Species BirdsBlack-tailed Gnatcatcher

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila melanura

CommonBird
Illustration of Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)

The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is a desert counterpart to the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The breeding male has an extensive black cap and extensive black on the tail visible from below. Unlike the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, it rarely strays from arid desert haunts and is a year-round resident in the Southwest.

Habitat
Arid desert washes, mesquite, and scrubby desert of the southwestern US
Diet
Tiny insects and spiders
How common
Common

Best time to see a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

The best time to see a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is January–May, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,399 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Black-tailed Gnatcatcher sightings near you

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