Masked Gnatcatcher

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Masked Gnatcatcher
Latin: Polioptila dumicola
Other: Balança-rabo-de-máscara (Br) • Tacuarita azul (Es)
Family: Polioptilidae • Gnatcatchers

The Masked Gnatcatcher is a cute small bird found in northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and southern and central Brazil.

There are two subspecies, the one pictured is a female, since she only has a dark patch behind the eye, not a full dark mask, and she has a light, not dark, underparts.

She seemed to be interested in the small plants (lichen?) growing on this fruit (fig?) tree, where she will have found small insects. Often cocks tail (see pic below).More photos...