Tropical Gnatcatcher
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| ?Tropical Gnatcatcher Conservation status: Least concern |
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| Polioptila plumbea (Gmelin, 1788) |
The Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) is a small insectivorous bird which is a resident breeding species from southern Mexico to western Peru and the Amazon basin of Brazil.
This gnatcatcher breeds in lowlands and foothills from sea level to about 1500m altitude and is found in the canopy of dry forests and tall second growth. It readily visits lower levels and semi-open habitats such as woodland edge and clearings, but avoids dense undergrowth. The nest is a small cup like that of a hummingbird constructed from vegetable fibres 2-8 m high on a tree branch. The female lays two or three brown-spotted white eggs in May and June.
The adult Tropical Gnatcatcher is 10-12.7 cm long, weighs 6.5 g and has long thin bill. The male has a black crown, neck sides and stripe behind the eye. The upperparts are blue-grey, the wings are blackish with white edging on the tertials, and the long, thin black tail has narrow white tips and edges. The face and belly are white, and the rest of the underparts are pale grey. The female is similar to the male, but with a dark grey, rather than black, crown. Young birds have a brown tinge to the upperparts and face, and whiter underparts.
The Tropical Gnatcatcher gleans spiders and their eggs, beetles, caterpillars and other insects from outer twigs and foliage. It often joins mixed-species feeding flocks with tanagers, warblers and honeycreepers, and is unafraid of humans.
The Tropical Gnatcatcher has a thin buzzy gezzz call and a trilled swee see see si si si su su song.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Polioptila plumbea. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Hilty, Birds of Venezuela, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
- Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-0814-9600-4
