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Polioptilidae - Gnatcatchers

 

Classification

 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Aves
 Order: Passeriformes 
 Family: Polioptilidae
Blue-gray GnatchatcherThere are 15 species of birds in this family. They are found in North, Central, and South America. They are very small birds with long, slender bills. Most species are a bluish-gray in color. They are found in open woodlands or scrubland. They eat insects.

The blue-gray gnatcatcher is about 4-5 inches in length and is bluish-gray on its uppersides and white on its undersides. It has a long, white-edged tail and a white ring around its eyes. It is found throughout most of the United States. The black-tailed gnatcatcher is about 4 inches in length and is found in the deserts of the Southwestern United States. There is a subspecies of the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica), the Coastal California gnatcatcher (Polilptila californica californic) that is found in extreme southwestern coastal California. It is an endangered species. The black-capped gnatcatcher is found in southeastern Arizona. It is 4-5 inches in length and is bluish-gray with a black cap on its head.

galleryPolioptilidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in USThreatened in US Threatened in New HampshireThreatened in NH Endangered in USEndangered in US Endangered in NHEndangered in NH IntroducedIntroduced breeds in nhBreeds in NH
US Fish and Wildlifeand NH Fish and Game

  New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea Least Concern breeds in NH


  Tawny-faced Gnatwren - Microbates cinereiventris Least Concern
White-lored Gnatcatcher - Polioptila albiloris Least Concern
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea Least Concern
California Gnatcatcher - Polioptila californica Least Concern
Cuban Gnatcatcher - Polioptila lembeyei Least Concern
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher - Polioptila melanura Least Concern
Black-capped Gnatcatcher - Polioptila nigriceps Least Concern
Tropical Gnatcatcher - Polioptila plumbea Least Concern

Other Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH

Tawny-faced Gnatwren - Microbates cinereiventris Least Concern North America South America
Collared Gnatwren - Microbates collaris Least Concern South America
White-lored Gnatcatcher - Polioptila albiloris Least Concern North America
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea Least Concern North America New Hampshire Species
California Gnatcatcher - Polioptila californica Least Concern North America
Iquitos Gnatcatcher - Polioptila clementsi Critically Endangered South America
Masked Gnatcatcher - Polioptila dumicola Least Concern South America
Guianan Gnatcatcher - Polioptila guianensis Least Concern South America

  Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher - Polioptila lactea Near Threatened South America
Cuban Gnatcatcher - Polioptila lembeyei Least Concern North America
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher - Polioptila melanura Least Concern North America
Black-capped Gnatcatcher - Polioptila nigriceps Least Concern North America
Tropical Gnatcatcher - Polioptila plumbea Least Concern North America South America
Slate-throated Gnatcatcher - Polioptila schistaceigula Least Concern South America
Long-billed Gnatwren - Ramphocaenus melanurus Least Concern South America