author’s two
fall observations of this species in the interior involved an individual
Eastern Kingbird associated with one or more Westerns.

If a few Eastern Kingbirds do wander south with Westerns in the fall,
records from western Mexico would be expected. Friedmann et al.
(1957) list none for the region, but there are at least two published
sight records for Baja California (Grinnell 1928) and Chihuahua
(Vuilleumier & Williams 1964). Both of these are August records, rather
early in the season for out-of-range vagrants, but during the normal
migration period of Western Kingbirds. Western Mexico is no doubt
much less heavily birded in early fall than is the southern California
coast. Even in the latter region, the Eastern Kingbird is decidely rare,
being found less frequently than some other less conspicuous species,
e.g., 46 coastal fall records versus 53 for the Northern Waterthrush
(Binford 1971). In addition, observations of Eastern Kingbirds in
western Mexico are much less likely to be published (as in American

August September October

Figure 3. Distribution of fall records of Eastern Kingbird (T. tyrannus) in
California plotted for five-day periods beginning with 1 August.

39

EASTERN KINGBIRD

Birds ) than are California observations. It is possible that a few Eastern
Kingbirds could migrate south through western Mexico virtually
undetected each fall. A few of these birds may even winter successfully
with Western Kingbirds and attempt to retrace their paths northward in
the spring, becoming a possible source for the few March, April and
mid-May records in the Southwest as noted above.

SUMMARY

The first recorded successful nesting of the Eastern Kingbird in
California is described. All other known records for the species in the
state are analyzed. Late spring and summer records are believed to be of
pioneers on the edge of the species’ range, and this species is expected
to be found breeding in California apin. Fall records are felt to be the
result of perhaps two phenomena, (1) off-course migration as a result of
possible mis-orientation, and (2) inter-specific flocking behavior of
kingbirds in the western portion of the Eastern Kingbird’s range.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Edward J. O’Neill, John Revill and Bob Stewart provided
information concerning specific records, and Guy McCaskie provided
information concerning southern California records in general. I wish to
thank Rich Stallcup, Jerry Tangren, and Alan Craig for advice and
criticism concerning parts of the paper, Bruce Webb for kindly
supplying the photograph, Bob and Carol Yutzy for preparing the
figures, and Karen Wickham for typing the manuscript.

40

EASTERN KINGBIRD

APPENDIX

Records of Eastern Kingbird in California prior to 1972 are listed below
chronologically by county. Counties are listed alphabetically. AFN and AB
indicate Audubon Field Notes and American Birds, respectively.

Alameda Co.-l Bay Farm Is. 23 Sept 1961 (Cutler and Pugh, AFN 16:71, 1962).
Alpine Co.-l Woodford 29 July 1968 (Chandik and Baldridge, AFN 22:646,

1968) .

Colusa Co.-l vicinity Wilbur Springs 17 May 1963 (Mans and Chase, AFN
17:431,1963).

Imperial Co.-l south end Salton Sea 13 Sept 1964 (McCaskie and Pugh, AFN
19:80, 1965); 1 south end Salton Sea 4 August 1968 (McCaskie, AFN 23:109,

1969) ; 1 Brock Ranch 20 June 1970 (McCaskie, AFN 24:718, 1970).

Inyo Co.-l Olandia 29 June 1891 (Fisher, N. Amer. Fauna 7:59, 1893); 1 Death
Valley, 16 July 1935 (Gilman, Condor 38:41, 1936); 1 collected Furnace
Creek Ranch 25 June 1961, in Death Valley Museum (Guy McCaskie, pers.
comm.); 1 Deep Springs 15 July 1962 (Small, AFN 16:508, 1962); 1 Furnace
Creek Ranch 15 Sept 1963 (McCaskie and Pugh, AFN 18:74, 1964); 2 Deep
Springs 12 Sept 1964, 1 present next day (McCaskie and Pugh, AFN 19:80,
1965); 2 Deep Springs 11 Sept 1966, 1 present next day (McCaskie, AFN
21:78, 1967); 3 Furnace Creek Ranch 30 May 1969, 1 present next day
(McCaskie, AFN 23:626, 1969); 1 Furnace Creek Ranch 30-31 August 1969
(McCaskie, AFN 24:100a, 1970); 2 Deep Springs 29 May 1970 (McCaskie,
AFN 24:645, 1970); 1 Deep Springs 6 Sept 1971, 1 Scotty’s Castle 11 Sept
1971 (McCaskie, AB 26:122, 1972).

Lassen Co.— Aside from the nesting record there is a record of 1 at Honey Lake 4
July 1964 (DeBenedictis and Chase, AFN 18:533, 1964).

Los Angeles Co.-l collected Santa Monica 31 August 1895 (Grinnell, Pasadena
Acad. Sd. Publ. 2:29, 1898); 1 Malibu 6 Sept 1968 (McCaskie, AFN 23:109,
1969); 1 Sepulveda Rec. Area 15 Sept 1969 (McCaskie, AFN 24:100a, 1970);
1 San Pedro 26 Sept 1970 (McCaskie, AB 25:109, 1971).

Marin Co.-l Olema 5 Sept 1963, 1 Point Bonita 29 Sept 1963 (DeBenedictis &
Chase, AFN 18:69, 1964); 1 Point Reyes 5 July 1964 (DeBenedictis & Chase,
AFN 18:533, 1964); 2 Point Reyes 19 Sept 1967, 1 Point Reyes 3 October
1967 (Chandik & Baldridge, AFN 22:86, 1968).

Modoc Co.-l vicinity Alturas 15 June 1912, 1 Eagleville 30 June 1912 (Dawson,
Condor 18:27, 1916); 1 collected Eagleville 4 Sept 1926 (Mailliard, Proc.
Calif. Acad. Sci., Ser. 4, 16:306, 1927); 1 Clear Lake N.W.R. 13 June 1965
(Edward J. O’Neill, pers. comm.).

Mono Co.-l Mono Lake 19 July 1921 (Hoffmann, Condor 23:195, 1921); 1
Oasis 13 Sept 1967 (McCaskie, AFN 22:90, 1968).

Monterey Co.-l Carmel River 21 Sept 1948 (Linsdale, AFN 3:31, 1949); 1
photographed Pacific Grove 21 Sept 1967 (Chandik & Baldridge, AFN 22:86,
1968).

