Gnatcatcher
|
|
| Gnatcatchers | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Blue-grey Gnatcatcher | ||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Genera | ||||||||||
|
Microbates |
The 15 species of small passerine birds in the gnatcatcher family occur in North and South America. Most species of this mainly tropical and sub-tropical group are resident, but the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher of the USA and southern Canada migrates south in winter.
These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers and gnatwrens are mainly soft bluish grey in colour, and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill.
They are birds of fairly open woodland or scrub, and nest in bushes or trees.
- Family Polioptilidae
- Collared Gnatwren, Microbates collaris
- Tawny-faced Gnatwren, Microbates cinereiventris
- Long-billed Gnatwren, Ramphocaenus melanurus
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
- Cuban Gnatcatcher, Polioptila lembeyei
- California Gnatcatcher, Polioptila californica
- Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Polioptila melanura
- Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Polioptila nigriceps
- White-lored Gnatcatcher, Polioptila albiloris
- Maranon Gnatcatcher, Polioptila maranonica
- Guianan Gnatcatcher, Polioptila guianensis
- Tropical Gnatcatcher, Polioptila plumbea
- Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher, Polioptila lactea
- Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Polioptila schistaceigula
- Masked Gnatcatcher, Polioptila dumicola