breeding male; black cap; mostly black tail (California, USA; 2007-04-21)


Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Polioptila melanura

Native Range: North America and Middle America

Notes: a desert counterpart of the more coastally-distributed California Gnatcatcher; usually seen in pairs in desert scrublands of the American southwest.

male, dorsal view; bluish upperparts (California, USA; 2007-04-21)
male, ventral view; black-and-white undertail (California, USA; 2007-04-21)

female; note the eye-ring; no black cap (California, USA; 2007-04-21)
female; mostly mousy-gray overall (California, USA; 2007-04-21)