41

EASTERN KINGBIRD

Oxange Co.-l collected Laguna Beach 28 August 1917 (L. Miller, Condor 20:44,
1918); 1 Modjeska Canyon 13 Sept 1958 (Small, AFN 13:67, 1959); 1
photographed Dana Point 15-28 (or 18?) Sept 1964 (McCaskie and Pugh, AFN
19:80, 1965); 1 Laguna Beach 19-21 Sept 1969 (McCaskie, AFN 24:100a,

1970) ,

Riverside Co.— 1 Sun City 30 June 1968 (McCaskie, AFN 22:649, 1968).
Sacramento Co.— 1 vicinity of Folsom 24 May 1970 (Baldridge, Chandik and
DeSante, AFN 24:640, 1970).

San Bernardino Co.-l collected (No. 312 Cardiff Coll.) Bloomington 25 August
1947 (Hanna and Cardiff, Condor 50:46, 1948); 1 Morongo Valley 25-26
April 1959 (Small, AFN 13:402, 1959); 1 Morongo Valley 18 Sept 1971
(McCaskie, AB 26:122, 1972).

San Diego Co.-l collected Oceanside 29 August 1961, 1 collected Solana Beach
28 Sept 1963 (McCaskie, Stallcup & DeBenedictis, Condor 69:85, 1967); 1
Solana Beach 27 August 1964, 1 Solana Beach 25 Sept-2 Oct 1964 (McCaskie
and Pugh, AFN 19:80, 1965); 1 Imperial Beach 3 Oct 1965 (McCaskie, AFN
20:92, 1966); 1 Imperial Beach 11 Sept 1966 (McCaskie, AFN 21:78, 1967);
1 Imperial Beach 18-22 Sept 1967, 1 Point Loma 1 Oct 1967 (McCaskie, AFN
22:90, 1968); 1 Imperial Beach 2-3 Sept 1971 (McCaskie, AB 26:122, 1972).
San Francisco Co.-l S.E. Farallon Is. sometime between 7 and 14 June 1967
(P.R.B.O. Annual Report, 1967); 1 banded S.E. Farallon Is. 26-27 June 1968
(fide Bob Stewart); 1 S.E. Farallon Is. 10 August 1968 (Chandik & Baldridge,
AFN 22:646, 1968); 2 S.E. Farallon Is. 5 Sept 1969, 1 S.E. Farallon Is. 13-16
Sept 1969 (Baldridge, Chandik & DeSante, AFN 24:92, 1970).

San Luis Obispo Co.-l Paso Robles 27 August 1965 (McCaskie, Stallcup &
DeBenedictis, Condor 69:85, 1967); 1 collected Los Osos 9 Sept 1967
(McCaskie, AFN 22:90, 1968).

San Mateo Co.-l Half Moon Bay 30 Sept 1961 (Cutler & Pugh, AFN 16:71,
1962).

Santa Barbara Co.-(All from Santa Barbara unless otherwise noted): 2, 13 Sept
1923 (Hoffman, Condor 26:75, 1924); 1 collected Gaviota 14 Sept 1937
(McLean, Condor 71:433, 1969); 1, 10 March 1959 (Small, AFN 13:402,
1959); 1, 14 Sept 1961 (Small, AFN 16:75, 1962); 1, 23-25 Sept 1962 (Small,
AFN 17:69, 1963); 1, 24-26 Sept 1963 (McCaskie & Pugh, AFN 18:74,
1964); 2, 1-16 Sept 1964 (McCaskie & Pugh, AFN 19:80, 1965); 1, 10 Sept
1965 (McCaskie, AFN 20:92, 1966); 1, 13 Sept 1966 (McCaskie, AFN 21:78,
1967); 1 or 2, 18 Sept-4 Oct 1967 (McCaskie, AFN 22:90, 1968); 1
Sandyland 3 Sept 1968 (McCaskie, AFN 23:109, 1969); 1, 14 Sept 1969
(McCaskie, AFN 24:100a, 1970); 1, 11 Sept 1970 (McCaskie, AB 25:109,

1971) ; 1 22-28 Sept 1971, l,Goleta 20 Oct 1971 (AB 26:122, 1972).

Santa Cruz Co.-l Santa Cruz 30 July 1951 (Linsdale, AFN 5:307, 1951).

Shasta Co.-l vicinity of Redding 19 Sept-5 Oct 1964 (DeBenedictis and Chase,

AFN 19:74, 1965).

Siskiyou Co .-2 Big Sand Butte, vicinity of Lava Beds NatT. Mon. during June
1970 (Bob Edens, fide John Revill, pers. comm.).

Tulare Co.— 1 Springville 6 June 1969 (Chandik and Baldridge, AFN 23:692,
1969).

42

EASTERN KINGBIRD

Yolo Co.-l vicinity Clarksburg 9 August 1968 (Chandik & Baldridge, AFN
22:646, 1968).

In addition, the following records, vague as to place and/or date, were not
included in the analysis of records: 1 Santa Barbara in late August 1961 (Small,
AFN 15:493, 1961); 1 Gaviota, Santa Barbara Co. in Sept 1931 (McLean, Condor
71:433, 1969); 1 vicinity Little Lake (county?) during early October 1955
(Small, AFN 10:58, 1956).

LITERATURE CITED

Austin, G.T. 1971. On the occurrence of eastern wood warblers in western
North America. Condor 73:455462.

Bagg, A.M. 1970. The changing seasons. Audubon Field Notes 24:4-13.

Bent, A.C. 1958. Life histories of North American blackbirds, orioles, tanagers,
and allies, U.S. Nat, Mus. Bull, 211.

Binford, L.C. 1971. Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes in California. Calif.
Birds 2:77-92.

Davis, D.E. 1955. Observations on the breeding biology of kingbirds. Condor
57:208-212.

Dow, D.D. and D.M. Scott, 1971. Dispersal and range expansion by the
Cardinal: an analysis of banding records. Canadian J, of Zool. 49:185-198.

Friedmann, H. L. Griscom and R.T. Moore. 1957. Distributional checklist of
the birds of Mexico, Part II. Pac. Coast Avifauna 33.

Gabrielson, I.N. and S.G. Jewett. 1940. Birds of Oregon. Ore. St. College,
Corvallis.

Grater, R.K. 1939. New bird records for Clark County, Nevada. Condor
41:221.

