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California Gnatcatcher

California Gnatcatcher

Polioptila californica

Range & Recent Observations

California Gnatcatcheris a year-round resident and doesn't follow a migration flyway. See the Range tab for where it lives.

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the California Gnatcatcher

The California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) is a small, 10.8-centimetre-long (4.3 in) insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth. This species was recently split from the similar black-tailed gnatcatcher of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. This bird is often solitary, but joins with other birds in winter flocks.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Polioptila californica
Family
Gnatcatchers
Order
Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the gnatcatchers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • Black-capped Gnatcatcher Polioptila nigriceps
  • Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Polioptila melanura
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
  • Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus
  • White-browed Gnatcatcher Polioptila bilineata
  • White-lored Gnatcatcher Polioptila albiloris
  • Yucatan Gnatcatcher Polioptila albiventris

Know when the California Gnatcatcher turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

How rare bird alerts work →

Gear for spotting California Gnatcatcher

Optics

Best Binoculars for Beginners

You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.

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Cameras

Cameras for Bird Photography

From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.

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Optics

Spotting Scopes for Distance Birding

Essential for shorebirds, raptors, and anything too far for binoculars. Our tested picks.

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