Polioptila caerulea
male
Were it not for its long tail, the distinctive Blue-gray Gnatcatcher might be mistaken for a warbler. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males have blue-gray upperparts and pale gray underparts. From above, the tail is black but with white outer feathers; from below, it is mostly white. The blackish wings have pale margins to the tertials and coverts. The head has a white eyering; the forehead is blackish in the breeding season but blue-gray at other times. Adult females are similar to a non-breeding male. Juveniles are similar to an adult female but sometimes have a subtle buff suffusion on the back.
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is present as a breeding species across temperate North America, mainly from April to August. It occurs year-round in parts of southern U.S.A. (particularly the southeast) and its winter range extends from there to Central America. Its active foraging behavior recalls that of a warbler. The long tail, often cocked up, aids certain identification.
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 4.3 in (11 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Deciduous woodland
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a series of thin notes, and sometimes includes mimicry of nearby songsters. Call is a soft, mewing pweoe