Grinnell, J. 1928. A distributional summation of the ornithology of Lower
California. Univ. of Calif. Publ. in Zool. 32: 1-300.

Grinnell, J. and A.H. Miller. 1944. The distribution of the birds of California.
Pac. Coast Avifauna 27.

Linsdale, J.M. 1936. The birds of Nevada. Pac. Coast Avifauna 23.

McCaskie, G. and P. DeBenedictis. 1966. Annotated field list: birds of northern
California. Golden Gate Audubon Soc., Berkeley.

McCaskie, G. 1970. The Blackpoll Warbler in California. Calif. Birds 1:95-104.

Peterson, R.T. 1961. A field guide to western birds. Houghton Mifflin Co.,
Boston.

Phillips, A., J. Marshall and G. Monson. 1964. The birds of Arizona. Univ. of
Ariz, Press, Tucson.

Pough, R.H. 1957. Audubon western bird guide. Doubleday & Co., Garden
City, N.Y.

43

EASTERN KINGBIRD

Van Tyne, I. and A. J, Berger. 1959. Fundamentals of ornithology. John Wiley
and Sons, Inc., N.Y.

Vuilleumier, F. and J.E. Williams. 1964. Notes on some birds from the Rio
Conctios, Chihuahua, Mexico. Condor 66:515-16.

4409 44th Avenue, Sacramento , California 95824.

Sketch by Tim Manolis

44

LATE AUTUMN OBSERVATIONS OF
PELAGIC BIRDS OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Joseph R. Jehl, Jr.

The near-shore avifauna of the coast of California is as well known as
that of any state. To a large extent, our knowledge is based on the
pioneering work of Leverett M. Loomis (1896a, 1896b, 1900a, 1900b
and 1918) and, particularly, Rollo H. Beck (1910), who collected large
and important series of seabirds in the vicinity of Monterey Bay early in
this century and documented the regular occurrence of several species
that were not known to be present in California waters. In recent years,
offshore birdwatching trips from selected points, but principally from
Monterey and San Diego, have provided important supplementary data
on migration patterns and abundance, although the data remain to be
analyzed in detail. Even the most ambitious of these excursions,
however, has had a maximum duration of about 20 hours. Observations
more than about 60 miles from shore are almost lacking, and long term
observations far offshore remain to be attempted.

In October 1971, I was invited to participate in a research cruise of
Scripps Institution of Oceanography aboard the R/V Alpha Helix led
by Dr. G. H. Kooyman. The major purpose of this expedition was to
study the physiology and acoustic behavior of Sperm Whales (Physeter
catodon ). Since these mammals are most frequently observed in deep
waters, it was decided to search for them along the 1000 fathom curve.
In southern California that depth is attained at distances of 50 to 200
miles off the coast. Thus, the cruise provided an opportunity to
determine the status of pelagic birds well beyond the continental shelf,
in an area largely unstudied by ornithologists.

Our itinerary is shown in Figure 1 . Briefly, we departed San Diego,
California on 13 October, laying to at night approximately 20 miles
east of Cortes Banks. On the 14th we crossed the banks at noon and
continued westward, reaching depths of 1000 fathoms at dusk.
Between 15 and 19 October we paralleled the 1000 fathom curve
between the approximate latitudes of Ensenada, Baja California,
Mexico, and Point Arguello, California. This route passed over the San
Juan Seamount late on the 17th and over the Rodriguez Dome at dusk
on the 18th. On 20 October we headed southward, laying to at San
Miguel Island at night. On the 21st we again crossed the San Juan

Western Birds 4: 45-52, 1973

45

PELAGIC BIRDS

Seamount, then proceeded eastward to San Clemente Island and to San
Diego, arriving late on the 22nd.

I made observations throughout the day as work and weather
conditions permitted. Census results for pelagic species observed more
than 10 miles from shore are presented in Table 1. When possible,
observations were continued while the ship was drifting “on station”
for prolonged periods. Indeed, birds seemed to be attracted to the ship
as soon as its forward progress stopped. For this reason, the census
figures cannot be converted to “birds per hour” or “birds per nautical
mile,” which is usually a more meaningful basis for comparison.

With the exception of 22 October, the ship lay to at night, so that
the area traversed could be thoroughly investigated in daylight hours.

Figure 1. The route of the R/V Alpha Helix from 13 to 22 October 1971.
In addition to the 1000 fathom curve, the offshore topographic features
identified are: A, Cortes Banks; B, San Juan Seamount; C, Rodriguez Dome.

46

PELAGIC BIRDS

Table 1. Pelagic birds observed more than 10 miles off the southern California
coast, 13 to 22 October 1971.

Species

13

14

15

16

October
17 18

19

20

21

22

Black-footed Albatross

—

—

8

5

11

7

1

4

2

—

Northern Fulmar

—

3

3

4

7

20

10

12

7

8

Pink-footed Shearwater

87

2

—

—

—

—

93

—

9

3

Flesh-footed Shearwater

1

—

New Zealand Shearwater

—

—

1?

—

—

—

12

2

—

2

Sooty Shearwater

—

3

—

—

1

—

99

4

14

—

Manx Shearwater

1

—

—

Leach’s Petrel

1

6

9

2

8

—

—

—

—

—

Ashy Petrel

—

—

3

—

—

—

—

1

—

—

Least Petrel

—

—

1

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Red Phalarope

—

6

—

—

—

55

1

1

—

2

Pomarine Jaeger

18

26

2

1

1

4

8

8

18

14

Long-tailed Jaeger

9

3

1

2(3?)

—

1

—

—

—

—

Skua

1

1

1

—

—

—

1

1

2

—

Sabine’s Gull

4

1

Arctic Tern

—

—

—

—

—

3

—

—

—

—

Xantus’ Murrelet

—

—

—

—

—

1

2

3

—

—

Craveri’s Murrelet

2(4?)

Cassin’s Auklet

—

2

—

—

—

—

—

1

—

—

Hours of Observation

5.0

7.5

7.0

5.8

4.5

8.7

9.3

11.7

15

8.5

Thus, the census results are a fairly accurate index to the size of avian
populations in the region at that time.

Water temperatures were not taken regularly but ranged from
approximately 15.6°C (60° F) from the San Juan Seamount northward
to 18.9°C (66° F) from Cortes Banks southward.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Black-footed Albatross ( Diomedea nigripes ).— Uncommon but regu-
lar in waters deeper than 1000 fathoms; virtually absent from shallower
waters. More than 30 birds were closely scrutinized as they sat on the
water near the boat. Only one was banded, and efforts to catch it on a
fishline were unsuccessful.

