California Gnatcatcher is Distinct Species
False Assumption: The California gnatcatcher is a separate endangered species from the black-tailed gnatcatcher warranting federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Written by FARAgent on February 10, 2026
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 made species definitions central to land development. Colossal sums rode on whether birds like the California gnatcatcher qualified as distinct species. Federal regulators treated the California gnatcatcher, nesting in coastal sage scrub, as rare and endangered, while the black-tailed gnatcatcher thrives commonly in Mexico.
Twenty-five years ago, developer Ken Zuckerman faced this at Palos Verdes ocean cliffs for a golf course. If separate species, the Endangered Species Act blocked clearing sage brush and risked ruin. Zuckerman left fingers of scrub between fairways for approval. The layout turned overly difficult.
The classification mirrors human race debates. Nobody agrees on species boundaries. More events followed, but definitions remain fuzzy.
People Involved
- In the saga of the California gnatcatcher, certain figures stood out.
- Ken Zuckerman, who owned the land that later became the Trump National Los Angeles Golf Club, inherited the property and tried to develop it. He ran into barriers because regulators classified the gnatcatcher as a distinct endangered species. Zuckerman explained how this blocked full use of his land; he complied but saw his plans altered. Critics argue the classification rested on shaky grounds. [1]
- Meanwhile, Steve Sailer wrote about the issue, pointing to uncertainties in species definitions. He compared it to debates over human races and questioned the elite consensus on protections. Sailer acted as an early voice of doubt, highlighting biological ambiguities that others overlooked. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“For example, 25 years ago I had lunch with the then owner, Ken Zuckerman, of what’s now the Trump National Los Angeles Golf Club.”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
“It’s much like the question of human races, which I’ve been accused of not thinking about subtly enough.”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
Organizations Involved
The federal government played a central role in this story. It treated the California gnatcatcher as a rare endangered species, one that deserved safeguards under the Endangered Species Act. This stance shaped preservation efforts across coastal areas. [1] Federal regulators enforced these protections on habitats, including sage brush zones. They approved modified plans for developments like golf courses only if key areas remained preserved. In places such as Palos Verdes, this meant developers had to work around supposed gnatcatcher territories. Mounting evidence challenges whether the bird truly warranted such distinct status. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Above is the rare California Gnatcatcher, which the federal government is vastly concerned about preserving.”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
“which got governmental approval”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
The Foundation
The assumption took root in the unclear definitions of the Endangered Species Act. Regulators accepted the California gnatcatcher as separate from the black-tailed gnatcatcher in Mexico. This distinction justified land protections, even amid biological debates. Growing questions surround the evidence that propped it up. [1] At the time, experts distinguished the California bird, which nested in sage brush, from its common Mexican counterpart. The idea seemed credible under ongoing lumper-splitter arguments in taxonomy. Critics argue the boundaries were vague, and the separation might not hold. This sub-belief drove regulatory actions despite the uncertainty. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“I’ve long found the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to be one of the most intellectually interesting pieces of legislation from a lumper-splitter point of view because colossal amounts of money depend upon the definition of what is a species, but nobody seems to be sure of how to define “species.””— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
“the key issue with building a golf course on the ocean cliffs in Palos Verdes was whether or not the rare California gnatcatcher bird, which nested in the sage brush, was a separate species from the common black-tailed gnatcatcher of northern Mexico?”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
Resulting Policies
Policies built on this assumption emerged in the 1970s. Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973 to shield designated species. The law restricted activities that could harm them, including land clearing for building. [1] In areas like Palos Verdes, enforcement targeted the California gnatcatcher. Developers faced limits on projects, with habitats preserved under federal oversight. Critics argue these rules stemmed from a contested species classification, yet they altered landscapes and plans across the region. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“But if the various gnatcatchers were protected under the Endangered Species Act, he could be ruined.”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
Harm Caused
The consequences unfolded on the ground. In Palos Verdes, the golf course development hit severe restrictions. Planners had to keep fingers of sage brush between fairways to protect gnatcatcher habitats. This made the course too difficult for many players. Colossal sums of money depended on the species ruling. [1] Landowners like Ken Zuckerman faced financial risks from these Endangered Species Act measures. The gnatcatcher's status forced changes to development across coastal California. Growing questions surround whether the harms were based on solid science. Entire projects teetered on the edge of ruin. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“If they weren’t separate species, Zuckerman could plow under all of the land he inherited, for building a superb golf course. ... Eventually, however, he decided to leave fingers of sage brush between the fairways, which got governmental approval, but made the golf course overly difficult.”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
“colossal amounts of money depend upon the definition of what is a species”— Is the California Gnatcatcher a Species or a Race?
Sources
- [1]