Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Polioptila nigricepsOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Old World Warblers and Gnatcatchers (Sylviidae)

Black-capped Gnatcatcher Variations

Female
Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Adult
Black-capped Gnatcatcher

General

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Very small. Black cap, blue-gray upperparts, black tail, gray white underparts. Long slender black beak. Outer tail feathers mostly white gives underside of tail white appearance when tail closed. Female has pale gray upperparts and lacks black cap.

Range and Habitat

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Resident of western Mexico, rare breeder in southeastern Arizona, recently documented breeding in extreme southwestern New Mexico.

Voice Text

"mee-ur"

Interesting Facts

The Black-capped Gnatcatcher is a recent addition to the United States. It was discovered nesting in Patagonia, Arizona in 1971.

Because of its small size, they are usually difficult to see unless a male is singing. Even with that, their voice is so thin, that it is beyond the audible range of many people.

Males acquire their distinctive partial black caps in February.

Author

Ashli Maruster Splitbar

Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007 Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
Privacy Policy.

Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Very small. Black cap, blue-gray upperparts, black tail, gray white underparts. Long slender black beak. The outer tail feathers mostly white gives underside of tail a white appearance when tail closed. Weak fluttering direct flight with shallow wing beats.

● Song: "mee-ur"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Gleans insects from foliage and branches. Occasionally will hover. Diet sometimes includes spiders and seeds.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Male and female build cup nest 6 to 13 feet above the ground, in medium sized shrub or small tree, often mesquite, juniper, or acacia. Female lays two to six pale blue eggs flecked with red brown. Both sexes incubate and tend young.

● Similar species: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is distinctly blue toned, with obvious white eye ring and pale bill. Breeding male lacks black cap. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher has much more black on underside of tail, almost completely black with white spots near edge, shorter bill, and more distinct eye ring. California Gnatcatcher is darker and more dusky overall with more brown tones throughout, tail almost completely black on underside with very little white edging. All species have different vocalizations.

Flight Pattern

Short flights usually within low vegetation. Tail often waving from side to side and/or cocked in the air.

● Range & Habitat: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Resident of western Mexico, rare breeder in southeastern Arizona, recently documented breeding in extreme southwestern New Mexico.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationRare to uncommon

^MigrationMost do not migrate

^Weight0.2 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America