Birds of North America

Gnatcatchers

Polioptila caerulea

Lives, Habitats & Pictures of the Gnatcatchers

There are four species of gnatcatchers found in North America, with the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher being the most common. This member of the gnatcatcher family is found in approx two-thirds of the United States and into regions of south-eastern Canada. The California Gnatcatcher can be seen in the lower half of California and into Mexico. The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, which is quite similar to the California Gnatcatcher can be found along all the extreme southern States adjacent to Mexico and into Mexico itself. The Black-capped Gnatcatcher has the most southern range and again is quite similar in size and looks to both, the California and Black-tailed Gnatcatchers.

Gnatcatchers behave in somewhat the same manner as warblers, where they can be seen flitting from leaf to leaf, hopping from branch to branch for insects. These small mostly grey birds, with the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher being the exceptions to this colour, are always quite active.

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Classic Collection of North American Birds