Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

One of my favorite little birds. We get them year-round in Florida and they are kind of like miniature blue-gray mockingbirds with the similar flashing white tail and very territorial ways. They vocalize a lot so even if you haven't seen one, if you live in their range you have probably heard them.

They're insectivores and like to pluck insects off leaves (hence their name). I see them a lot on a variety of trees such as my Laurel Oak, Southern Red Oak (I think that's what that tree is), and even the non-native Crepe Myrtles (but those only in summer and spring).

That's exactly what I saw this bird doing at the Heard Nature and Science Museum in McKinney TX. The blue was so striking, almost metallic blue when the sun hit it.

This is the quickest little bird and everytime I have seen it it was looking for insects along the edges of the Juniper trees(Red Cedar) .