Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

2/3/02 Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge, Salton Sea, Imperial County, CA 

2/3/02 Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge, Salton Sea, Imperial County, CA 

1/14/01 Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

SPECIES: Polioptila caerulea

LIFE LIST DATE: 1/14/2001

LOCATION: Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, CA

From Kaufman Focus Guide: Birds of North America:

HABITAT: Common in eastern forest, but may be hard to see in summer as it flits about high in leafy trees. More easily observed in the west, where it inhabits lower oaks and junipers. 

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 4 1/2"; Blue-gray above, whitish below, with white eye ring. White outer tail feathers (tail looks all white from below). In spring and summer, male has thin black eyebrow. 

VOICE: Callnote is thin, whining shpeew. Song is thin, squeaky warble, with whining notes tossed in.