Gnatcatchers are migratory, with no distinctions in migratory schedules based on age or sex. They leave there wintering sites by mid-March. They remain at their breeding site until shortly after the young have become fully independent, usually in mid-August.
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Gnatcatchers have no special status; however, few data have been collected on the effects of human activity on their populations. Their numbers seem to be rising, indicating that subtropical deforestation is having little effect on these birds, which winter throughout shrub-based habitats in Mexico. Management may be needed for microhabitats in the U.S. (such as stream valleys and canopy openings), rather than large areas.
US Migratory Bird Act: protected
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Gnatcatchers eat mainly small insects and spiders. They search for food by moving up and down through the outer branches of trees or shrubs. Their preferred foods are (in order from highest amount to lowest): Homoptera (cicadas, aphids), Hemiptera, Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (mothsl, butterflies), Diptera (flies), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps), and Araneae (spiders).
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ranges over most of the United States east of the Mississippi, excluding Maine. It can also be found throughout Mexico, Cuba, Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. During the winter, gnatcatchers migrate to Central and South America.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )
Gnatcatchers enjoy a wide range of woodland habitats, from shrublands to mature forests. They tend to avoid coniferous forests and concentrate largely along habitat edges. Some of their habitats include floodplain forests, lakeside habitats, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and arid, subtropical shrubbery.
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 50 months.
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are small birds, with a comparatively long tails. They are bluish-grey above and white below. The color of the bases of the wings blends into the black coloring at the tips. The tail is black with white streaks interspersed. There are prominent thin white rings around each eye.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Average mass: 6.5 g.
Monogamous pairs are formed shortly after the return to the breeding range, in late March or April. There is no evidence as to whether these pairs are lifelong or if new pairs are formed every breeding season. The Gnatctacher nests fairly early for a North American songbird, sometime in the month of April. The nest is built by both the male and female, and takes nearly two weeks to complete. Three to five eggs are layed 5-10 days after construction is finished. The male and female both incubate. After another two weeks the young hatch. Both parents bring food to the young. Although both the male and female contribute to the care of the eggs and hatchlings, they do not interact with one another after incubation begins, seeing each other only in passing. They often fledge a second brood together later in the season.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
Average time to hatching: 13 days.
Average eggs per season: 4.
A small (4 ½ inches) songbird, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is most easily identified by its blue-gray body, pale breast, and dark tail with white edges. Males in breeding plumage possess faint black eye-stripes which separates them visually from females, which are less adorned. In winter, male and female Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are similar to one another. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher breeds across much of the United States, southern Canada, Mexico, and northern portions of Central America. In winter, northerly-breeding populations migrate south, spending the winter anywhere from coastal California and the coastal southeastern U.S. south to Central America and the West Indies. Some southerly-breeding populations, particularly those in the tropics, are non-migratory. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers breed in a number of semi-open woodland habitats, particularly in habitats with deciduous trees and often in locations near water. In winter, this species utilizes a variety of tropical and subtropical shrub habitats. As this species’ name suggests, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers primarily eat small insects. In appropriate habitat, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers may be observed flitting through the undergrowth or the lower canopy while searching for insects on leaves or in crevices in bark. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ “squeaky” song or high buzzing call, which alert listeners of its presence. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are primarily active during the day.
A small (4 ½ inches) songbird, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is most easily identified by its blue-gray body, pale breast, and dark tail with white edges. Males in breeding plumage possess faint black eye-stripes which separates them visually from females, which are less adorned. In winter, male and female Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are similar to one another. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher breeds across much of the United States, southern Canada, Mexico, and northern portions of Central America. In winter, northerly-breeding populations migrate south, spending the winter anywhere from coastal California and the coastal southeastern U.S. south to Central America and the West Indies. Some southerly-breeding populations, particularly those in the tropics, are non-migratory. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers breed in a number of semi-open woodland habitats, particularly in habitats with deciduous trees and often in locations near water. In winter, this species utilizes a variety of tropical and subtropical shrub habitats. As this species’ name suggests, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers primarily eat small insects. In appropriate habitat, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers may be observed flitting through the undergrowth or the lower canopy while searching for insects on leaves or in crevices in bark. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ “squeaky” song or high buzzing call, which alert listeners of its presence. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are primarily active during the day.
The blue-gray gnatcatcher or blue-grey gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is a very small songbird native to North America.
It is 10–13 cm (3.9–5.1 in) in length, 6.3 in (16 cm) in wingspan,[2] and weighing only 5–7 g (0.18–0.25 oz).[3][4] Adult males are blue-gray on the upperparts with white underparts, slender dark bill, and a long black tail edged in white. Females are less blue, while juveniles are greenish-gray. Both sexes have a white eye ring.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher gleaning a spider. Sacramento, California
Blue-gray gnatcatcher in Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto, California
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Catching an insect in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
The blue-gray gnatcatcher's breeding habitat includes open deciduous woods and shrublands in southern Ontario, the eastern and southwestern United States, and Mexico. Though gnatcatcher species are common and increasing in number while expanding to the northeast,[5] it is the only one to breed in Eastern North America. They migrate to the southern United States, Mexico, northern Central America (Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras), Cuba, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Cayman Islands.
These birds prefer humid areas with large leaves, woodlands, and more open sandy areas with sparse trees where they mainly eat insects, insect eggs, and spiders. The males often work to build nests, help incubate and raise the young, as well as feed the children, often thought to be a mother's role. Their nests are often built far out on a tree's branch with spider silks and lichen plants holding them together.[6] They may hover over foliage while snatching prey (gleaning), or fly to catch insects in flight (hawking). The tail is often held upright while defending territory or searching for food.[7]
The songs (and calls) are often heard on breeding grounds, (usually away from nest) and occasionally heard other times of the year. Calls: "zkreee, zkreee, zkreee", Songs: "szpree zpree spreeeeey spree spre sprzrreeeee"
Both parents build a cone-like nest on a horizontal tree branch, and share feeding the young. The incubation period is 10-15 days for both sexes, and two broods may be raised in a season.[8]
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The blue-gray gnatcatcher or blue-grey gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is a very small songbird native to North America.
