The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher 
as have their cousins carulea , their nests being simple, often of grayish 
bark-strips and plant-fibers, undecorated,—most like those of the Eastern 
Redstart, Dr. Brewster says. 
No. 159 
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher 
A. O. U. No. 753. Polioptila californica Brewster. 
Description. — Adult male: Somewhat similar to P. plumbea, but smaller and 
darker, especially below, with further reduction or absence of white in tail; top of head 
and nape, including lores and upper auriculars, glossy black; the white eye-ring reduced, 
or confined to lower lid, or wanting; wings dusky, the coverts and outer webs of remiges 
lightly (or scarcely) skirted with bluish gray; tail black, the outermost pair of rectrices 
very narrowly edged (on outer web only) and tipped with white, the succeeding pairs 
very narrowly or not at all so marked; lower breast and belly dull pale bluish gray, or 
dull whitish; the remaining underparts heavily tinged with dull bluish gray, or the flanks 
with brownish gray. Adult female: Like male, but without black on head; white 
eye-ring distinct; pileum dull plumbeous, not abruptly contrasting with back; back, 
scapulars, and posterior underparts heavily washed with brownish; tail brownish 
black. Immature males are like their mothers, but are clearer blue-gray anteriorly, and 
less extensively washed with brownish posteriorly. Immature females accentuate the 
brownish. Length about 108 (4.25); wing 46 (1.81); tail 49.6 (1.95); bill 9.1 (.36); 
tarsus 17.5 (.69). 
Recognition Marks. —Pygmy size; dull bluish gray and brownish coloration; 
sordid gray underparts; black cap of male distinguishes from the Western Gnatcatcher; 
reduction of white in tail and sordid underparts from both P. ccerulea obscura and 
P. plumbea. 
Nesting. — Nest and Eggs as in preceding species. Av. size of eggs 14 x 11.2 
(.55 x .44). Season: April-June; one or two broods. 
General Range. —Southwestern California and Lower California. 
Distribution in California. —“Common resident locally of the Sonoran zone in 
the San Diegan district, from the Mexican line northwest to the lower Santa Clara 
Valley in southern Ventura County (Evermann), and even to Ventura. Occurs only 
west of the desert divide, except at San Gorgonio Pass, through which the range of the 
species extends casually in winter desertwards as far as Palm Springs” (Grinned). 
Authorities.—Heermann ( Culicivora atricapilla) , Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 
vol. ii., 1853, p. 262, part (San Diego); Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vol. vi., 1881, 
p. 103 (orig. desc.; type locality, Riverside); Swarth, Condor, vol. iv,, 1902, p. 86 
(plumage changes); Willett, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 7, 1912, p. 106 (s. Calif.; distr., 
nesting dates, etc.); Woods, Condor, vol. xxiii., 1921, p. 173, figs, (nesting habits; photos 
of adults, young, nests, habitat). 
WHILE skirting a bit of cactus at the base of a mountain back of 
San Diego, I made the brief acquaintance of this most engaging sprite. 
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