Note the distinct, complete, post-vertical pollinose stripe along the hind edge of the top of the head ("complete" here means "uninterrupted", and "vertical" refers to the "vertex"). According to Camras (1955), this is a distinguishing character for a group of species consisting of P. excisus and P. townsendi in our area (and other species occurring in Mexico and points south). Note that P. bulbirostris often exhibits such a post-vertical stripe...but Camras indicated it is usually interrupted behind the vertex in that species (though in many of the specimens of bulbirostis that I examined at the Essig Museum it was complete).

Also note that the amount black on the dorsum of the thorax was quite variable among the specimens in the Essig collection. This one had just two lateral black stripes, but many had a median stripe too...some with the stripes almost filling the dorsum. I've noticed similar variability in the extent of these black dorsal vittae in other species of Physoconops (and Physocephala), but usually not as much as here.