Photo: https://www.inaturalist.org/people/simontagtachian / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Masked Gnatcatcher
Polioptila dumicola
Masked Gnatcatcher (Polioptila dumicola) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Masked Gnatcatcher (Polioptila dumicola) is a member of the Polioptilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers
- Genus Polioptila
- Species dumicola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Polioptilidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Masked Gnatcatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Masked Gnatcatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Masked Gnatcatcher (Polioptila dumicola) is a species of bird in the Polioptilidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA c, se.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7 g, with a wing length of about 5 cm and a tail of around 5.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Masked Gnatcatcher?
The Masked Gnatcatcher is a very small bird that weighs around 7 g.
Where does the Masked Gnatcatcher live?
The Masked Gnatcatcher is found across South America with a range covering SA c, se, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Masked Gnatcatcher belong to?
The Masked Gnatcatcher (Polioptila dumicola) belongs to the Polioptilidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Masked Gnatcatcher eat?
The Masked Gnatcatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Masked Gnatcatcher migrate?
The Masked Gnatcatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Masked Gnatcatcher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Masked Gnatcatcher make?
1 real field recording of the Masked Gnatcatcher — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Masked Gnatcatcher's range?
The Masked Gnatcatcher has a mapped global range of about 4.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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