Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Certhiidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The coastal California gnatcatcher is a small blue-gray songbird which measures only 4.5 inches (11 cm) and weighs 0.2 ounces (6 grams). It has dark blue-gray feathers on its back and grayish-white feathers on its underside. The wings have a brownish wash to them. Its long tail is mostly black with white outer tail feathers. They have a thin, small bill. The males have a black cap during the summer which is absent during the winter. Both males and females have a white ring around their eyes. It belongs to the old-world warbler and gnatcatcher Sylviidae family.

Lead Region:  California/Nevada Region (Region 8)
Date Listed: Mar 30, 1993

  • States/US Territories in which the Coastal California gnatcatcher is known to occur:  California
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Coastal California gnatcatcher is known to occur:  SAN DIEGO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
  • Countries in which the the Coastal California gnatcatcher is known to occur:  Mexico

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 25 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/05/2008 73 FR 11945 11950 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California, Nevada and Southern Oregon
12/19/2007 72 FR 72009 72213 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica); Final Rule
04/03/2007 72 FR 15857 15859 Reopening of Public Comment Periods for the Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher and the San Diego Fairy Shrimp
12/22/2006 71 FR 77058 77059 Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for 93-129 Ltd in the City of Laguna Niguel, California
03/14/2005 70 FR 12496 12498 Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the North County Multiple Species Conservation Program, San Diego, CA
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title
12/10/1993 58 FR 65088 65096 ETWP; Special Rule Concerning Take of the Threatened Coastal California Gnatcatcher
03/30/1993 58 FR 16758 16759 Proposed Special Rule to Allow Take of the Threatened Coastal California Gnatcatcher

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/05/2008 73 FR 11945 11950 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California, Nevada and Southern Oregon
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • 06/29/2000 65 FR 40073 40074 Reopening of Comment Period and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic Analysis for Proposed Critical Habitat Determination for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher
  • Notice Doc. Availability
  • Notice Reopen Comment

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 4 of 4 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    12/19/2007 72 FR 72009 72213 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica); Final Rule Final Rule Active
    04/24/2003 68 FR 20227 20312 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and Determination of Distinct Vertebrate Population Segment for the California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica); Proposed Rule Proposed Rule Not Required
    10/24/2000 65 FR 63679 63743 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Determination of Critical Habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher; Final Rule Final Rule Not Required
    02/07/2000 65 FR 5945 5976 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 35 : view all)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    93-129 (Bear Brand Ranch) Low-Effect HCP (Laguna Niguel, Orange Cnty, CA)
    Antelope Road HCP
    Assessment District 161
    Bellota Landslide Repair and Shorecliffs Mobile Home Park (San Clemente, Orange Cnty, CA)
    Bennett Property, Lamco Housing, Inc.

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    03/22/1991 56 FR 12146 12148 ETWP; 90-Day Findings and Commencement of Status Reviews for Seven Petitions to List Five Species as Threatened or Endangered; 56 FR 12146 12148
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009