Northern Fulmar ( Fulmarus glacialis) — Regular from San Diego Bay
offshore to a distance of 200 miles; commonest in northern part of
survey area. All birds were in the gray phase. This species was far
commoner than expected and subsequent observations indicated that
1971 was a flight year.

47

PELAGIC BIRDS

Pink-footed Shearwater ( Puffinus creatopus).— Rare. The birds seen
on 13 October were about 20 miles offshore and were migrating. The
only other concentration included several small flocks over the Arguello
Canyon on 19 October.

Flesh -footed Shearwater (Puffinus cameipes).- One observation, a
single bird 40 miles west of San Miguel Island on 21 October was
associated with a feeding flock of pelicans, gulls, and other shearwaters.

New Zealand Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri).—T\m species is almost
unknown from waters south of Monterey Bay. We found it in small
numbers off Point Arguello and Point Conception on 19-20 October.
Two birds were seen between San Clemente Island and San Diego on 22
October, one of which was only 13 miles offshore. A shearwater with
bright white underparts at 32° 20' N, 119° 55' W on 15 October was
too far away for certain identification.

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus). — Virtually absent, except for
small flocks off Point Conception on the 19th.

Manx Shearwater ( Puffinus puffinus) .—One observation, 2 miles off
San Miguel Island. This species, which prefers near-shore waters, was
also encountered fairly commonly near the mouth of San Diego Bay on
22 October (numbers not included in table).

Leach’s Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa).—A\\ of our few observa-
tions of this species were south of the latitude of San Clemente Island.
Approximately half of the birds had white rumps.

Ashy Petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa).— Three birds 60 miles W of
Cortes Banks, where it is very rarely observed, on 15 October and three
more 2 miles off San Miguel Island on 20 October.

Least Petrel (Halocyptena microsoma) - One bird 60 miles W of
Cortes Banks on 1 5 October was associated with three Ashy Petrels and
one Leach’s Petrel. This is apparently the latest fall record of the
species.

Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius).— Except for several flocks in a
small area off Point Conception on 18 October, we observed only
scattered individuals of this species.

Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus).— Distributed throughout
the survey area, but seemingly commoner in waters of less than 1000
fathoms. Most of the birds seen on 1 3 October were in migrating flocks.

Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus).— The relative abun-
dance of this species was surprising. All observations were in the
southern part of the survey area. The largest concentration, a flock of
nine 20 miles east of Cortes Banks on 13 October, was feeding on a

48

PELAGIC BIRDS

large school of bait fish, probably anchovies; eight of the birds appeared
to be juveniles, and one was a sub-adult. Two birds, including an adult,
were seen in the same general area on the 14th, and another adult was
seen later on the Cortes Banks. Additional observations included one
bird on the 1 5th and two (three?) on the 1 6th at the edge of the 1 000
fathom curve.

Skua (Catharacta sp .).— Seven individuals were observed in 10 days.
On 1 3 October a single bird circled our ship when we were stationed 20
miles east of Cortes Banks. A bird over Cortes Banks on the 14th was
pursuing a Western Gull, and one off the coast of Mexico on the 15th
was chasing a Black-footed Albatross. A skua on the 19th and one of
the two birds on the 21st were each associated with small flocks of
shearwaters. The other two observations (20, 21 October) were of
unaccompanied individuals.

It now appears that the vast majority of skua records from the west
coast of the United States are referable to the South Polar Skua (C.
maccormicki) (Devillers, MS). Although not all of the birds seen on this
trip closely approached the boat, several that did were small and
blackish with golden hackles and I identified them as dark-phased
individuals of maccormicki. All of the other skuas were also dark arid
lacked the distinct cinnamon underparts that characterize Catharacta
skua chilensis ; these were probably referable to maccormicki.

Gulls —Gulls were very rare and often absent in offshore waters. We
saw a few scattered Western (Larus occidentalis ) and California (L.
califomicus) gulls, principally in the northern half of the survey area
and a single Heermann’s Gull (L. heermanni ) 50 miles W of Point
Conception. Four Sabine’s Gulls ( Xema sabini ) 15 miles W of San
Diego on 13 October and one in the same area on the 22nd were the
only observations of that species.

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea ) . —Three resting on an old bamboo
beach mat 60 miles SW of Point Conception on 1 8 October seem to be
the latest record of the species in California.

Murrelets (Endomychura hypoleuca and E. craven ).— Six Xantus’
Murrelets were identified in the northern half of the survey area
between 18-20 October; one of these was 200 miles W of Los Angeles.
On 1 3 October, 1 2 miles W of San Diego, I saw two Craven’s Murrelets
plus two murrelets that could not be identified. This is the latest record
for E. craveri in California waters.

Cassin’s Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus).-Two 10 miles W of
Cortes Banks on 1 4th and one 40 miles WSW of Point Conception on
the 20th.

49

PELAGIC BIRDS

Non-pelagic birds -Several species of non-pelagic birds were ob-
served near the ship. The great majority, including a Black-and-white
Warbler ( Mniotilta varia), were seen on 14 October, when the ship was
80-110 miles from shore. The following species were recorded: Eared
Grebe ( Podiceps nigricollis), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias ),
Hudsonian Curlew ( Numenius phaeopus), Dunlin (Calidris alpina ),
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura ), Bam Swallow ( Hirundo rustica ),
Starling (Stumus vulgaris ), Nashville Warbler ( Vermivora ruficapilla ),
Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler ( Dendroica (coronata ) auduboni),
Western Meadowlark (Stumella neglecta ), and Brewer’s Blackbird
( Euphagus cyanocephalus ).

DISCUSSION

Pelagic bird populations were sparse beyond the edge of the
continental shelf in mid-October. This was not unexpected since the
survey was conducted several weeks after the peak of southward
migration for most species. Thus, shearwaters, petrels, Arctic Terns,
Sabine’s Gulls, and phalaropes were very rare, and the only species we
encountered regularly were those which usually winter commonly off
the southern California coast (Pomarine Jaeger, Black-footed Albatross,
Northern Fulmar). The only obvious instances of southward migration
were noted on 13 October, when small flocks of Pink-footed
Shearwaters and Pomarine Jaegers were seen moving southward about
20 miles offshore.

