About Granatellus venustus Bonaparte, 1850
The red-breasted chat (Granatellus venustus Bonaparte, 1850) measures 14.5 to 16 cm (5.7 to 6.3 in) in length. A sample of 12 specimens had a weight range of 10.2 to 11.4 g (0.36 and 0.40 oz). For the adult male of the nominate subspecies, the upperside is mostly bluish gray. Most of the face is black, with a broad white supercilium, and a black band crosses the chest. The chin, throat, sides, and flanks are white, while the chest, lower breast, belly, and vent area are vermilion. Adult females have slate gray upperparts. Most of the face is made up of shades of buff and gray. The breast and belly are buff, and the vent area is salmon pink. Immature males have similar head and upperpart coloration to adult males but have less black. Their throat and underparts are whitish, with a pink wash on the rear underparts. Immature females are similar in appearance to adult females. The nominate subspecies of red-breasted chat is endemic to western Mexico. It is resident year-round from Sinaloa south to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and from there into interior Chiapas; it is suspected to occur into northern Guatemala, though no confirmed records exist from that country. It also ranges inland to Morelos along the Balsas River. The subspecies G. v. francescae is found only on the Islas Marías off the coast of Nayarit. This species primarily inhabits thorn forest and scrubby woodland, and can be found in the understory of secondary forest and other dense heavy growth. It has also been recorded in evergreen swamp forest located inland of mangrove swamps, and along rivers. In terms of elevation, it generally occurs between sea level and 1,200 m (3,900 ft), and can be found locally as high as 1,600 m (5,200 ft).
