Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Summary 5
The blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is a very small songbird, 3.9–5.1 inches in length and weighing only 5–7 g (0.18–0.25 oz). Adult males are blue-gray on the upperparts with white underparts, have a slender dark bill, and a long black tail edged in white. Females are less blue, while juveniles are greenish-gray. Both sexes have a white eye ring. They forage actively in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects, insect eggs and spiders. They may hover over foliage (gleaning), or fly to catch insects in flight (hawking). The tail is often held upright while defending territory or searching for food. They have been spotted in the COSA from March to September
Sources and Credits
- (c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/7457894@N04/4196627607
- (c) JanetandPhil, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/dharma_for_one/35503592795/
- (c) Dawn Beattie, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher_(polioptila_caerulea)_(10828008123).jpg
- (c) Mike & Chris, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polioptila_caerulea_1.jpg
- Adapted by dirstine from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polioptila_caerulea
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