California gnatcatcher

noun

: a bluish-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) native to coastal scrubland from southern California to Baja California that closely resembles the black-tailed gnatcatcher but with less white on the underside of the tail

The California gnatcatcher is a threatened, small bird species with a call that resembles a kitten's mew. It has been the center of multiple habitat-conservation efforts along the Southern California coast.

—Mark Glover, Sacramento Bee, 26 Sept. 2012

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

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