General

California Gnatcatcher: Medium-sized gnatcatcher with a black cap, dark blue-gray upperparts, black tail, and paler gray, buff-washed underparts. Bill is short, slender, and black. Tail is black with white edges, with undertail appearing all-black when closed. Female is paler and lacks black cap. Winter male resembles female but has dark eyebrow.

Range and Habitat

California Gnatcatcher: Local resident of southern California and Baja California. Apparent coastal sage shrub/scrub, chaparral obligate in the United States. Population declines due to habitat destruction have prompted its listing as a federally threatened species.

Breeding and Nesting

California Gnatcatcher: Four to five pale blue eggs with small red brown spots are laid in a cup nest built by both parents in low shrubby vegetation; nest comprised of grass, bark, and plant fibers bound with spider and insect silk, lined with leaves and down feathers. Both sexes incubate eggs for about 14 days.

Foraging and Feeding

California Gnatcatcher: Gleans insects from foliage and branches. Occasionally will hover. Diet sometimes includes spiders and seeds.

Vocalization

California Gnatcatcher: Song a series of "jzer" or "zew" notes. Call a kittenlike rising and falling "zeeer."

Similar Species

California Gnatcatcher: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher distinctly blue toned, with white eye ring, pale bill, lacks black cap, undertail nearly all white. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher has more white on underside of tail. Black-capped Gnatcatcher undertail almost entirely white. All species have different vocalizations and are overall lighter in color than the California Gnatcatcher.