Arbu
Well-known member
These two birds are almost indistinguishable aren't they? I'm using the Merlin app which says "On Russet, note pale pinkish underside of bill with dark tip and faintly mottled or streaked pattern to breast." Well, the third picture of Russet on Merlin shows a bird with a uniformly grey breast, like a Ruddy-capped, with no mottling or streaking. So that leaves the underside of the bill to distinguish them by. The first picture of Russet on Merlin shows a bird with a paler breast, but a yellow, not pinkish, underside of the bill, like the pictures of Ruddy-capped. So the bill colour doesn't work either. The songs sound the same. So maybe the distinguishing feature is a paler breast on the Russet, and the third picture of Russet on Merlin is actually of a Ruddy-capped?
Anyway, here's my picture of one at Malinche a couple of weeks ago. From the dark grey breast I'd guess it's a Ruddy-capped. Anyone think it's possible to tell?
Anyway, here's my picture of one at Malinche a couple of weeks ago. From the dark grey breast I'd guess it's a Ruddy-capped. Anyone think it's possible to tell?