Polioptila melanura
The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) is a diminutive, hyperactive songbird endemic to the arid Southwest, characterized by its long, often-cocked black tail fringed with white. Measuring approximately 10-13 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 16 cm and weighing a mere 5-7 grams, its slender build allows for agile movements through dense scrub. Males are distinguished by a glossy black cap during the breeding season, contrasting with their otherwise blue-gray upperparts and pa...
This species thrives in arid scrublands, desert washes, and riparian thickets, favoring habitats dominated by mesquite, palo verde, and acacia, typically found at elevations from sea level up to 2,000 meters.
The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher's diet consists almost exclusively of small insects and spiders, which they primarily capture by gleaning from foliage and twigs.
Black-tailed Gnatcatchers are tirelessly active diurnal birds, constantly flitting through vegetation, gleaning small insects from leaves and twigs with quick, precise movements, and occasionally making short, aerial sallies. They are primarily monogamous, with pairs fiercely defending their bree...
The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is predominantly a resident species distributed across the arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In the U.S., its year-round presence extends through southeastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, Arizona, New ...
Least Concern
- The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher's name is derived from its incessant pursuit of tiny flying insects, particularly gnats. - Its intricately woven, cup-shaped nest, bound with spider silk and adorned with lichens and bark, is considered an architectural marvel among avian structures. - During the br...