Birds of Arlington - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Birds of Arlington

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

(Polioptila caerulea)

Adult Male

Present: Summer & Migration

Visual Identification

Where and When to see them

Visual Identification

Adult Female

Adult Male

Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers are small, slender birds only a tad bit bigger than hummingbirds. They have a blue-ish gray that covers their body, being more vibrant on the back. Males have more of that blue-ish color. They have white undertail coverts and a white eyering, males have a black supercilium (eyebrow). Their tails are blue-gray or black with white on the sides, which can be seen most of the time.

Voice

Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers emit a nasal, whining peeeee or pzzzzz. Common song is a whining pzeee-pee-ze-pzeu. Sometimes they with produce odd warbles or change up the song a bit.

Habitat

Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers spend most of their time in the forest, preferring a more dry area. This includes open forest, forest edge, streamside forest (occasionally), and suburbia. They also might hang out in willow thickets or areas with dense tangles of dead vines.

Behavior

Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers are very active, even more than some warblers. They will flit around the mid-high layers of trees or hanging of vines around 25-40 feet off the ground. They will sometimes hover-glean leaves and other surfaces.

Like cuckoos and orioles, Gnatcatchers will eat hairy caterpillars that most birds wouldn’t touch. They do not eat them upon sight, instead they will whack them on branches until most of the hair is gone and then dine.

Comparisons

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmice are the same color as Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and do make harsh call f notes, but notice that Titmice are much larger and have a different song, they also possess a crest.

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadees are the same size and shape of Gnatcatchers and make harsh call notes, but notice that Chickadees have a black cap and throat, are not blue-gray and have a different song.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-Crowned Kinglets May be mistaken For Gnatcatchers for their size and harsh call notes, but note the tail color, shape, and size along side will their proportions and overall greener hues.

Where and When to see them

Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers are most common at Glencarlyn Park and Bluemont Park. They are uncommon at Longbranch Park. The best spot for viewing them is The Playground at Glencarlyn Park (Glencarlyn Park Playground) next to a parking lot and bathrooms during late April to early May.

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