Diagnosis.—Tail much longer than wing, even or graduated; head with bushy crest; nostril large, rounded and fully exposed, bordered by membrane; rictal bristles well developed; tarsus shorter than middle toe with claw; plumage soft, blended.
Range.—Southwestern United States to Costa Rica.
Ptilogonys cinereus cinereus Swainson
Ashy Ptilogonys
Ptilogonys cinereus cinereus Swainson, Cat. Bullock's Mex. Mus., App. 4, 1824.
Diagnosis.—Coloration of adult male: Frontals, supralorals, malars, and chin White; orbital ring White; auriculars and nape grayish brown; rest of head smoke gray; back, scapulars, wing coverts, rump, and upper tail coverts plain Bluish Black; rectrices (except middle pair) with large patch of White midway between base and tip, rest plain Bluish Black; chest, breast, and anterior parts of sides plain Bluish Gray-Green, much lighter than back, and fading into paler Gray on throat; abdomen and thighs White; flanks and posterior part of sides Olive-Yellow or Yellowish Olive; under tail coverts Lemon Yellow; bill, legs and feet Black. Coloration of adult females: Head plain Smoke Gray, passing into White on frontals, malars, and chin; back, scapulars, wing coverts, and rump Hair Brown; upper tail coverts Dark Gull Gray; remiges and rectrices Black with faint Dusky Green gloss, edged with Gull Gray; chest Dark Grayish Brown lightening to Wood Brown on sides and flanks; abdomen White; under tail coverts Yellow Ocher. Coloration of young: As in adult female, but paler throughout.
Measurements.—In adult male, wing 94.0, and tail 104.2; in adult female, wing 93.3, and tail 94.8; both sexes, culmen 11.1, and tarsus 18.7.
Range.—Mountainous districts of central and southern Mexico, in states of Durango, Zacatecas, Hidalgo, México, Oaxaca, Colima, Morelos, Veracruz, San [Luís Potosi], Guerrero and Michoacán.
Ptilogonys cinereus molybdophanes Ridgway