Bird · GBIF taxon 2487586
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Polioptila melanuraBlack-tailed gnatcatchers maintain year-round territories in harsh desert lowlands, operating in monogamous pairs that tirelessly forage among thorny brush. Males display an ink-black cap during the spring breeding season, continuously cocking and flicking their dark tails to flush concealed insects from foliage. Their persistent, nasal scolding calls echo through arid washes, serving both to reinforce pair bonds and to warn intruders away from dense nesting shrubs.
Desert DwellerSongbirdInsectivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Spiders
- Leafhoppers
- Small beetles
Predators
- Greater Roadrunner
- Loggerhead Shrike
- Coachwhip
ThreatsHabitat loss from urban development and prolonged desert droughts
HabitatsArid desert scrub, wash woodlands, and thornbrush
Life span4–6 years
Classification
- FamilyPolioptilidae
- SpeciesPolioptila melanura
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Scan Low Shrubs: Watch creosote and mesquite thickets where pairs constantly hop through foliage.
- Listen for Calls: Follow the harsh, nasal scolding notes that reveal active pairs before they are seen.
Frequent Companion (c) Dan Killam, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan Killam · cc-by
Predator Polinova / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Gonzalo Zepeda Martínez, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gonzalo Zepeda Martínez · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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