Bird Guide

California Gnatcatcher vs White-lored Gnatcatcher

California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica)

California Gnatcatcher

Polioptila californica

Tiny6 gShrubland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren · CC BY 2.0
White-lored Gnatcatcher (Polioptila albiloris)

White-lored Gnatcatcher

Polioptila albiloris

Tiny6 gWoodland

The 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). The nominate male in breeding plumage has a black cap down to the eyes and including the nape. The rest of the upperparts are bluish gray. The tail is black with white outermost feathers. The throat is white becoming pale bluish gray on the breast and flanks. The female has a dark gray cap and the eponymous white lores and supercilium. The juvenile is similar to the female but has browner upperparts. The male P. a. vanrossemi has a larger black cap and longer wings and tail than the nominate. Voice: The white-lored gnatcatcher has two songs, a "simple" and a "complex" . It also has a variety of calls, for which see Xeno-canto below.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the White-lored Gnatcatcher
Recorded by Oliver Komar · Call · San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazán Department (Zamorano Univ. Finca Agroecológica), Honduras · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Carlos Domínguez-Rodríguez · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: California Gnatcatcher and White-lored Gnatcatcher.