Black-capped Gnatcatcher Identification

Breeding male

A small gray songbird with a long tail and long bill. Upperparts are blue-gray and underparts are grayish-white. Adult male in breeding plumage has a black cap that extends from the bill to behind the eye.

Female/nonbreeding male

Female and nonbreeding male lack a black cap. Note the white outer tail feathers contrasting with the black inner feathers.

Breeding male

A small, fidgety songbird that frequently flicks and cocks its long tail. Grayish-white below with darker gray upperparts. Adult male in breeding plumage has a black cap that stretches from the base of the bill to behind the eye. Gives a variety of nasal mewing calls.

Female/nonbreeding male

Female and nonbreeding male have a full white eyering. Note the long, dark bill.

Breeding male

The underside of the tail appears white when the tail is closed.

Female/nonbreeding male

Nearly endemic to northwestern Mexico, but also occurs annually in southeastern Arizona in small numbers.

Female/nonbreeding male

Frequently cocks its tail like other gnatcatchers.

Tail is strongly graduated, with central feathers longer than outermost feathers. The two outer tail feathers are mostly white.

Breeding male

Occurs in thorn scrub, dry forest, and in the northern part of its range, in woodland along creeks and rivers.