Birds near La Pesca, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

Fifty-four species of birds collected or observed in the vicinity of La Pesca (7 miles west), Tamaulipas are listed herein. The birds of the coastal plain of Tamaulipas have been little studied; consequently, this report includes new records for the area. Specimens obtained are preserved in The Museum at Michigan State University. The birds of coastal Tamaulipas are poorly known except for areas in the vicinity of Matamoros, at the northern border, and in the vicinity of Tampico, at the southern border (see i.e., Phillips, 1911). Actually, the most attractive parts of the state to ornithologists have been the tropical and temperate habitats adjacent to and in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental (see Eaton and Edwards, 1948; Robins and Heed, 1951; and Sutton and Pettingill, 1942). Probably the dense nature of the thorn shrub, the high infestation of ticks, and the absence of suitable roadways have assisted in discouraging field workers along the coast line as well as on offshore islands (barrier beaches). With the increased interest in the fishing resources of the coastal waters of Tamaulipas, sportsmen are visiting the area both by charted airplane (see Hall, 1951) and by the improved road to La Pesca (reached either from Ciudad Victoria or Jimenez). The activities of the fishermen are centered chiefly around the mouth of the Rio Soto La Marina or at the various passes (cuts) from the lagunas to the Gulf of Mexico through the barrier beach. Occasionally, sportsmen bring back reports of birds (see Mayfield, 1948). The area in the vicinity of La Pesca is covered chiefly with densegrowing ebony, huisache, mesquite, acacias and other shrubs and low trees, species typical of the thorn forest of southern Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz (see Leopold, 1959:35). Primitive roadways and cattle trails afford the chief means of traveling through the growth. Low, shrub-covered hills occur away from the river. Westward the thorn forest gradually opens to become the mesquite desert, typical of many parts of northeastern Mexico. Probably some of this coastal area was open grassland before the advent of domestic livestock (see Goldman, 1951:266). Small lagunas, either dry or containing shallow water, occur adjacent to the Rio Soto La Marina. These places make conspicuous open-