Editing Gnatcatcher (section)

{{Short description|Family of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Gnatcatchers
| image = California Gnatcatcher.jpg
| image_caption = [[California gnatcatcher]] (''Polioptila californica'')
| taxon = Polioptilidae
| authority = [[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]], 1858
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = ''[[Ramphocaenus]]''<br />''[[Microbates]]<br />[[Polioptila]]''

| range_map = Polioptilidae map.svg

}}

The '''gnatcatchers''' are a family of small [[passerine]] [[bird]]s called ''Polioptilidae''. The 22 species occur in [[North America|North]] and [[South America]] (except for the far south and the high [[Andean]] regions). Most species of this mainly [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]] group are resident, but the [[blue-grey gnatcatcher]] of the United States and southern [[Canada]] [[bird migration|migrates]] south in winter. They are close relatives of the [[wren]]s.<ref name="HBW 11">Atwood, J. & Lerman, S. (2006) Family Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers). pp.&nbsp;350–377 in: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and D. Christie. eds (2006). ''[[Handbook of Birds of the World]]'' Vol. 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN|978-84-96553-06-4}}</ref>