Black-capped Gnatcatcher (Polioptila nigriceps)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Polioptila nigriceps Baird, SF, 1864

10–12 cmLength5.6 gWeight

The black-capped gnatcatcher (Polioptila nigriceps) is a small songbird in the family Polioptilidae.

Busiest months: March–April · Most records: United States, Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Black-capped Gnatcatcher has been recorded at 21 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Florida Canyon – lowerUnited States2,048 records
  2. Madera Canyon – Proctor Rd.United States1,350 records
  3. Patagonia Lake SP – Birding TrailUnited States808 records
More places
  1. Patagonia Lake State ParkUnited States777 records
  2. ChacalillaMexico193 records
  3. Estero El YugoMexico124 records
  4. Camino SingaytaMexico60 records
  5. Rancho PrimaveraMexico43 records
  6. TecuitataMexico41 records
  7. Patagonia-Sonoita Creek PreserveUnited States28 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United StatesMexico

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black-capped gnatcatcher (Polioptila nigriceps) is a small songbird in the family Polioptilidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black-capped Gnatcatcher?

The Black-capped Gnatcatcher is about 10–12 cm long and weighs around 5.6 g.

Where does the Black-capped Gnatcatcher live?

Its breeding range: North America, Middle America: southwestern USA and northwestern, western Mexico. It is most often recorded in United States and Mexico.

When is the best time to see the Black-capped Gnatcatcher?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in March and April (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Black-capped Gnatcatcher endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-capped Gnatcatcher as Least Concern.

What does the Black-capped Gnatcatcher eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Black-capped Gnatcatcher in?

It belongs to the family Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
10–12 cm
Weight
5.6 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
47 mm
Tail
52 mm
Bill
12 mm
Tarsus
18 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America, Middle America: southwestern USA and northwestern, western Mexico

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Gnatcatchers Polioptilidae
Genus
Polioptila

Other birds in the genus Polioptila

Rio Negro GnatcatcherRio Negro GnatcatcherPolioptila facilisGuianan GnatcatcherGuianan GnatcatcherPolioptila guianensisSlate-throated GnatcatcherSlate-throated GnatcatcherPolioptila schistaceigulaPara GnatcatcherPara GnatcatcherPolioptila paraensisIquitos GnatcatcherIquitos GnatcatcherPolioptila clementsiInambari GnatcatcherInambari GnatcatcherPolioptila attenboroughiTropical GnatcatcherTropical GnatcatcherPolioptila plumbeaMaranon GnatcatcherMaranon GnatcatcherPolioptila maiorCreamy-bellied GnatcatcherCreamy-bellied GnatcatcherPolioptila lacteaMasked GnatcatcherMasked GnatcatcherPolioptila dumicolaCuban GnatcatcherCuban GnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyeiYucatan GnatcatcherYucatan GnatcatcherPolioptila albiventris
Black-capped Gnatcatcher

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗

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