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| California gnatcatcher | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Polioptilidae |
| Genus: | Polioptila |
| Species: | P. californica |
| Binomial name | |
| Polioptila californica Brewster, 1881 | |
| Subspecies | |
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TheCalifornia gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) is a small, 10.8-centimetre-long (4.3 in)insectivorous bird which frequents densecoastal sage scrub growth. This species was recently split from the similarblack-tailed gnatcatcher of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. This bird is often solitary, but joins with other birds in winter flocks.
The male California gnatcatcher is dusky gray overall, distinguished only by its black crown and thin black beak. It has a long, thin black tail with narrow white tips and edges on the underside of the tail feathers. However, the male loses its plumage colors by winter and obtains a plumage color similar to the females. The female is similar to the male, but with a blue-gray instead of a black crown.
In its range from coastalSouthern California south throughBaja California andBaja California Sur, this inconspicuous non-migratory resident is most often seen flitting hastily into undergrowth, or heard giving its call, which sounds like a kitten's meow, a rising and fallingzeeeeer, zeeeeer.
The California gnatcatcher's diet consists of smallinsects andspiders.
In the main part of its range on theBaja California peninsula, the California gnatcatcher inhabits a variety of dry habitats including theBaja California desert andGulf of California xeric scrub. On the northwest edge of its distribution in the states ofBaja California andCalifornia, it is entirely restricted tocoastal sage scrub.[2]
In the northern part of its range (Southern California) this species was listed as Threatened by theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1993 due to increasing development in its habitat, coastal sage scrub (current loss of coastal sage scrub in U.S. is estimated at 70 to 90 percent).[3]Critical habitat under theEndangered Species Act has been designated for the California gnatcatcher. This species is especially vulnerable as a metapopulation due to its small populations in a limited habitat often live in the prime land to be developed for housing and commerce that can be easily isolated and reduced in size.
Though some of its habitat has been saved in public conservation lands such asstate parks, its population has been severely fragmented. There are, however, ongoing efforts to preserve more open land in southern California to help ensure that this species will not disappear from its former range. California gnatcatchers are a focal species in many regionalhabitat conservation planning efforts.
Monogamous pairs care for theirbrood of 3–5 eggs in cone-shaped nests.Brown-headed cowbirds are parasites that lay eggs in their nests.[4]
Media related toPolioptila californica at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toPolioptila californica at Wikispecies| National | |
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