We encountered no significant concentrations of birds, not even in
areas such as the Cortes Banks, San Juan Seamount, and Rodriguez
Dome, where upwelling and good feeding conditions were expected.

Certainly the most interesting finding of the cruise was the presence
of probable South Polar Skuas off the coast of southern California and
northern Baja California, an area in which skuas had previously been
virtually unreported. The timing of these observations, in mid-October,
is in accord with Devillers’ (MS) interpretation that the South Polar
Skua probably follows a clockwise migration route through the North
Pacific. As Devillers demonstrates, the species appears off the coast of
Japan in late spring, off the Pacific Northwest in late summer, and in
northern California in early autumn. The mid-October records for
southern California fit neatly into this pattern, and I believe that fur-
ther observations well offshore in October will reveal the presence of a
transient population.

50

PELAGIC BIRDS

On purely geographic grounds, the Chilean Skua (Catharacta skua
chilensis) is the form most likely to reach the west coast of the United
States, as it ranges northward through the Humboldt Current to
northern South America. I am confident that I have seen this
well-marked form off San Clemente Island (31 May and 1 June 1971).

Although some of my records (perhaps all) for October 1971 seem
to pertain to the South Polar Skua, my experience in the southern
hemisphere convinces me that sight records for many forms of skuas are
unacceptable. Perhaps only the reddish chilensis and the light phase of
maccormicki can be identified with any certainty, except under the
best conditions. Further, our present knowledge of geographic variation
in skuas is far from satisfactory, and many breeding populations remain
to be fully sampled. Thus, the important task of confirming the
proposed circular migration route of maccormicki, and Devillers’
interpretation that virtually all of the skuas which occur in the North
Pacific are that species, can only be accomplished through collecting a
reasonable series of specimens throughout the year.

Field work in near shore waters has shown that the distribution and
abundance of many species varies greatly from year to year. Whether
the results of this survey are representative of conditions beyond the
continental shelf in late autumn remains to be determined.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am indebted to G. H. Kooyman for arranging this cruise, and to the
crew of the R/V Alpha Helix for their support. H. Cabanac, T. Camp,
W. C. Cummings, K. Dormer, J. F. Fish, G. Kooyman, D. Rice, J.
Schroeder, and V. Schwent assisted in making observations. A.
Baldridge, P. Devillers, and G. McCaskie kindly commented on a draft
of this paper.

LITERATURE CITED

Beck, R.H. 1910. Water birds of the vicinity of Point Pinos, California. Proc.
Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., 3:57-72.

Devillers, P. MS. The South Polar Skua, Catharacta maccormicki, on the Pacific
Coast of North America.

Loomis, L.M. 1896a. California water birds. No. II. - Vicinity of Monterey in
midwinter. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2nd Ser., 6:1-30.

51

PELAGIC BIRDS

Loomis, L.M, 1896b. California water birds. No. III. - South Far alio n Island in
July. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2nd Ser., 353-366.

Loomis, L.M. 1900a. California water birds. No. IV. - Vicinity of Monterey in
autumn. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 3rd Ser., 2:277-322.

Loomis L.M. 1900b. California water birds. No V. — Vicinity of Monterey in May
and early June. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 3rd Ser., 2:349-364.

Loomis L.M. 1918. Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences to the
Galapagos Islands, 1905-1906, XII. A review of the albatrosses, petrels and
diving petrels. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th Ser., 2(Pt.2) : 1-187.

San Diego Natural History Museum, P.O. Box 1390, San Diego,
California 92112.

52

ARIZONA BIRD RECORDS, 1972

Steven Speich and Theodore A. Parker III

This is a report of noteworthy occurrences of birds in Arizona
during 1972. These records were submitted to the Arizona Bird
Committee and have been officially approved by it. All descriptions and
supplementary material (photographs, etc.) pertaining to these records
are on file in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of
Arizona, Tucson.

The Arizona Bird Committee was created in early 1972 to improve
the quality of bird records and to further our knowledge of bird
distribution in the state. To this end the committee compiled and
published a Field Checklist of Arizona Birds , which provides a general
indication of the status of bird species in the state. Further, all species
considered accidental, most rare species, and some others are marked
with an asterisk (*) on the checklist to indicate that details are needed
to substantiate any sightings. The committee also specified in the
checklist that information pertaining to any species found outside of its
normal range or time of occurrence in the state should be submitted to
the committee. Hopefully, the information in the checklist will
stimulate active birders to report their noteworthy observations. In
addition, the checklist provides the format to follow when writing a
description.

The Arizona Bird Committee consists of six members: Russell P.
Baida, Bill Harrison, Gale Monson, Stephen M. Russell, Steven Speich,
and Robert Witzeman. Submitted records are circulated among the
committee members and are accepted as valid only upon unanimous
agreement. This report contains records of birds seen in 1972 and
accepted by the committee.

Wood Stork. Mycteria americana. One seen and photographed near
Tombstone, Cochise Co. on 24 December by D. Schmoldt, G. Lasser,
and R. Willmarch was only the second winter record for Arizona.

Black Brant. Branta nigricans. One found by H. Fetter on the El
Camino del Cerro sewage holding pond northwest of Tucson, Pima Co.
on 29 December was the second record for the state. It was seen by
many observers including G. Monson and R. Witzeman. The first record
was of a bird shot by a hunter on Mittry Lake, Yuma Co. on 23
December 1970. The dead bird was photographed, and one wing was

Western Birds 4: 53-57,1973 53

ARIZONA RECORDS

saved and deposited in The Bird Collection, University of Arizona (UA
10313; Austin et al. 1972). To confirm the identifications the wing and
photographs were sent to Roxie C. Laybourne (USNM) who
determined (pers. comm.) that specific identification could not be
made from the wing alone. The photographs, however, show the
diagnostic characters of B. nigricans.

Broad -winged Hawk. Buteo platyp terns. An adult observed at close
range in Ramsey Canyon, Huachuca Mtns., Cochise Co. on 20 February
by Parker, B. Broadbooks, and S. Suffel was the third record for the
state. The bird was in pine-oak woodland at an elevation of 5,300 feet.
The first record was of a specimen obtained at the Southwestern
Research Station, Chiricahua Mtns., Cochise Co. on 22 September 1956
(Phillips et al. 1964). The second (UA 5531), herewith reported on for
the first time, was found dying at Oracle and River Roads in Tucson,
Pima Co. on 7 February 1965 by M. Whiting.

