Mystery Bird: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea

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[Mystery bird] Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 24 December 2008 [larger view].

Date Time Original: 2008:12:24 08:21:25
Exposure Time: 1/200
F-Number: 5.60
ISO: 320

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Prominent eye ring, blue-gray uppers, lighter below, white under tail.

Agreed on blue-gray gnatcatcher. I'm not sure why, but I never noticed them when birdwatching as a kid, even though I was in their habitat. But I've noticed them lately, and since they're resident in the areas I like to birdwatch in, now I see them all the time.

I guess it's that I've learned their vocalizations, so I realize they're there, and take the time to wait for them to pop out on the ends of the branches and do their sideways tail-wagging thing. I get a kick out of that.