Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is in the Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens family (Polioptilidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 42,799 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: observations by month (U.S.)
About Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
The blue-gray gnatcatcher or blue-grey gnatcatcher (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, while juveniles are greenish-gray. Both sexes have a white eye ring.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7,542 | January | Sep–May |
| Texas | 7,515 | September | Aug–Jan |
| California | 6,689 | December | Aug–Jun |
| Virginia | 1,717 | April | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 1,624 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 1,557 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 1,458 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 1,336 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 1,045 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 1,026 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Tennessee | 846 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 765 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Arizona | 751 | April | Nov–Jul |
| New Jersey | 675 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 623 | December | Aug–May |
| Alabama | 607 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 550 | May | May–Jun |
| New York | 536 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 523 | May | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 473 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 455 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 442 | May | May–Jul |
| Indiana | 398 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 377 | April | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 332 | May | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 298 | April | Mar–Aug |
| Arkansas | 281 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 241 | April | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 227 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Minnesota | 206 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 203 | April | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 202 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 167 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Kansas | 163 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 142 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 122 | May | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 117 | May | Apr–Sep |
| West Virginia | 97 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 83 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 82 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 78 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 75 | May | May–Aug |
| Maine | 45 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 34 | May | May–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 26 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Washington | 21 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Wyoming | 15 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 10 | June | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Blue-gray Gnatcatcher?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Blue-gray Gnatcatcher most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Texas, California.