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.
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male in breeding plumage; black crown, nape (California, USA; 2006-04-12)
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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) |
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