Madera Canyon, Arizona, US - March 30, 2009
Credit: Tom Benson

North American field guide

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Polioptila nigriceps

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Identification

Field notes

11 cm (4-5") Rare. Mexican bird that enters United States at southeastern Arizona.

Male: told from similar Black-tailed Flycatcher by its extensive white under the tail and a longer bill. Also black from cap extends below the eye.

Female: gray above, black uppertail. White underparts, including white under the tail. Slight eye ring. Told from similar female Black-tailed Gnatcatcher by its extensive white under the tail.

Song: distinctive "mew".

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black-Capped Gnatcatcher (Male)

2 rules
Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 1
What was the sex of the bird ?
Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and slender · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States
result:698-black-capped-gnatcatcher-male:1:1 Source: 698 Black-Capped Gnatcatcher (Male), row 1
Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 1
What was the sex of the bird ?
Male · Unknown
What TAIL BEHAVIOURS if any were noted ?
Pointing upward or cocked over its back
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Open body of freshwater · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States
result:698-black-capped-gnatcatcher-male:2:1 Source: 698 Black-Capped Gnatcatcher (Male), row 2

Black-Capped Gnatcatcher (Female)

2 rules
Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 1
What was the sex of the bird ?
Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and slender · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States
result:699-black-capped-gnatcatcher-female:1:1 Source: 699 Black-Capped Gnatcatcher (Female), row 1
Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 1
What was the sex of the bird ?
Female · Unknown
What TAIL BEHAVIOURS if any were noted ?
Pointing upward or cocked over its back
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Open body of freshwater · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States
result:699-black-capped-gnatcatcher-female:2:1 Source: 699 Black-Capped Gnatcatcher (Female), row 2