Sometimes called the canary in Southern California's proverbial coal mine, the coastal California gnatcatcher with its kitten-like mew of a call is a prime indicator of ecosystem health. In the ...

the 2 species are known to hybridize at a few localities in southern California. Polytypic (about 8 ssp. in North and Middle America; birds north of Mexico are cactophilus). Length 7". The barred ...