Laughing Gull. Lams atricilla. Two individuals were seen in Phoenix,
Maricopa Co. on 7 and 8 June by R. Bradley, S. Demaree, and B.
Burch. This species is a casual visitant to the state, perhaps from the
Gulf of California.

Heermann’s Gull. Lams heermanni . Two individuals were observed :
one adult on 9 February on the El Camino del Cerro sewage holding
pond northwest of Tucson, Pima Co. by B. Deuel; another wasiobserved
and photographed on 1 1 May by M. Linshaw at Kinsley Ponds, Arivaca
Jet., Pima Co. This species is a casual visitant to the state from the west,
probably the Gulf of California. Most records have been since 1969
(Phillips et al. 1964; Huber 1971).

Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus erythropthalmus. An adult was
carefully observed on 26 August as it perched in a netleaf hackberry
(i Celtis reticulata). It then flew into nearby vegetation along Sonoita
Creek in the Nature Conservancy Sanctuary southwest of Patagonia,
Santa Cruz Co. This observation by M. Robbins is the first of this
species in Arizona.

Groove-billed Ani. Crotophaga sulcirostris . Two individuals seen
along the Salt River, Phoenix, Maricopa Co. from 21 December to 8
April 1973 by S. Burge and R. Witzeman were photographed. This is a
casual fall straggler to southeastern Arizona (Phillips et al. 1964).

Lucifer Hummingbird. Calothorax lucifer. A female was seen on 1
April by B. Deuel in Guadalupe Canyon, Cochise Co. The bird was also
seen during the second week of April by Parker. An individual was
photographed in the same location by A. Meyerfeld (1972) on 14 July

1971. This Mexican highland species is casual in southeastern Arizona,
54

ARIZONA RECORDS

Eastern Kingbird. Tyrannus tyrannus. One was seen by R. Bradley
and P. Norton along the San Pedro River near Hereford, Cochise Co. on
7 July. Though this species is a rare summer visitant and may nest in
northern Arizona (Phillips et al. 1964), it is very rare in the
southeastern portion of the state. The date is also unusual.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Muscivora forficata. Two records: one
adult on 2 May through 4 July at Gilbert, Maricopa Co. was seen by F.
Thompson and V. Plumlee and photographed; another adult near
Cochise Stronghold, in the Dragoon Mtns., Cochise Co. on 1 October
by W. Anderson was also photographed. The species is a casual summer
visitant chiefly to the southeastern part of the state (Phillips et al.
1964).

Varied Thrush. Ixoreus naevius. Prior to 1972 there were only two
records, both winter, of this western bird in Arizona (Phillips et al.
1964). Four new records are reported here. Two birds, a male and
female, were found on 11 December in northwest Phoenix, Maricopa
Co. by D. Stejskal. They were last observed on 17 December. A male
was found by Parker and Speich on 8 December in the Evergreen
Cemetery, Tucson, Pima Co. It was seen repeatedly by numerous
observers until 5 March 1973. The fourth bird, a female, was found 15
December by B. and F. Weideman in a cemetery in Nogales, Santa Cruz
Co. It was last seen on 1 6 December.

Wood Thrush. Hylocichla mustelina. One found on 23 January in
Himmel Park, Tucson, Pima Co. by G. Gregg was captured, banded, and
photographed in early February by Speich. This is apparently the only
winter record west of Texas and is the fourth record for Arizona.

Worm-eating Warbler. Helmitheros vermivorus . One was carefully
observed near South Fork campground, Cave Creek Canyon, on the east
side of the Chiricahua Mtns., Cochise Co. on 20 May. The bird was
found by M. Whitmire, identified by R. Shook, and seen by 12 others
including R. Witzeman. It was foraging in low deciduous vegetation in
the canyon bottom above the campground (pine-oak woodland). This is
the third record for Arizona.

Golden-winged Warbler. Vermivora chrysoptera. An adult male in
nuptial plumage was seen by G. Monson on 26 July near Eager, Apache
Co. The bird was foraging in willows along the Little Colorado River.
This is the second occurrence of this eastern species in Arizona. The
first was of a bird found by E. Radke at Quitobaquito Springs, Organ
Pipe Cactus National Monument, Pima Co. on 2 November 1968 and
collected the next day (Austin et al. 1972).

55

ARIZONA RECORDS

Black-throated Blue Warbler. Dendroica caerulescens . A male was
seen in Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mtns., Santa Cruz Co. on 30 May by
F. Murdoch, W. Biggs, and M. Patterson. This eastern species is
considered a casual transient in Arizona (Phillips et al. 1964).

Yellow-throated Warbler. Dendroica dominica . On 13 May C.
Littlefield, T. Bancroft, and M. Robinson observed an adult male from
08:55 through 09:35 as it foraged in Fremont Cottonwoods ( Populus
fremonti ) in Guadalupe Canyon, Cochise Co. This bird appeared to be
D. d. albilom on the basis of the solid white lores. On 2 June an adult
male of this species was observed and photographed by D. and B.
McKnight in the Nature Conservancy Sanctuary southwest of Patagonia
along Sonoita Creek, Santa Cruz Co. Subspecific identification cannot
be made from the photographs. This bird was also foraging in
cottonwoods along the creek. These are the first documented
occurrences of this eastern species in Arizona.

Bay -breasted Warbler. Dendroica castanea. One was found and
photographed in color on 6 May by C. Pinckard at the Southwestern
Research Station, Chiricahua Mtns., Cochise Co. It was seen and
identified by Parker, E.L. Smith, and Speich on 7 May. The bird, an
adult male in nuptial plumage, was last seen the morning of 8 May. This
is the first record for this eastern species in the state.

Blackpoll Warbler. Dendroica striata. One observed on 14 October at
Quitobaquito Springs, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Pima Co.
by Parker and M. Robbins was the fourth state record. Quitobaquito
Springs is a desert oasis and as such is a natural point of concentration
for migrating birds.

Ovenbird. Seiurus aurocapillus . An individual of this species was
found by J. Witzeman on 23 December in Phoenix, Maricopa Co. The
bird was also seen by three other observers. This constitutes the fifth
state record and the first winter record of this straggler from the east.

