Geographic-altitudinal range extension and suburban habitat use of the Grey-crowned Yellowthroat (Geothlypis poliocephala)

Abstract

THE FIRST RECORD OF THE GREY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT (GEOTHLYPIS POLIOCEPHALA) IN THE TRANSMEXICAN VOLCANIC BELT BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION (MEXICO), WITHIN THE MORELIA CITY SUBURBS IS PRESENTED. SITES WERE THIS PARULID WAS SIGHTED / CAPTURED WERE LOCATED 427 M HIGHER THAN ITS DESCRIBED ALTITUDINAL RANGE. THIS COULD BE DUE TO 2 FACTORS: 1) URBANIZATION GENERATES SUITABLE HABITATS FOR THIS SPECIES IN PERIURBAN AREAS, AND 2) TEMPERATURE VALUES HAVE INCREASED IN THE REGION WHERE THE CITY OF MORELIA IS LOCATED. THESE FACTORS ALLOW THAT A LOWLAND BIRD SPECIES CAN INHABIT IN MORE ELEVATED AREAS. THUS, OUR RECORDS SUGGEST THAT THE GREY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT CAN BE CATALOGUED AS POTENTIAL TO USE SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS WHEN THESE ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE USED BY THE SPECIES ON ITS NATURAL DISTRIBUTION AREA.