Editing Blue-gray gnatcatcher

{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Blue-gray gnatcatcher
| image = Blue-gray gnatcatcher in PP (72317).jpg
| image2 = Polioptila caerulea - Blue-grey Gnatcatcher XC178132.mp3
| image2_caption = Call recorded in Minnesota
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Polioptila caerulea'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22711581A94302237 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22711581A94302237.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Polioptila
| species = caerulea
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1766)
| synonyms = ''Motacilla caerulea'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1766}}
| range_map = Polioptila caerulea map.svg
| range_map_caption =  Geographical distribution of<br>
 blue-gray gnatcatcher {{leftlegend|#FF7F2A|Breeding}}{{leftlegend|#7137C8|Year-round}}{{leftlegend|#5F8DD3|Nonbreeding}}{{leftlegend|#87CDDE|Nonbreeding (scarce)}}
}}

The '''blue-gray gnatcatcher''' ('''''Polioptila caerulea''''') is a very small [[gnatcatcher]] native to [[North America]]. 
==Description==
It is {{convert|10|-|13|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length, 6.3 in (16 cm) in wingspan,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher/id|access-date=2020-09-28|website=www.allaboutbirds.org|language=en}}</ref> and weighing only {{convert|5|-|7|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name=AAB/><ref name=enature/> Adult males are blue-gray on the upperparts with white underparts, slender dark bill, and a long black tail edged in white. Females are less blue, while juveniles are greenish-gray. Both sexes have a white eye ring.
<gallery class="center" widths="200" heights="200">

File:Blue-grayGnatcher-7DEC2017.jpg|alt=Blue-gray gnatcatcher|Blue-gray gnatcatcher gleaning a spider. [[Sacramento, California]]
File:Blue-gray Gnatcatcher CA.jpg|Blue-gray gnatcatcher in [[Arastradero Preserve]] in [[Palo Alto, California]]
Blue-gray gnatcatcher in PP (72343).jpg|Catching an insect in [[Prospect Park (Brooklyn)|Prospect Park, Brooklyn]]
</gallery>

==Distribution and habitat==
The blue-gray gnatcatcher's breeding habitat includes open [[deciduous]] woods and shrublands in southern [[Ontario]], the [[Eastern United States|eastern]] and [[southwestern United States]], and [[Mexico]]. Though gnatcatcher species are common and increasing in number while expanding to the northeast,<ref name=BNA/>{{Full citation needed|date=April 2021}} it is the only one to breed in Eastern North America. They [[bird migration|migrate]] to the southern United States, Mexico, northern [[Central America]] ([[Belize]], [[Guatemala]], and [[Honduras]]), [[Cuba]], the [[Bahamas]], the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]], and the [[Cayman Islands]]. 

==Diet and behaviour==
Blue-gray gnatcatchers prefer humid areas with large leaves, [[Woodland|woodlands]], and more open sandy areas with sparse trees where they mainly eat [[Insect|insects]], [[Insect egg|insect eggs]], and [[spider]]s. The males often work to build nests, help [[Egg incubation|incubate]] and raise the young, as well as feed the children, often thought to be a mother's role. Their nests are often built far out on a tree's branch with spider silks and [[lichen]] plants holding them together.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=González-García |first1=Fernando |title=First record of non-migratory Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) as a host to the Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) in Mexico |journal=The Wilson Journal of Ornithology |date=2020 |volume=132 |issue=3 |doi=10.1676/20-96 |s2cid=233429970 |url=https://doi.org/10.1676/20-96|url-access=subscription }}</ref> They may hover over foliage while snatching prey ([[gleaning (birds)|gleaning]]), or fly to catch insects in flight ([[hawking (birds)|hawking]]). The tail is often held upright while defending territory or searching for food.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |url=https://www.natureweb.net/taxa/birds/bluegraygnatcatcher |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=NATURE WEB |language=en}}</ref>

==Sounds==

The songs (and calls) are often heard on breeding grounds, (usually away from nest) and occasionally heard other times of the year. Calls: "zkreee, zkreee, zkreee", Songs: "szpree zpree spreeeeey spree spre sprzrreeeee"

==Breeding==
Both parents build a cone-like nest on a horizontal tree branch, and share feeding the young. The [[incubation period]] is 10–15 days for both sexes, where the female lays a [[Clutch (eggs)|clutch]] of 4–5 eggs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue-gray Gnatcatcher {{!}} State of Tennessee, Wildlife Resources Agency |url=https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/birds/forest-birds/blue-gray-gnatcatcher.html#:~:text=Clutch%20Size%3A%20Usually%204%20to,eggs%20for%20about%2013%20days.}}</ref> The blue-gray gnatcatcher can raise up to two broods in a season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-13 |title=Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |url=https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/blue-gray-gnatcatcher |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=Audubon |language=en}}</ref>
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
| {{multiple image|caption_align=center
  |total_width=400
  |image1=Blue gray gnatcatcher nest, top 2016-01-07-17.39 (24330333612).jpg
  |footer=Blue-gray gnatcatcher nest made of lichens, hair, and spiderwebs
  |width1=5248
  |height1=3904
  |image2=Blue gray gnatcatcher nest, side 2016-01-07-17.24 (24438660975).jpg
  |width2=5360
  |height2=3840
  |align=center
  }}
| [[File:Baby Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Flickr - GregTheBusker.jpg|thumb|center|alt=A juvenile blue-gray gnatcatcher in [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]]|A juvenile blue-gray gnatcatcher in [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]]]]
|}

== References ==
<!-- BulletinOfTheBritishOrnithologistsClub101:339. WilsonBull18:47 (compare to current Ohio checklist http://www.ohiobirds.org/publications/OBRClist.pdf) -->
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=AAB>{{Cite AllAboutBirds|Blue-gray Gnatcatcher}}</ref>

<ref name=BNA>{{cite book |last=Greenberg |first=Russell |year=2001 |title=Birds of North America |publisher=Sean Moore}}</ref>

<ref name=enature>{{Cite web |url=http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=BD0261 |title=Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ''Polioptila caerulea'' |website=eNature.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428175124/http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=BD0261 |archive-date=2012-04-28 }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Polioptila caerulea}}
{{Wikispecies|Polioptila caerulea}}
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i7510id.html Blue-gray gnatcatcher - ''Polioptila caerula''] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010227021530/http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/14100400.htm Blue-grey gnatcatcher stamps]}} from [[Turks and Caicos]] at {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19990428065259/http://www.bird-stamps.org/ bird-stamps.org]}}
* {{InternetBirdCollection|blue-grey-gnatcatcher-polioptila-caerulea|Blue-grey gnatcatcher}}
* {{VIREO|Blue-gray+gnatcatcher}}
* [https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2017/04/hardy65sh.mp3 Blue-gray gnatcatcher Bird Sound] at Florida Museum of Natural History
* {{BirdLife|22711581|Polioptila caerulea}}
* {{Avibase|name=Polioptila caerulea}}
* {{IUCN_Map|22711581/94302237|Polioptila caerulea}}
* {{Xeno-canto species|Polioptila|caerulea|Blue-gray gnatcatcher}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q883006}}

[[Category:Polioptila|blue-gray gnatcatcher]]
[[Category:Native birds of Eastern Canada]]
[[Category:Birds of the United States]]
[[Category:Birds of Central America]]
[[Category:Birds of the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1766|blue-gray gnatcatcher]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]