Black-capped Gnatcatcher (Polioptila nigriceps), Montosa Canyon, Santa Cruz County

Black-capped Gnatcatchers were first found in Montosa Canyon on 1 October 2003 by Rich Hoyer, Brian McKnight and Peter Solomon.  A pair has been resident there ever since and a second pair was located this winter.  These photographs were taken by Christopher Taylor on 24 February 2008 and by Tom Crabtee on 23 Februray 2008. 

The first US record of Black-capped Gnatcatcher was in Arizona in 1971 along Sonoita Creek near the Patagonia Roadside Rest.  They were extremely rare and sporadic in Arizona until a pair was found at Patagonia Lake State Park in October 2002 by Rich Hoyer, Molly Pollock and Dave Sonneborn. Since then they have been reliably found at multiple locations.  Currently pairs are known from Madera Canyon, Lake Patagonia and Montosa Canyon.  This gnatcatcher is often found in association with Hackberry trees.  Care should be exercised in identifying Black-capped Gnatcatchers because they are known to hybridize with Black-tailed Gnatcatchers (P. melanura).  The call is very distinctive among Arizona gnatcatcher species. 

Black-capped Gnatcatcher is an ABC review species.. The ABC requests that reports of these species be accompanied by full details, including when possible, a photo, tape recording, video, or field sketch.  Please send documentation to the Arizona Bird Committee via the online form or click here for further instructions and information about ABC.  Submission of documentation to AZFO does not constitute submission to the ABC.

 

24 February 2008 photos by Christopher Taylor

23 February 2008 photos by Tom Crabtree