White-browed Gnatcatcher
NameWhite-browed Gnatcatcher
Common NameWhite-browed Gnatcatcher
Scientific NamePolioptila albiloris
FamilyPolioptilidae
Wingspan (cm)13
Length (cm)11
Weight (g)6
Plumage DetailsMales have slate-gray upperparts, white underparts, and a distinctive glossy black cap extending from the forehead to the nape, sharply contrasting with a prominent white supercilium (brow). Females are similar but lack the black cap, having a duller gray crown instead. Both sexes have a long, slender tail with white outer tail feathers.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations typically consist of thin, reedy, and often buzzy notes, including a soft 'pwee' or 'tsee' call, sometimes given in a rapid series.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, desert
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound along the Pacific slope of Mexico, from Sonora south through Central America to northwestern Costa Rica.
Identifying Featuressmall size, long tail, gray and white plumage, black cap (male), prominent white supercilium, active foraging behavior
Description
This small, active songbird is characterized by its slender build and long tail, often held cocked. It constantly forages for insects among the foliage of arid and semi-arid scrublands, moving quickly and deliberately.
