Avifauna of the tropical montane cloud forest of northeastern Hidalgo, Mexico

Abstract

THIS STUDY SHOWS THE RESULTS OF BIRD CENSUS CARRIED OUT FROM 1997 TO 1999 IN CLOUD FOREST FRAGMENTS OF NORTHEASTERN HIDALGO, MEXICO. FORTY-ONE BIRD FAMILIES AND 181 SPECIES WERE RECORDED THROUGH VISUAL AND ACOUSTIC DETECTIONS IN 2 057 POINT COUNTS. THIS REPRESENTS 98% OF THE EXPECTED SPECIES RICHNESS FOR THE SAMPLING PERIOD AND METHOD USED. SIXTEEN SPECIES RESTRICTED TO THE CLOUD FOREST WERE DETECTED, 11 MEXICAN ENDEMIC SPECIES, AND 3 RESTRICTED-RANGE SPECIES WERE RECORDED. ADDITIONALLY, 28 SPECIES ARE INCLUDED WITHIN SOME CATEGORY OF CONSERVATION CONCERN ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT MEXICAN LEGISLATION. THIS BIRD COMMUNITY WAS DOMINATED BY SMALL, RARE (LOW IN ABUNDANCE), AND RESIDENT BIRD SPECIES. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE SPECIES TO LOCAL EXTINCTION WERE THOSE RARE SPECIES RESTRICTED TO THE CLOUD FOREST, INCLUDING THE 3 RESTRICTED-RANGE SPECIES (DENDRORTYX BARBATUS, GLAUCIDIUM SANCHEZI, AND CYANOLYCA NANA). THE AVIFAUNA OF THE CLOUD FOREST OF THIS REGION INCLUDES 40% OF THE AVIFAUNA OF THE STATE OF HIDALGO, STRESSING THE RELEVANCE OF THIS VEGETATION TYPE AND THE URGENT NEED FOR IMPLEMENTING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR CONSERVATION.