Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) - HBW 11, p. 371
French: Gobemoucheron à queue noire
German: Schwarzschwanz-Mückenfänger
Spanish: Perlita Colinegra
Other common names: Plumbeous Gnatcatcher
Taxonomy: Polioptila melanura Lawrence, 1857, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA.
Forms a superspecies with P. californica, and previously treated as conspecific. Limited geographical variation; genetic data (not available from Tiburón I) suggest that species perhaps better considered monotypic. Racial affiliation of birds recorded on islands of Ángel de la Guarda, Coronado and San Esteban uncertain, tentatively included in lucida; more study needed. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- lucida van Rossem, 1931 - SW USA (extreme S Nevada, SE California, C Arizona) S to extreme NW Mexico (NE Baja California near San Felipe), also Gulf of California islands (Ángel de la Guarda, Coronado, San Esteban).
- melanura Lawrence, 1857 - extreme S USA (SW New Mexico, S Texas) S on Mexican Plateau to Guanajuato, SW Tamaulipas and WC Hidalgo, possibly to N Jalisco.
- curtata van Rossem, 1932 - Tiburón I, off W Sonora (NW Mexico).
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Male brooding, then female, with grub, taking over. Great example of sexual dimorphism, relatively unique breeding behavior and Locality Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA (United States) (ssp lucida)
Conan Guard 28 March 2009 3 years ago 21 sec 4.6 -
Female, with grub, on nest and looking around. Eventually she feeds nestling Locality California, USA (United States) (ssp lucida)
Conan Guard 28 March 2009 3 years ago 1 min 6 sec 4.5
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Male bringing food to the nest
Locality California, USA (United States) (ssp lucida)
Conan Guard 3 years ago 3.5 -
Male in tree
Locality Henderson, Clark County, Nevada, USA (United States)
valeriegebert 17 April 2009 3 years ago 3.3
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Scold calls. Locality Salt River, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA (United States)
(ssp lucida)
Scott Olmstead 6 April 2009 2 years ago 4 -
Song. Locality Salt River, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA (United States)
(ssp lucida)
Scott Olmstead 23 March 2009 2 years ago 4
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