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Black-capped Gnatcatcher (Polioptila nigriceps) Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae) | |||||||||||||
Mexicosnerresmutte ~ Perlita Sinaloense ~ Svarthuvad Myggsnappare | |||||||||||||
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943
(1 photos)
2011-12-13 Parque La Campana (Colima), Mexico
Subspecies: nigriceps Basic plumage. Probably other bird than 942 but see comments with that photo. |
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942
(1 photos)
2011-12-27 Parque La Campana (Colima), Mexico
Subspecies: nigriceps Basic plumage. Here you clearly see the characteristic tail pattern. Normally it is said that a long an dark bill is an indication of this species compared to Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. On this photo though you see a rather pale bill and when checking the bird on 940 you don't get the impression of a long-billed species. The Eye-ring also should be weaker on a Black-capped compared to Blue-gray but this individual shows a rather strong one of the kind. Therefore I think it is good advice only to rely on the voice and the tail pattern when trying to id these very similar species. |
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940
(3 photos)
2013-03-26 Camino a Playa de Oro (col), Mexico
Subspecies: nigriceps Adult male in alternate/breeding plumage. Dark hood is not enough to identify this species since Black-tailed Gnatcatcher also shows this character. Voice and tail pattern are the two most important ways to make a correct id. This species shows all white outer rectrices and here it is also clearly how the outermost rectrice falls well shorter than the next two which are very close to one another in comparison. When the tail is fully grown, this is a valuable identification mark for the species. |
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3008
(7 photos)
2019-04-09 Carretera Pánuco (sin), Mexico
Subspecies: ? Male with black-capped head and the outermost rectrice markedly shorter than the next one and extensively white (Black-tailed shows less white in tail). Only the late visiting birders get to see this species with the black head which is acquired only this late in the year. |
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3032
(6 photos)
2019-05-27 Camino Oeste La Cumbre (oax), Mexico
Subspecies: nigriceps A likely young male because of the pale brownish outer primaries. Easy to identify this late in the year. Also by being the only gnatcatcher present in the area in the breeding season. Outer tail feather a good bit shorter than the next is characteristic for the species. This bird came in to mob a Colima Pygmy-Owl that we had attracted by sound, 3036. |
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3053
(3 photos)
2019-06-01 Cerro Guzmán (jal), Mexico
Subspecies: nigriceps Female. Came in with the male in 3052. Both the male and the female shows the very short outer rectrix which is characteristic for the species. The very long bill is probably also a good indication of the species, even though this is not a head-on-block character to rely on. Surprised to find the species up here. |
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3052
(3 photos)
2019-06-01 Cerro Guzmán (jal), Mexico
Subspecies: nigriceps Male. Came in together with the female, 3053, when I played the scolding alarm call of a Plumbeous Vireo. Normally the only gnatcatcher present at this time of year in this part of Mexico. The bird looks a bit blotchy why I wonder if it is a young, 2cy, male, rather than a fully adult. |