nonbreeding male; black line over eye (California, USA; 2007-01-06)


California Gnatcatcher
Polioptila californica

Native Range: North America and Middle America

Notes: a tiny mouse-like denizen of chaparral habitats; coastal counterpart of desert-inhabiting Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, to which it is closely related; underside of tail is mostly black with narrow white bands, unlike the mostly white undertail pattern of the sympatric Blue-grey Gnatcatcher; listed as an endangered species, and a focus of conservation efforts.

male in breeding plumage; black crown, nape (California, USA; 2006-04-12) 		adult female; note also the black tail (California, USA; 2006-08-01)
undertail mostly black, with thin white lines (California, USA; 2007-01-06) nonbreeding male; black line over eye (California, USA; 2007-01-06)
white outer tail feathers in both sexes (California, USA; 2006-03-21) blue-gray back; lighter underparts (California, USA; 2007-01-06)
posing for portrait and showing white eyering (California, USA; 2006-11-19) posing for portrait and showing white eyering (California, USA; 2011-11-19)
posing and showing brownish back (California, USA; 2011-11-19)