Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) [XC878003]
by id from Ironwood Forest NM southeast of Waterman Mtns, Pima County, Arizona, United States (song)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) [XC806282]
by Scott Crabtree from Laguna Division Conservation Area, Yuma County, Arizona, United States (song)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica), and previously treated as conspecific. Racial affiliation of birds recorded on islands of íngel de la Guarda, Coronado and San Esteban uncertain, tentatively included in lucida. Further study is required.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
lucida van Rossem, 1931 - South-western USA (extreme southern Nevada, south-eastern California, central Arizona) south to extreme north-western Mexico (north-eastern Baja California near San Felipe), also Gulf of California islands (íngel de la Guarda, Coronado, San Esteban).
melanura Lawrence, 1857 - Extreme southern USA (south-western New Mexico, southern Texas) southern on Mexican Plateau to Guanajuato, south-western Tamaulipas and west-central Hidalgo, possibly to northern Jalisco.
curtata van Rossem, 1932 - Tiburón I, off western Sonora (north-western Mexico).