Species › Birds › Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

CommonBird
Illustration of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a tiny, active bird with a long black-and-white tail it constantly flicks and spreads while hunting insects. It is the only member of its primarily tropical family to breed in most of the eastern United States, and it has been expanding northward. Its spider-silk-and-lichen nest is a masterpiece of construction, stretching as the young grow.

Habitat
Deciduous forests, woodland edges, and scrubby areas
Diet
Tiny insects, spiders, and small invertebrates
How common
Common

Best time to see a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The best time to see a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is January–June, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 40,839 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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