Gnatcatchers | |
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California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Superfamily: | Certhioidea |
Family: | Polioptilidae Baird, 1858 |
Genera | |
The gnatcatchers are a family of small passerine birds called Polioptilidae. The 22 species occur in North and South America (except for the far south and the high Andean regions). Most species of this mainly tropical and subtropical group are resident, but the blue-grey gnatcatcher of the United States and southern Canada migrates south in winter. They are close relatives of the wrens.[1]