California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) [XC331799]
by id from west end of Monument Rd, Tijuana River Valley, San Diego Co, California, United States (call)
California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) [XC448795]
by Paul Marvin from Steele Canyon Bridge trail, San Diego County, California, United States (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura), and previously treated as conspecific. Geographical variation mostly clinal, generally becoming smaller, paler and shorter-tailed, with increasing amounts of white on outer rectrices, from north to south. Ranges listed are tentative. Birds on Espíritu Santo I and San José I of uncertain racial affiliation, tentatively placed in margaritae.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
californica Brewster, 1881 - Extreme south-western USA (coastal southern California from southern Ventura County south to USA-Mexico border).
atwoodi Mellink & Rea, 1994 - Extreme north-western Mexico (coastal northern Baja California from Ensenada south to c. 30° north).
pontilis van Rossem, 1931 - Central Baja California (c. 30° north, south to 27° north).
margaritae Ridgway, 1904 - Southern Baja California (southern from c. 27° north), including islands of Santa Margarita, San José and Espíritu Santo.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet