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ShrublandCup nestTiny · 6 g
ID tip
The male California gnatcatcher is dusky gray overall, distinguished only by its black crown and thin black beak. It has a long, thin black tail with narrow white tips and edges on the underside of the tail feathers. However, the male loses its plumage colors by winter and obtains a plumage color similar to the females. The female is similar to the male, but with a blue-gray instead of a black crown.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the California Gnatcatcher
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.
Where to see the California Gnatcatcher
The map shades 2 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the California Gnatcatcher
The California gnatcatcher is a small, 10.8-centimetre-long (4.3 in) insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth. This species was recently split from the similar black-tailed gnatcatcher of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. This bird is often solitary, but joins with other birds in winter flocks.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
White-lored GnatcatcherPolioptila albilorisThe white-lored gnatcatcher is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 6 to 9 g (0.21 to 0.32 oz).
Black-capped GnatcatcherPolioptila nigricepsThe black-capped gnatcatcher is 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 5 to 8 g (0.18 to 0.28 oz).
Yucatan GnatcatcherPolioptila albiventrisThe Yucatan gnatcatcher is 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) long.
Side by side: Black-tailed Gnatcatcher vs California Gnatcatcher · California Gnatcatcher vs Tropical Gnatcatcher · California Gnatcatcher vs Masked Gnatcatcher · California Gnatcatcher vs White-lored Gnatcatcher · Black-capped Gnatcatcher vs California Gnatcatcher · California Gnatcatcher vs Yucatan Gnatcatcher
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