Polioptila

Polioptila
California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Polioptilidae
Genus: Polioptila
Sclater, PL, 1855
Type species
Motacilla caerulea
Linnaeus, 1766

Polioptila is a genus of small insectivorous birds in the family Polioptilidae. They are found in North and South America.

The genus Polioptila was introduced by the English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1855. Although he listed several members, he did not specify a type species. This was designated by the American ornithologist Spencer Baird in 1864 as Montacilla caerulea, Linnaeus, now the blue-grey gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea. The name of the genus combines the Ancient Greek words πολιος polios "grey" and πτιλον ptilon "plumage".

The genus contains 18 species:

ImageCommon NameScientific NameDistribution
-Rio Negro gnatcatcherPolioptila facilisnorth of upper Rio Negro
-Guianan gnatcatcherPolioptila guianensisGuiana Shield
Slate-throated gnatcatcherPolioptila schistaceigulaChocó–Magdalena
-Para gnatcatcherPolioptila paraensissouthern Amazonia
-Iquitos gnatcatcherPolioptila clementsiAllpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve (Peru)
Inambari gnatcatcherPolioptila attenboroughisouth of the upper Amazon and west of the Madeira River
Marañón gnatcatcherPolioptila maiorMarañón valley
Tropical gnatcatcherPolioptila plumbeaCentral and northern South America
Creamy-bellied gnatcatcherPolioptila lacteasouthern Atlantic Forest
Masked gnatcatcherPolioptila dumicolacentral/eastern South America
Cuban gnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyeicoastal Cuba
Yucatan gnatcatcherPolioptila albiventrisnorthern Yucatán Peninsula
-White-browed gnatcatcherPolioptila bilineatasouthern Mexico to central Peru
Blue-grey gnatcatcherPolioptila caeruleacentral/southern North America
Black-tailed gnatcatcherPolioptila melanuradeserts of southwestern USA and northern Mexico
California gnatcatcherPolioptila californicaBaja California peninsula
Black-capped gnatcatcherPolioptila nigricepswestern Mexico
White-lored gnatcatcherPolioptila albilorissouthwestern Mexico and Central America
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