Lesser Elaenia (Elaenia chiriquensis)

Identification & Behavior: ~13 cm (5.1 in).  The Lesser Elaenia has gray upperparts. It has a bushy crest with a semi-concealed white crown patch. The wing coverts are dusky with two whitish wing bars. It shows a pale eyering. The throat and breast are grayish and grade to yellowish towards the rest of the underparts. The base of the lower mandible is yellow-orange.   It forages in semi-open habitats. It is similar to the Plain-crested Elaenia, which has a distinctive crest and no white crown patch. It is also similar to the Yellow-bellied Elaenia, which generally has a pale loral line. The voice, habitat, and range should be considered for proper identification of members of the genus Elaenia.

Status: The Lesser Elaenia is uncommon to rare where present. It is patchily distributed along the east slope of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Fío-Fío Menor.

Sub-species: Lesser Elaenia (Elaenia chiriquensis albivertex), Pelzeln, 1868.

Meaning of Name: Elaenia: Gr. elaineos= of olive-oil, oleaginous. chiriquensis: From or associated to Chiriquí, a Province in Panama.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae