Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
A species of Gnatcatchers Scientific name : Polioptila melanura Genus : Gnatcatchers
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, A species of Gnatcatchers
Botanical name: Polioptila melanura
Genus: Gnatcatchers
Content
Description General Info
Description
The black-tailed gnatcatcher reaches about 4.5 to 5 inches in length, much of it taken up by a long black tail lined with white outer feathers. The body is blue-grey, with white underparts, and while it is similar to the blue-grey gnatcatcher, the two birds are differentiated by the amount of black in the tail feathers. The male has a black cap during the summer that extends to the eyes. Females and winter males, lacking the black cap, are difficult to distinguish from the blue-grey gnatcatcher. The best way to tell the two apart is the tail; that of the blue-grey is mostly white when viewed from below, and the black-tailed is predominantly black underneath. Like other gnatcatchers, it may give harsh, scolding calls while foraging for small insects and spiders in desert shrubs. 
Size
10 cm (4 in)
Life Expectancy
8 years (wild)
Nest Placement
Shrub
Clutch Size
3 - 5 eggs
Incubation Period
1 - 2 broods
Number of Broods
14 - 15 days
Nestling Period
9 - 15 days
Feeding Habits
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher predominantly consume insects, with an opportunistic addition of fruit or seeds. Their foraging method involves active searching within shrubs, where they glean a diverse insect diet that comprises caterpillars, beetles, ants, flies, bugs, grasshoppers, spiders, and insect eggs, and may beat larger prey against branches.
Habitat
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher thrive in arid and semiarid environments, favoring desert scrub, dry washes, and ravines rich in xerophytic vegetation like creosote bush, mesquite, and various cacti. They inhabit areas up to 7,000 feet with sparse rainfall, usually less than 8 inches annually, showing adaptability to water-scarce regions and occasionally utilizing willow stands or tamarisk near watercourses.
Nest Behavior
Both black-tailed Gnatcatcher sexes cooperatively build the nest over 2–4 days. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher also exhibits shade-seeking behavior for the protection of their future progeny from desert heat.
Nest Characteristics
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher constructs a deep, compact cup-shaped nest placed in forks of thorny or leafy trees or shrubs. It is built from woody fibers and lined with soft materials like plant down, cactus wool, spiderwebs, feathers, or fur.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Bird Feeder Type
Small Tube Feeder
Platform
Sounds
Call
Recording location: United States
Song
Recording location: United States
Song
Recording location: United States
Behavior
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher exhibit agility as they actively search for insects, hopping from branch to branch with characteristic tail flicks in various directions. They utilize short, undulating flights to move between shrubs, often defending year-round territories as monogamous pairs. Post-breeding, they may form loose foraging groups or communal roosts for warmth. Known for their bold defense strategies, black-tailed Gnatcatcher confront larger birds threatening their nests. Territorial conflicts also arise with overlapping species such as the California Gnatcatcher.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Gnatcatchers Genus
Gnatcatchers Species
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher 
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