California Gnatcatcher Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCalifornia Gnatcatcher
Breeding male
A tiny bird with a long, slender tail. Male California Gnatcatchers are gray with a black cap and a black tail narrowly edged in white.
© Chezy Yusuf / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 14, 2017Female
Females are gray overall with a thin white eyering and a black tail narrowly edged in white.
© Robert Hamilton / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 11, 2017Breeding male
A small, slender songbird with a long black tail narrowly edged in white. Males have a black cap. Individuals in the northern part of the range are darker gray than those farther south.
© Joachim Bertrands / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 02, 2018Female
Females are grayish overall with a brownish wash on the sides, wings, and undertail.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 19, 2020Female
Found in coastal sage scrub, desert scrub, and coastal dune scrub.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 26, 2018Similar SpeciesBlack-tailed Gnatcatcher
Breeding male
Black-tailed Gnatcatchers have more extensive white outer tail feathers than California Gnatcatchers. Also note vocal differences; Black-tailed have staccato and harsh calls and California have catlike mews.
© Patrick Vaughan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 22, 2017Similar SpeciesBlack-tailed Gnatcatcher
Female
Female Black-tailed Gnatcatchers have more white on the outer tail feathers than California Gnatcatchers. Female Black-tailed also have paler bellies than California Gnatcatchers.
© Moe Bertrand / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 10, 2016Similar SpeciesBlue-gray Gnatcatcher
Breeding male
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers have more extensive white on the outer tail feathers than California Gnatcatchers. They also lack the black cap seen on male California Gnatcatchers.
© Linda Chittum / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, April 15, 2017Similar SpeciesBlue-gray Gnatcatcher
Female/nonbreeding male
Female/nonbreeding male Blue-gray Gnatcatchers can be separated from California Gnatcatchers by the more extensive white on the outer tail feathers, and paler bellies.
© Peter Hawrylyshyn / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 09, 2017Similar SpeciesGray Vireo
Adult
Gray Vireos are chunkier with a shorter tail than California Gnatcatchers. They also have paler bellies, a brighter white eyering, and lack the male California Gnatcatcher's black cap.
© Ryan Shaw / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 29, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Gnatcatchers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Polioptilidae)
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