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Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Polioptila nigricepsOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Old World Warblers and Gnatcatchers (Sylviidae)
Codes: Common Name: BCGN Scientific Name: POLNIG ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179863
Least Concern
 
Black-capped Gnatcatcher: The adult Black-capped Gnatcatcher has blue-gray upperparts, black tail, gray-white underparts and a black cap.
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Black-capped Gnatcatcher Variations

Black-capped Gnatcatcher
Female
Black-capped Gnatcatcher
Black-capped Gnatcatcher
Adult
Black-capped Gnatcatcher

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Overview

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Very small. Black cap, blue-gray upperparts, black tail, gray white underparts. Long slender black beak. The outer tail feathers mostly white gives underside of tail a white appearance when tail closed. Weak fluttering direct flight with shallow wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Resident of western Mexico, rare breeder in southeastern Arizona, recently documented breeding in extreme southwestern New Mexico.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body


Voice Text

"mee-ur"

Interesting Facts

 The Black-capped Gnatcatcher is a recent addition to the United States. It was discovered nesting in Patagonia, Arizona in 1971.

 Because of its small size, they are usually difficult to see unless a male is singing. Even with that, their voice is so thin, that it is beyond the audible range of many people.

 Males acquire their distinctive partial black caps in February.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Ashli Maruster

Artist

David Wenzel

Splitbar
Range Map for Black-capped Gnatcatcher

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Family Gnatcatchers and Kinglets (Sylviidae)_blue
Species Polioptila nigriceps
Length4.3 Inches
Wingspan6 Inches

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Very small. Black cap, blue-gray upperparts, black tail, gray white underparts. Long slender black beak. The outer tail feathers mostly white gives underside of tail a white appearance when tail closed. Weak fluttering direct flight with shallow wing beats.

● Song: "mee-ur"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Gleans insects from foliage and branches. Occasionally will hover. Diet sometimes includes spiders and seeds.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Male and female build cup nest 6 to 13 feet above the ground, in medium sized shrub or small tree, often mesquite, juniper, or acacia. Female lays two to six pale blue eggs flecked with red brown. Both sexes incubate and tend young.

● Similar species: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is distinctly blue toned, with obvious white eye ring and pale bill. Breeding male lacks black cap. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher has much more black on underside of tail, almost completely black with white spots near edge, shorter bill, and more distinct eye ring. California Gnatcatcher is darker and more dusky overall with more brown tones throughout, tail almost completely black on underside with very little white edging. All species have different vocalizations.

Flight Pattern

Short flights usually within low vegetation. Tail often waving from side to side and/or cocked in the air.
Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Adult
● Range & Habitat: Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Resident of western Mexico, rare breeder in southeastern Arizona, recently documented breeding in extreme southwestern New Mexico.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationRare to uncommon
MigrationMost do not migrate
Weight0.2 Ounces
Perching-like BodyX
UnderpartsX
Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
CapX
The area on top of the head of the bird.
Outer tail feathersX
The tail feathers farthest from the center.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX