Masked Gnatcatcher

Other Common Names: Bluish Tit, Masked Polioptila, Masked Shrike

Subspecies:

Polioptila dumicola berlepschi: (Hellmayr, 1901) - Found only in Brazil

Polioptila dumicola dumicola: (Vieillot, 1817) - The subspecies present in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay

Polioptila dumicola saturata: (Todd, 1946) - Found only in Bolivia

Description: 11 cm, the male has bluish-gray coloration on the head and back, becoming more whitish on the abdomen, with a striking black mask, the female lacks the mask and has a more subdued uniform blue, both have a long, erect tail, black with white outer feathers and a white border on the tertiaries.

Sexual Dimorphism: Present, very pronounced, and easy to differentiate in the field thanks to the black mask possessed by the male, which the female lacks.

Habitat: It adapts to a wide range of semi-open habitats, including dry forests, gallery forests, savannas, and groves (both native and exotic)

Behavior: It is a restless bird, always moving through low shrubs and trees, hopping and making short flights, generally in pairs or small groups of no more than 4 individuals.

Geographical Distribution: Argentina (not in Patagonia), Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Uruguay

Nesting: The nest is small, usually located in a fork at mid-height, shaped like a cup, made with roots, spider webs, and feathers. The female lays up to 4 greenish eggs, and incubation lasts about 13 days.

Feeding: Insects and small larvae, which it catches by moving through the foliage.

Author of this description: Diego Oscar