Louisiana Waterthrush. Seiurus motacitta. One present in Ramsey
Canyon from about 20 November 1971 to 26 February 1972 was first
found by C. McMoran and was seen by many others including Parker,
Speich, and G. Monson, It was photographed by Speich. There is but
one previous record for the state, a specimen (Monson 1968).

Scarlet Tanager. Piranga olivacea. A male in winter plumage seen at
Quitobaquito Springs, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Pima Co.
on 21 October by Parker and M. Robbins is the fourth state record.

Painted Bunting. Passerina ciris. An adult male was seen by M. and S.
Speich 2 October at Kino Springs development northeast of Nogales
along the Santa Cruz River, Santa Cruz Co. This is one of but a few
56

ARIZONA RECORDS

recent records in the southeastern portion of the state (Phillips et al.
1964 ).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are especially indebted to those people who submitted their well
documented observations to the Arizona Bird Committee. We thank the
committee and observers for allowing us to use these observations.

LITERATURE CITED

Austin, G. T., E. L. Smith, and S. Speich, 1972. New Arizona bird records. Calif.
Birds 3: 4344.

Huber, L. 1971. First. records of Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni) for Arizona.
Auk 88: 929.

Meyerfeld, A. 1972. A record of the Lucifer Hummingbird in Arizona. Calif. Birds
3: 16.

Monson, G. 1968. The Arizona state bird-list, 1964-67. J. Arizona Acad. Sci. 5:
34-35.

Phillips, A., J. Marshall, and G. Monson. 1964. The birds of Arizona. University of
Arizona Press, Tucson.

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
85721, and 521 N. President Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1 7603.

57

NOTES

WESTERN RANGE EXTENSIONS OF SCALED QUAIL,
MONTEZUMA QUAIL AND COPPERY-TAILED TROGON
IN ARIZONA

The recorded western limits of the Scaled Quail ( Callipepla squamata) have
been reported by Phillips et al. (1964) in The Birds of Arizona as the Babo-
quivari Mountains and southcentral Pinal County- A male Scaled Quail was ob-
served and repeatedly heard giving single-note breeding or “squawk" calls in the
Tecolote Valley, 18 miles southwest of Sells, Papago Indian Reservation, Pima
County, 24 May 1973. When approached and flushed, the “chuk-chur” and
“ping” calls were given, confirming the identification. This bird was perched on
a cholla ( Opuntia sp.) in a vegetation community indicative of a relict edaphic
grassland which is now dominated, because of livestock, b y Atriplex accompanied
by seasonal annuals.

The southwestern limits of the Montezuma (Mearns) Quail (Cyrtonyx monte-
zumae) in Arizona (and elsewhere) has generally been accepted as the Baboquivari
Mountains. Old records (prior to 1910) have this species occurring “sparingly
west to the vicinities of Prescott and Flagstaff” (Phillips et al. 1964; Bent 1932).

On 23 May 1972, John N. Theobald, Project Assistant for the Arizona Game
and Fish Department, and the writer flushed and observed a pair of Montezuma
Quail on the summit of Horse Peak on Morena Mountain, Papago Indian Reser-
vation, Pima County, within % mile of the International Boundary, and about 15
miles west of the Baboquivaris. Of interest is the fact that no Mexican blue oak
( Quercus oblongifolia) or other arboreal constituents of an encinal community are
present on Horse Peak. The summit community is best described as “desert
grassland" (Humphrey 1958; Lowe 1964). On the basis of this observation, it is
hypothesized that this species may also occur in the Sierra Humo and Sierra de
Cobre in adjacent Sonora, Mexico.

On 10 May 1970, Richard L. Todd, Nongame Biologist for the Arizona Game
and Fish Department, observed one male and two female Montezuma Quail on
U. S. Interstate Highway 17 near its crossing of Cienega Creek in Yavapai County
(lat. 34°30'N., long. 112°01'W.), about ten miles southwest of Camp Verde, Two
of these birds, an adult male and an immature hen, were subsequently killed by
vehicles. These specimens were salvaged and donated to Stephen M. Russell,
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arizona, for inclusion in the
University of Arizona collection. It is believed that these birds are the first collect-
ed on the Prescott National Forest since ca. 1875.

Ron Anderson, Wildlife Manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department,
and the writer twice observed a female Coppery-tailed Trogon ( Trogon elegans)
and heard its distinctive call in Pine Canyon in the Atascosa Mountains, Santa
Cruz County, during late June 1972. The vegetation of Pine Canyon at the loca-
tion where the trogon was observed is almost wholly dominated by evergreen
oaks, junipers and Mexican Pinyon (encinal). Within Vi mile upstream of this loca-
tion, Chihuahua Pine ( Finns leiophylla), madrone ( Arbutus arizonica ), and the
epiphyte (Tillandsia recurvata) are encountered. Trogons have not been recorded
previously in Arizona west of the Santa Rita Mountains (Phillips et al. 1964).

Western Birds 4: 59-60, 1973

59

NOTES

LITERATURE CITED

Bent, A. C. 1932. Life histories of North American gallinaceous birds. U. S.
Natl. Mus. Bull. 162.

Humphrey, R. R. 1958. The desert grassland. Univ. of Ariz. Press, Tucson,

Lowe, C. H. 1964. Arizona’s natural environment, landscapes and habitats, Univ.
of Ariz. Press, Tucson.

Phillips, A., J. Marshall and G. Monson, 1964. The birds of Arizona, Univ. of
Ariz. Press, Tucson.

David E. Brown, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2222 West Greenway Road,
Phoenix, Arizona 85023.

60

NOTES

CLARK’S NUTCRACKER CAUGHT ON CHOLLA CACTUS

On 15 October 1972 while driving through Cholla Gardens in Joshua Tree
National Monument, Riverside County, California, my Swiss companions, Hans
and Verena Schmiedeskamp, asked me to stop and back up as they had seen a
large bird. About ten feet off the road we found a dead Clark’s Nutcracker
( Nucifraga Columbiana ) caught on a cholla ( Opuntia bigelovii) (Figure 1). As far
as we could determine, the bird had landed on top of the cholla and its feet had
become caught in the cholla spines, with subsequent death. We were unable to
pry its feet loose with a small stick.

