Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher vs Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Also known as: Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher

How to recognise a blue-gray gnatcatcher?

General appearance

The blue-gray gnatcatcher is a small, slender songbird, measuring about 4-5 inches in length with a wingspan of 6-7 inches. It has a distinctive blue-gray upper body, white underparts, and a long, thin black tail with white edges. Its narrow bill is adapted for catching insects, and the bird exhibits constant flicking of its tail, which serves as a key identifier in the wild.

Male vs female

During the breeding season, males exhibit a black line above the eye that extends to a distinct black 'V' on the forehead, enhancing their contrast and appeal. Females lack the black facial markings and are slightly duller in color, which aids in camouflage while nesting.

Juvenile

Juvenile blue-gray gnatcatchers resemble females but are typically even paler, with less pronounced blue-gray coloring. They lack the distinct black markings found on adult males, and their tails are more brownish with less defined white edges. As they mature, they slowly gain the adult plumage.

Size

3.9 - 4.5 in/0.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The blue-gray gnatcatcher primarily inhabits open woods, oaks, and pines. Its breeding habitat varies, favoring deciduous forest with oak, ash, or maple in the east and more scrubby environments like pinyon-juniper woods, chaparral, and oak forest

Additional range

In special conditions, the gnatcatcher may dwell in southern pine woods with oak understory and streamside trees. During winters, it typically resides in wooded or brushy areas, usually near water sources.

Range Map

What do blue-gray gnatcatchers like to eat?

Natural diet

The blue-gray gnatcatcher predominantly feeds on a diverse range of small insects and arachnids. Its diet includes leafhoppers, treehoppers, plant bugs, leaf beetles, caterpillars, flies, and small wasps. Spiders are also a significant part of its dietary intake. These protein-rich food sources are typically found in the bird's natural habitat, where it actively forages among foliage to capture its prey.

Bird feeders

The blue-gray gnatcatcher does not commonly visit bird feeders. Its diet primarily consists of live insects and spiders, which are not typically provided at feeders. Bird feeders usually offer seeds, nuts, or suet, which are not preferred by gnatcatchers. They rely on foraging in natural environments to fulfill their dietary needs rather than supplementing their intake with typical feeder offerings.

What does a blue-gray gnatcatcher sound like?

The blue-gray gnatcatcher vocalizes using diverse calls and songs dominated by a distinctive, nasal pzzzz. Its common patterns are complex, consisting of a flat and undulating melody. The calls can be described as buzzes, chirps or chips, screams, trills, and whistles. The gnatcatcher's song style is best defined as a thin, melodic warble, displaying a unique charm and cowboy-like swagger.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Corthylio calendula

How to recognise a ruby-crowned kinglet?

General appearance

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet measures about 4 or 10 cm — approximately the size of a Sparrow. With a short tail and rounded wings, it has a distinctive wing-flicking action and a bold white eye-ring. Its coloration includes shades of black, gray, green, red, and white. It often exhibits a single white wing-bar, backed by a black bar.

Male vs female

The male Ruby-crowned Kinglet stands out due to its ruby crown patch. This patch is typically raised only in excitement. Female Ruby-crowned Kinglets are similar in appearance, but lack the distinctive ruby crown patch seen in males.

Juvenile

Juvenile Ruby-crowned Kinglets are alike to adults in terms of size and overall coloration. However, the younger birds may not not have the distinctive ruby crown patch seen in adult males. Further studies are needed to affirm this.

Size

3.5 - 4.3 in/0.2 - 0.4 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Ruby-crowned kinglets breed primarily in coniferous forests including spruce, fir, Douglas-fir, and pine woods.

Additional range

In winter, they inhabit open deciduous woods, coniferous and mixed woods, as well as unexpected environments like mesquite brush and streamside thickets.

Range Map

What do ruby-crowned kinglets like to eat?

Natural diet

The ruby-crowned kinglet primarily feeds on small invertebrates, including insects and their larvae, which it gleans from foliage. Major components of its diet are aphids, beetles, caterpillars, ants, wasps, and spiders. In addition to insects, it consumes a small amount of plant matter, such as seeds and berries, especially during winter when insects are scarce.

Bird feeders

The ruby-crowned kinglet is not a common visitor to bird feeders, as it primarily forages for insects. However, it may occasionally be attracted to feeders offering suet, especially during colder months when fat is a vital energy source. Some kinglets might also consume peanut butter or pieces of chopped nuts if available.

What does a ruby-crowned kinglet sound like?

The ruby-crowned kinglet displays a host of dynamic vocalizations. Its song symbolizes an enthusiastic musical chattering, presenting an energetic performance. The call pattern of this bird is intricate, undulating, and flat, creating a rich listening experience. The call types further diversify the vocal profile with a variety of buzzes, chirps or chips, simple "hi" sounds, and whistles, making the kinglet's call distinctive and easily identifiable.

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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