General

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Very small. Black cap, blue-gray upperparts, black tail, gray white underparts. Long slender black beak. Outer tail feathers mostly white gives underside of tail white appearance when tail closed. Female has pale gray upperparts and lacks black cap.

Range and Habitat

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

Breeding and 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.

Foraging and Feeding

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

Vocalization

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Song is a jerky warble. Call rising and falling "mee-ur."

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.