Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus frantzii wetmorei)
29 January 2009, Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica
Here you can see
that only the mandible is yellow and the eyering is gray not orange as it
would be on the Orange-billed.
When seen from above, the bill looks all dark, and there can also be
confusion with the Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus gracilirostris
gracilirostris) which does occur in the area, but stays up in the higher
forests and does not normally venture down to the road or the grounds of
the lodge.
This is a Central American species which ranges from central Mexico to
western Panama. Five to seven subspecies are recognized. This is the
southernmost C. f. wetmorei which is said to be duller on the crown and
paler on the back than other races. Here you can see a tinge of rufous on
the crown.
Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)