Photo: Feroze Omardeen / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tropical Gnatcatcher
Polioptila plumbea
Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) is a member of the Polioptilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 6.4 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 plumbea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Polioptilidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tropical Gnatcatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Tropical Gnatcatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) is a member of the Polioptilidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA c, e Colombia to Peru and ne Brazil.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.4 g, with a wing length of about 4.7 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tropical Gnatcatcher?
The Tropical Gnatcatcher is a very small bird that weighs around 6.4 g.
Where does the Tropical Gnatcatcher live?
The Tropical Gnatcatcher is found across South America with a range covering SA c, e Colombia to Peru and ne Brazil, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tropical Gnatcatcher belong to?
The Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) belongs to the Polioptilidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tropical Gnatcatcher eat?
The Tropical Gnatcatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tropical Gnatcatcher migrate?
The Tropical Gnatcatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tropical 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 Tropical Gnatcatcher make?
1 real field recording of the Tropical 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 Tropical Gnatcatcher's range?
The Tropical Gnatcatcher has a mapped global range of about 7.6 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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