Gnatcatcher WESTERN BIRDS 



tree, shrub, or weed to another in short flights, hopping 

 from twig to twig, flirting their long, expressive tails as 

 they go. They are not gregarious, but go about alone 

 or in pairs. One familiar with their call can never mis- 

 take it for anything else, and can easily keep track of 

 their movements, for they keep up this nasal, twanging 

 note as they forage. The male has a sweet little song 

 which partakes of the nasal twanging. It is a low, pleas- 

 ing warble, heard usually only at the nesting season. 



The nests are the daintiest of cup-shaped affairs, made 

 of bark and similar material, lined with feathers, and 

 placed in bushes and trees from a few feet up to twenty, 

 or more. 



GENUS POLIOPTILA. 



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Polioptila ccerulea ccerulea. 

 SUBFAMILY— GNATCATCHERS. 



In the eastern and middle States, extending as far 

 west as eastern Nebraska, is found the Blue-gray Gnat- 

 catcher, a bird not seen on the Pacific Coast. His upper 

 parts are a blue-gray, which become bluer on the head; 

 forehead and line over the eye (of the male) is black; 

 the under parts are blue-white, the tail being black, 

 save for exposed outer feathers, which are white. 



The birds are summer residents, only, in most of their 

 breeding range, going south during the cold weather. 



Chapman says of them: "The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 

 frequents rather densely foliated trees, generally in the 

 woods, showing a preference for the upper branches. 

 He is a bird of strong character, and always seems to 

 me like a miniature Mockingbird with some of the 

 habits of Kinglets. His exquisitely finished song is 

 quite as remarkable as the ordinary performance of his 



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