Abstract

CALDERON-PARRA, Rafael; AGUILAR-GOMEZ, Miguel Angel  and  ORTEGA-ALVAREZ, Rubén. New contributions to knowledge of the avifauna in Morelos state. Huitzil [online]. 2023, vol.24, n.1, e650.  Epub Oct 20, 2023. ISSN 1870-7459.  https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2023.24.1.686.

Reporting and documenting sightings that represent new records or correspond to species with few sightings in a particular region permits a better understanding of their spatial and temporal distribution. During 2014 - 2022, we observed birds in four Natural Protected Areas and three areas with no protected status in Morelos state. We recorded sightings of 12 species of state importance. These included three species not previously reported in Morelos (Elanoides forficatus, Limosa haemastica, and Setophaga discolor), three species that had only been reported on citizen science plataforms but not analyzed in scientific literature (Egretta rufescens, Calocitta colliei and Progne chalybea), and six species with few reports in the state (Eudocimus albus, Buteogallus urubitinga, Athene cunicularia, Granatellus venustus, Cyanocompsa parellina and Setophaga americana) for which we provide additional information. Our observations contribute to the analysis of existing records for these species to propose residency status, better understand their spatial distribution, or demonstrate the need for more information in Morelos. This will be useful for future studies on analysis of their potential distribution, updating the distribution maps most used in Mexico, as well as providing information for decision making towards conservation actions.

Keywords : birds of Morelos; citizen science; eBird; iNaturalist; rare sightings.