Bird Records from New Mexico
Bird Records from New Mexico.-The following observations add one species to the list of birds known to occur in New Mexico and contribute information on the distribution and habits of other species.
Go&i&a chlorom cackinnans. Florida Gallinule. A dead Florida Gallinule was picked up on the highway one mile south of Isleta, Bernalillo County, on May 14, 1941. At this point a shallow, weedy pond lies on each side of the highway and it is not unusual to find the remains of coots and ducks that have been killed by passing automobiles. The specimen is number 81690 in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and constitutes the first record of this species in New Mexico.
Tyrannus tyran%us. Eastern Kingbird. A specimen of the Eastern Kingbird was taken on August 24, 1941, at the corner of Los Griegos and Highland roads, 3 miles north of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County. This appears to be the most southern record of this species in New Mexico (Bailey, Birds of New Mexico, 1928:415). The specimen is number 83343 in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
Catherpes mexicunus. Canyon Wren. One was seen and heard singing on October 2, 1940, at the corner of John Street and Central Avenue in Albuquerque. This bird was frequenting the roofs of one- to four-story buildings on the edge of the business section of the city. It had been in this vicinity for about three weeks and remained four days after this date. The nearest mountains are the Sambas, fifteen miles to the east. One may frequently see Canyon Wrens about the buildings of mountain villages, ,but this is the only time that I have seen one in a large valley city.
Sturnus vulgaris. Starling. On January 29, 1941, a flock of approximately 30 Starlings was seen about the buildings of the John Shipley ranch, 2 miles north of Fort Sumner, De Baca County. Three individuals were seen in a small cottonwood tree one mile south of Berualillo, Bernaliio County, on February 21, 1941. Bore11 (Condor, 38, 1940:86) reported the first occurrence of this species in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico in November of 1939. Mr. Borell has informed me that he has seen flocks of from 10 to 30 Starlings in the Rio Grande Valley about 20 miles south of Albuquerque each November since his original observations.-LAwaxwcx V. COMPTON, Soil Conservation Service, Albuquerque, New Me&o, September 21, 1942.
