Blue-gray gnatcatchers are fantastic tiny birds. I love seeing them return in the spring with their boisterous, coarse, squeaky call. They are super energetic, constantly flailing that long tail around as they skitter about in the foliage. Taxonomically, they reside between wrens and wood warblers. They certainly look like a cross between the two. They seem to display an appealing combination of both: the attitude of wrens and the cuteness of warblers. Size-wise they are tiny, smaller than chickadees!
These gnatcatchers start building nests almost immediately upon arriving here in mid-Michigan. Their adorable cup-shaped, lichen-and-spider-web lined creations look a bit like giant hummingbird nests. They incubate for a mere 10-14 days. That is crazy fast! My go-to mountain biking destination usually has loads of them, and it’s fun to look for their nests. Once they are done breeding, they seem to completely disappear. I’m not sure if they migrate south early or just stick around quietly.
Please contact me if you’re interested in buying the original watercolor or a print of this painting. Some of my work is also available for licensing.
Leave a Reply