Tiny bird of 11 to 12 cm with gray plumage on the back, white on the belly and a long black tail with white edges that it holds cocked almost constantly. The male has a conspicuous black mask that runs from the bill, crosses the eye and reaches the ear coverts, bordered below by a fine white line; the female lacks a mask and shows only a dark patch behind the eye. The eyes have a white eye-ring area. The bill is fine and long for its size. Very active and restless. It inhabits thickets, low woodland and forest edges, where it moves tirelessly among the finest branches.
Behaviour
Extremely active. It moves nonstop among the thin branches of the shrubs, the lower parts of the trees and the low scrub, with the tail cocked. It searches for very small insects, larvae and spiders. The song is a repeated, high-pitched "ti-ti-tiriri". It frequently joins mixed flocks of insectivores.
How and when to see it
Year-round in the low scrub and forest edges. Its constant movement and cocked tail make it easy to detect.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where masked gnatcatcher has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where masked gnatcatcher lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
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Species profile
- Common nameMasked Gnatcatcher
- Scientific namePolioptila dumicola
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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