Miller and Stebbins (The Lives of Desert Animals in Joshua Tree National
Monument, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1964) cite records of Clark’s
Nutcrackers in the Monument, but to the west, in the pinyon ( Pinus monopbylla)
belt. In the area of the Cholla Gardens there are no pinyons. In October 1972
Clark’s Nutcrackers staged an invasion into a number of southern California desert
areas (McCaskie, Am. Birds 27:122, 1973). Robert R. Delareuelle, 1002 Juanita
Drive, Walnut Creek, California 94595.

Figure 1. Clark’s Nutcracker ( Nucifraga Columbiana) found dead on cholla,
Joshua Tree National Monument, California, on 15 October 1972.

Photo by Robert R. Delareuelle.

61

Western Birds 4: 61, 1973

BULLETIN BOARD

CALIFORNIA FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS’ 1974 SPRING MIGRA-
TION PELAGIC TRIP

SAN DIEGO, Saturday, 4 MAY 1974. Leave 5:30 AM, return about 8:00 PM*.
$15.00 per person for CFO members and their families; $16.50 per person for
non-members. Tentative destination: waters around San Clemente Island.

The boat Will depart from Seaforth Sportfishing Landing, Quivira Road (near
Ventura Blvd.) , Mission Bay, San Diego. Please be at the landing one-half hour be-
fore departure. This boat, the Seaforth, is a large fishing boat with a galley where
short orders, including breakfast, snacks and beverages, are sold.

Some of the birds which may be seen in this area at this time of year are
Black-footed Albatross, Pink-footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Leach’s Petrel,
Black Petrel, Pomarine Jaeger, Sabine’s Gull, Xantus’ Murrelet, and Cassin’s Auk-
let. Whales, sea lions, porpoise and interesting fish are usually also observed.

Reservations may be made by sending the following information along with a
check or money order to California Field Ornithologists, Post Office Box 369,
Del Mar, California 92014: amount enclosed, number of reservations wanted,
names of ALL people for whom reservations are desired, your address including
ZIP code, and your PHONE NUMBER. Please enclose a STAMPED, SELF-
ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. For further information, call Clifford Lyons (714)
276-8628 after 6:00 PM or (714) 453-1000 ext. 1458 before 5:00 PM.

MONTEREY BAY, Saturday, 18 May 1974. $10.00 per person. A large com-
fortable boat, the 90 ft. Falcon, will DEPART FROM MOSS LANDING. The
galley on this boat is not in operation, so bring lunch.

Birds which may be seen in this area in early May include Black-footed Alba-
tross, Pink-footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Red Phalarope, Northern Phala-
rope, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Sabine’s Gull, Common Murre, Pigeon
Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Cassin’s Auklet, and Rhinocerous Auklet. Flocks of
migrating terns and Arctic Loons may be expected, and Skua and Arctic Tern are
possible. Marine mammals, including whales and two or more species of porpoise,
are likely.

Reservations may be made by sending the information requested for the San
Diego boat trip (see above), together with check or money order payable to Cali-
fornia Field Ornithologists, to Bill Principe, P. O. Box 4214, Berkeley, California
94704. Please enclose a STAMPED, SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE, for con-
firmation, time of departure and other details. For further information call Bill
Principe (415) 254-1071 (Orinda, California).

62

. 4 ^

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The lucid, well organized text fea-
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list of the more than 500 birds that
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status and habitat preference noted
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the 25 major habitats is described
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Manuscripts should be sent to Alan M. Craig, Box 98 Nimshew Stage, Chico,
CA 95926. For matters of style consult Suggestions to Contributors to Western
Birds (6 pp. mimeo available at no cost from the Editor) and CBE Style Manual,
3rd ed., 1972 (available from American Institute of Biological Sciences, 3900
Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016 for $6.00).

Papers are desired that are based upon field studies of birds, that are both under-
standable and useful to amateurs, and that make a significant contribution to
scientific literature. Appropriate topics include distribution, migration, status,
behavior, ecology, population dynamics, habitat requirements, the effects of
pollution, and techniques for identifying, censusing, sound recording and photo-
graphing birds in the field. Papers of general interest will be considered regardless
of their geographic origin, but particularly desired are papers dealing with studies
accomplished in or bearing on Rocky Mountain states and provinces westward,
including Alaska and Hawaii; adjacent portions of the Pacific Ocean and Mexico;
and western Texas.

Authors are provided 50 free reprints of each paper. Additional reprints can be
ordered at author’s expense from the Editor when proof is returned or earlier.

Good photographs of rare and unusual birds, unaccompanied by an article but
with caption including species, date, locality and other pertinent information,
should be submitted to Arnold Small, 608 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
90210.

Send rare bird reports for California to Jon Winter, Point Reyes Bird Observatory,
Box 321, Bolinas, CA 94924; see Calif. Birds 2:109-110. For Arizona, send re-
ports to Robert A. Witzeman, 4619 E. Arcadia Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85018.

Membership dues and changes of address should be sent to Clifford R. Lyons,
Treasurer, Post Office Box 369, Del Mar, California 92014. Classes of member-
ship (all include subscription .to Western Birds): Patron, $1000; Life, $150;

Supporting, $20 annually; Contributing, $10 annually; Regular, $5 annually.
Make checks payable to California Field Ornithologists. Dues and contributions
are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Back issues of California Birds are available at $6.00 for Volume 2 (1971) and
$5.00 for Volume 3 (1972). The CFO Field List of the Birds of California
(1972), a 16 page checklist designed for recording 10 field trips, can be obtained
at a cost of $1.00 for 4 copies (additional copies, 2 5i each), including tax and
postage. Back issues and field lists may be ordered from Clifford R. Lyons,
Treasurer, Post Office Box 369, Del Mar, California 92014. Make checks payable
to California Field Ornithologists.

WESTERN BIRDS ADVERTISING RATES AND SPECIFICATIONS
Full Page 4 x 6-3/4 inches $60 per issue $200 per year

Half Page 4 x 3-3/8 inches $40 per issue $130 per year

Quarter Page 4 x 1-11/16 inches $30 per issue $110 per year

Offset printing, one column per page, 4 inches wide. Glossy, black and white
photos are acceptable; half tone screen size: 133 line. Photo-ready copy is re-
quested. If this is not possible, extra charges for typesetting will be made as
follows: $15 full page, $10 half page, $5 quarter page. Send copy with remit-

tance to Clifford R. Lyons, P. O. Box 369, Del Mar, Calif. 92014, and make
checks payable to California Field Ornithologists. A 15% commission is allowed
for agencies.

64