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Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Silhouette GnatcatchersGnatcatchers
Black-capped GnatcatcherPolioptila nigriceps
  • ORDER: Passeriformes
  • FAMILY: Polioptilidae

Basic Description

Black-capped Gnatcatcher is a small, slim, fidgety bird of thorn scrub and dry forest of western Mexico. Small numbers occur in southeastern Arizona’s mesquite thickets and woodlands. Breeding males are easily identifiable by their bold black cap and white underside of the tail, but females and nonbreeding males are very similar to Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. They forage for insects fairly low in vegetation and give rough, nasal, up-and-down calls. Little else is known of their life history.

More ID Info
image of range map for Black-capped Gnatcatcher
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
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Other Names

  • Perlita Capirotada (Spanish)
  • Gobemoucheron à coiffe noire (French)
  • Cool Facts