Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Archives - Window to Wildlife

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher and more at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 3, 2026

By admin | May 3, 2026 - 9:21 pm |May 3, 2026 Wood-Warblers

Migration is on and one of my birding stops this morning was Wehr Nature Center. All the crab apple and apple trees are in full bloom making a great photo opportunity if you can find some of the Blue-grey Gnatcatchers or warblers in them finding things to eat. Blue-grey Gnatcatchers were present along with a Nashville warbler and a flock of Cedar Waxwings came through briefly too. There was a 15 minute moment where that took place and then the birds disappeared for the rest of the time I was there. It was a mild morning but with some steady winds out of the south east, moistly sunny skies. Images were taken on May 3, 2026.

Nashville Warbler looking for things to eat…

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher looking for caterpillars or gnats…

Cedar Waxwing eating a flower petal…

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher finding things to eat…

Nashville Warbler

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher going for something to eat…

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, something in the bill to eat…

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers building a nest in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 6, 2025

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On one of my birding stops today a bird caught my eye flying to a branch but then didn’t move on. As I took a better look it was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and it was bringing in lichens to use in the construction of a nest. Two birds took turns hauling the lichen to the nest and tucking it in place to build the nest. They would also be in the nest moving around some rounding it out too. I’ll have to check back on this nest in the future.It was a mild day with light winds, sunny skies and temps around 65 degrees. Images were taken on May 6, 2025

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher with lichen in the bill working it into the started nest…

Here the bird is rounding out the nest…

Rounding out the nest…

The pair…

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 11, 2018

By admin | May 12, 2018 - 9:00 pm |May 12, 2018 Bird Categories, Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 5, 2017

By admin | May 5, 2017 - 9:35 pm |May 8, 2017 Bird Categories, Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens

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A stop at Lake Park in Milwaukee this morning gave nice views of many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. One was cooperative for the camera while preening and hanging out. The Red-headed Woodpeckers are still hanging around near the lighthouse and the FOY Baltimore Oriole sang high up in a tree in that area too, to mention a few highlights. A few Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers were also seen. A Wild Turkey also hung out near the bird feeder. Pretty quiet for the beginning of May but it felt like winter weather with a stiff wind off the with 41 degrees early in the day. Images were taken on May 5, 2017.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Binomial name: Polioptila caerulea

Category: Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens

Size: 4.5” long, 6” wing span

Weight: .21 oz

Preening

Stretching

Scratching

More scratching

Preening

Wild Turkey near the bird feeder

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

By admin | April 23, 2014 - 5:35 am |May 2, 2014 Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens

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Birding at the Fox River Sanctuary yesterday in Waukesha Wisconsin I came across a couple Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. These birds were present along with many Yellow-rumped Warlbers that were there coming through. They continued to move through the trees and brush searching and getting insects for food. Image taken April 22, 2014.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher April 22, 2014

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Binomial name: Polioptila caerulea

Category: Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens

Size: 4.5” long, 6” wing span

Weight: 0.21 oz.

Habitat: Breeds habitat is from Southern Ontario to the southwestern US and Mexico in open deciduous woodlands and thickets along stream banks.

Diet: The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers main diet while forging in trees and shrubs are small insects and sometimes spiders. These birds can be seen hovering over plant and tree foliage, flushing insects. The bobbing tail also helps in the flushing of insects.

Nesting: The cup-shaped nest can be found at any height and is constructed of plant down, spider webbing, covered with lichen flakes. The nest usually holds 3-6 pale blue eggs. Both feed the young after hatching.

Cool Facts: This bird resembles a small Northern Mockingbird.