GNATCATCHERS 
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and large amount of white in outer tail feathers. A fine white circle about the eye and the 
tawny spots on the flight feathers make the species very distinctive. The Dipper is a 
solidly grey bird of about similar size, but has a short, stubby tail and none of the above 
distinctive details. 
Field Marks. A quiet acting, comparatively large, dull-grey bird with considerable 
white on the outer edges of the tail. Looks more like a female or juvenile bluebird than 
anything else, but larger, without any vague breast striping, no glint of blue anywhere, 
a long, ample tail, and actions somewhat like a flycatcher. In flight the tawmy wing 
patches are quite conspicuous. 
Nesting. In hollow under bank, crannies in rock, or upturned root. Nest of sticks, 
weeds, and waste vegetation lined with rootlets. 
Distribution. Western North America. In Canada, British Columbia north through 
the Yukon, east to the Alberta foothills and very occasionally to Saskatchewan and 
Manitoba. 
A bird typical of the high mountain solitudes, well named Solitaire. 
Its unobtrusive dull grey colour, glorious song, and romantic habitat and 
name, surround it with an air of mystery that piques the imagination. 
FAMILY SYLVIIDAE. OLD-WORLD WARBLERS, KINGLETS, AND 
GNATCATCHERS 
An Old World family represented in America by only a few species. 
Of these, the Old World Warblers, not to be confused with our Wood 
Warblers, do not occur in Canada; the kinglets are represented by two 
species, the gnatcatchers by one. 
Subfamily — Polioptilinae. Gnatcatchers 
A small family composed of only one genus and peculiar to America. 
The colour is in soft bluish ash and white. The bill is superficially warbler- 
like but the first primary feather of the wing is small and almost aborted, 
being considerably less than half as long as the next, as is the case with 
the Warbling Vireo. Only one species occurs in Canada. 
751. Blue-grey Gnatcatcher. le gobe-mouches gris-bleu. Polioptila ccerulea. 
L, 4-05. All even bluish grey above, wings dark, and tail black, the outer tail feathers 
white; below and face all white. Male has black 
line across forehead and over eye (Figure 418), 
Distinctions. The small size, even blue and 
white coloration, and the short first wing quill are 
diagnostic. 
Field Marks. Inhabiting tree tops so high up 
that the colours are usually difficult to make out, 
the outline, with long narrow tail switched about 
much in the manner of the Redstart, and the char- 
acteristic rather hoarse call-notes make the best 
recognition marks. 
Nesting. Nest of tendrils, fine strips of bark, 
and fine grasses firmly interwoven and covered outside with spiderweb and lichens. It 
is chimney-like in shape, high with straight sides, and is one of the most beautiful American 
bird nests. 
Distribution. Southeastern United States north to the Canadian border along Lake 
Erie and Detroit River. 
SUBSPECIES. The eastern subspecies, the Eastern Gnatcatcher (le Gobe-mouches 
de l’Est) Polioptila ccerulea ccerulea, is the typical form. A western subspecies occurs in 
the southwestern states. 
Figure 418 
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher; 
about natural size. 
76916 — 22 
