The Bartlett (author) field guide both western and eastern field guides are the best out there. To address your question there are seven subspecies of (Masticophis) coachwhip of which six are in the United States and (mentovarious) is from Mexico into Central and South America.

Red phase is used to describe certain western races that have a black morph although it could also describe an eastern coachwhip that was red, anotherwords (my word) the offspring would either be black or red, (and or) any other color and red.

Hope that helps but keep in mind some coachwhip snakes are brown and will turn red from diet. The red in the diet is from insects eaten either directly by the snake or by lizards or birds that the snake is feeding on.

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