Tag Archives: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher In The Garden

June 22, 2026

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) showing off the length of its extra long tail.

Impressed by the small size of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)? Perhaps the size of this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher will surprise you as well.

Their weights are quite similar, weighing in at a bit lighter than a few pennies. The Gnatcatcher is about an inch longer than the Hummer, but you have to consider its extremely long tail. That tail is about 2 inches in length and the bird’s body length is 4 to 4.5 inches. That is nearly one half of its total length.

The Gnatcatcher’s wingspan at 6.3 inches, is almost 50 percent wider than the Hummingibrd’s 3.1 to 4.3 inches.

All in all, both mighty little birds.

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A Small Blue-gray Bird

June 7, 2025

A small bird with a long tail. Its total length, just 4″ to 5″, weighing a quarter of an ounce, about the weight of a nickel. Here, perching on the ferns of asparagus. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) sitting still for a split second for a photo. They seem to always be in motion.

They are here during breeding season. Eating insects, insect eggs, and spiders, sometimes catching the insects while in flight. The males are great participants in family life, working to help build their cup-shaped nests, helping to incubate the eggs, and helping to raise and feed the babies.

These little birds seem to enjoy collecting their meals in the vegetable garden. I hope they sense my appreciation.

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