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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: Active little gray ghosts of the forest, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are a challenge to photograph, both because of their behavior and their habitat. They do sometimes come down lower in the forest canopy and offer photo opportunities, so I have some photos from over the years. Still waiting for that perfect pose and lighting, but my favorite photo for now is from Beaver Creek Nature Area in South Dakota, from May 8th, 2015.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4

July 1st, 2006 

July 1st, 2006 

May 16th, 2012 

May 16th, 2007 

Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota 

Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota 

Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota 

Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota 

Gnatcatcher on dead branch of eastern red cedar 

Gnatcatcher on dead branch of eastern red cedar  

Inquisitive bird in the sun on a tree branch 

Singing spring bird  

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8

May 16th, 2007 

May 18th, 2008 

May 8th, 2015 

July 13th, 2008 

Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota 

Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota 

Beaver Creek Nature Area, South Dakota  

Big Sioux Recreation Area, South Dakota 

Bird partially hidden in shade and brush 

Singing bird on barren branch 

Spring gnatcatcher in profile 

Gnatcatcher on eastern red cedar with berries

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 11 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12 - Polioptila caerulea

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 11

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12

August 28th, 2009 

August 28th, 2009 

May 8th, 2015 

May 8th, 2015 

Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota  

Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota  

Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls, South Dakota  

Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls, South Dakota  

Chirping bird on dead branch 

Late summer bird on dead branch 

Profile of gnatcatcher on barren branch  

Profile of gnatcatcher on barren branch 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 13 - Polioptila caerulea 

 

 

 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12 

 

 

 

May 23rd, 2020

 

 

 

Beaver Creek Nature Area, South Dakota 

 

 

 

Singing male on tree branch 

 

 

 

Click here for the species description page for the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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