Western Birds Journal

Volume 47, No. 4

Published October 1, 2016

Issue description

Volume 47, number 4 of Western Birds, published 2016

Articles

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    JAMES M. MALEY, JOHN E. McCORMACK, WHITNEY L. E. TSAI, EMIKO M. SCHWAB, JOHN VAN DORT, ROSELVY C. JUÁREZ, MATTHEW D. CARLING (Author)

    FONSECA MANGROVE RAIL: A NEW SUBSPECIES FROM HONDURAS

    Large rails were discovered in the mangroves along the Pacific coast of Honduras in 2010, and confirmed as local breeders in 2012. Their taxonomic affinity was unclear because the region is far from yet between the ranges of several other species in the Clapper Rail complex. So we collected eight specimens in July 2013, recorded their vocalizations, video-recorded a duetting pair, and documented a nest. By sequencing a portion of their mitochondrial DNA we were able to place them unambiguously within the Mangrove Rail (Rallus longirostris). The specimens differ in plumage, being the only Mangrove Rails with a dusky breast band and light gray edging to their back feathers. Males, at least, are significantly larger than other male Mangrove Rails. We found one base pair among 650 of mtDNA in which the Honduras specimens differ from specimens from Peru and Venezuela. Therefore, we describe this population as a new subspecies, the Fonseca Mangrove Rail (R. l. berryorum). This discovery extends the Mangrove Rail’s known range ~1500 km northwest along the Pacific coast.

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    JEANNE TINSMAN, MARTIN MEYERS (Author)

    NEVADA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE REPORT FOR 2015

     In 2015, the Nevada Bird Records Committee (NBRC) reviewed 79 reports from the period 4 November 1963–11 September 2015; 67 were endorsed. Three new species were added to the Nevada list following endorsement of first state records: the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), and Couch’s Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii). The NBRC reviewed 15 species on the state list that did not have previous committee-endorsed records. Nine of those were removed because of lack of substantiated evidence of occurrence: the American Black Duck (Anas rubripes), Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa), Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis), Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana), Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni), Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis), Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus), Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla), and Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni). Revisions were made to the review list as well. The Nevada state list stands at 486 species, of which 140 are currently on the review list.

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    DANIEL S. SINGER, JON L. DUNN, LAUREN B. HARTER, GUY McCASKIE (Author)

    THE 40TH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: 2014 RECORDS

     The California Bird Records Committee reached decisions on 184 records involving 176 individuals of 71 species and two species groups documented since the 39th report (Rottenborn et al. 2016), endorsing 152 records of 146 individuals. First accepted state records of the Salvin’s Albatross (Thalassarche salvini) and Chatham Albatross (T. eremita) outlined in this report bring California’s total list of accepted species to 660, 11 of which are established introductions. Other notable records detailed in this report include the return for a third winter of the state’s first Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus), its second Nazca Booby (Sula granti), second Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), second Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), and second and third Blue-throated Hummingbirds (Lampornis clemenciae).

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    JOHN F. GARRETT, KIMBALL L. GARRETT (Author)

    THE PIN-TAILED WHYDAH AS A BROOD PARASITE OF THE SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

    Populations of the Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura), native to sub-Saharan Africa, have greatly increased in southern California in recent years, prompting speculation as to which species serve as hosts to this obligate brood parasite. Field studies and opportunistic sightings during the summer of 2014 strongly suggest that the Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata), an introduced species also derived from the pet trade, is the principal host species in the region. We present evidence for this based on investigation of munia nests by female whydahs and several instances of adult munias feeding recently fledged whydahs. This novel host–parasite relationship implies that any potential spread of the Pin-tailed Whydah in North America is at least partly dependent on the distribution of the Scaly-breasted Munia.

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    Lauren B. Harter (Author)

    BOOK REVIEW: Listening to a Continent Sing: Birdsong by Bicycle from the Atlantic to the Pacific

    Like any good travelogue, Listening to a Continent Sing is built on a variety of aspects. Naturally there are stories of adventure and mishap, as well as personal reflections on family, career, and revisiting memorable places. History, geology, and the culture of cycling all have major roles in the story. The main topic of the book, however, is bird song. Kroodsma reflects on his career of investigation into the subject as he traverses the country, noting the birds and their songs along the way.

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    PHILIP UNITT (Author)

    THANKS TO WESTERN BIRDS’ REVIEWERS AND ASSOCIATE EDITORS

     Peer review is a critical step in the publication of a scientific journal. I thank the following people for their generosity in taking the time to provide this essential service sustaining the scientific quality of Western Birds for volume 47

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    LISA HUG (Author)

    FEATURED PHOTO: COMMON BLACK HAWK × RED-SHOULDERED HAWK IN CALIFORNIA

    Since at least May 2005, a Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) has resided at Delta Pond, between Graton and Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California (Iliff et al. 2007). It was likely at the same location in October 2000, but that report was inadequately supported (McKee and Erickson 2002, Iliff et al. 2007). On 18 February 2009 Stan Moore banded the bird, identifying it as a female. On 21 July 2012, during a Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation field trip, I saw a juvenile hawk, closely following the adult female Common Black Hawk, with the birds calling to each other continuously. I saw the juvenile on two additional visits in summer 2012, each time with the Common Black Hawk. In 2014, Stan Moore (pers. comm.) observed the female nesting with a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). Recordings of the juvenile and the female Common Black Hawk are available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXgU928a7Jg