Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
It was really delightful to see a new bird in my backyard. I was at first confused because it moved fast and it also looked very similar to the Tufted Titmouse. Then it moved to a closer location and that’s when I realized it was a new lifer for my list! I kept this bird in my viewfinder at all times allowing me to get a series of shots in different angles. The bird is a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. I have researched a bit of information for this bird:
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Scientific name: Polioptila caerulea is a very small songbird, 10–13 cm (3.9–5.1 in) in length and weighing only 5–7 g (0.18–0.25 oz). Adult males are blue-gray on the upperparts with white underparts, have a slender dark bill, and a long black tail edged in white. Females are less blue. Both sexes have a white eye ring.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
The blue-gray gnatcatcher’s breeding habitat includes open deciduous woods and shrublands in southern Ontario, the eastern and southwestern United States, and Mexico. Though gnatcatcher species are common and increasing in number while expanding to the northeast, it is the only one to breed in Eastern North America. They build a cone-like nest on a horizontal tree branch. The incubation period is 13 days for both sexes. Both parents construct the nest and feed the young; they may raise two broods in a season. These birds migrate to the southern United States, Mexico, northern Central America-(Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras), Cuba, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Cayman Islands.
They forage actively in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects, insect eggs and spiders. They may hover over foliage (gleaning), or fly to catch insects in flight (hawking).
The tail is often held upright while defending territory or searching for food.
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is inscribed on Avian101 List as # 205
Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101 – Wikipedia
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
Nice job…these little ones are hard to get pictures of.
Yes, they are shy and move fast! thanks Kathy! 🙂
They are neat little birds. Yes, they don’t sit still for very long! Nice photos.
Thank you! Yes they move a lot! 🙂
How exciting! You made some lovely images of it. I hope it hangs out at your place a bit.
I hope so too, but I doubt it, the weather is not at its best now. Thanks Deborah! 🙂
Great fun to receive the visit of a new friend! I love the blue-gray gnatcatchers, we get them at our house in the summer too. I always stop what I’m doing to watch them flit around, very special. That’s your reward for all the feeding stations you’ve maintained — even though they might not take up with your seeds, the word is out, it’s a paradise in HJ’s yard. 😀
Thank you for your kind words my friend! 🙂
Very nice pictures of a delightful bird.
Thanks Tom! 🙂
Enjoyed your gallery of pictures of this new bird very much.
Thank you very much Susan! 🙂
That is an awesome bird! I hope one comes in my direction some day 🙂
Yes it is! I hope one will go to your salt marsh. Thank you Tiny 🙂
Great pictures of a bird that appears to be difficult to photograph!
Not so much! Thanks Ashley! 🙂
Lovely shots of a pretty bird!
Thank you Clare! 🙂