Ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush

The ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush (Catharus frantzii) is a species of bird in the family Turdidae, the thrushes and allies. It is found from Mexico to Panama.

The ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush is about 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long and weighs about 30 g (1.1 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies C. f. frantzii have a rich rufous-brown to russet crown and a grayish face that sometimes has an olive tinge. Their back and rump are brownish olive with a russet wash and their uppertail coverts are deep rufous-brown. Their wings are mostly the same color as the back and rump but with silvery white undersides on the flight feathers. Their tail is deep rufous-brown. Their chin and throat are whitish with dark flecks. Their breast is pale gray with an olive tinge and dark flecks. Their belly, vent, and undertail coverts are whitish. Juveniles have a dark olive-brown to reddish brown crown and upperparts. Their face is sootier than adults'. Their breast is olive with darker feather tips. Their lower breast, belly, and flanks are whitish with olive or olive-brown bars.

The other subspecies of the ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush differ from the nominate and each other thus:

C. f. omiltemensis: duller upperparts and whiter underparts than nominate

C. f. nelsoni: like nominate with a brownish wash on the breast

C. f. chiapensis: like omiltemensis with a slightly darker tail and uppertail coverts

C. f. alticola: grayer underparts than nominate

C. f. juancitonis: smaller than nominate with more reddish crown

C. f. waldroni: like juancitonis but smaller and with less brown on the breast

C. f. wetmorei: paler crown, breast, and back and less gray underparts than nominate

All subspecies have a dark iris, a blackish maxilla, an orange-yellow mandible, and pale pink to grayish or brownish pink legs and feet.