Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Description
The size of the bird is 13.5 to 14 cm and weighs between 13 and 18 g. It is a small bird that is easily confused with other species of the Elaenia genus. It has a small crest with a semi-concealed white patch on the crown (1), the upper parts are grayish brown, it has a narrow eye ring (2), the wings are dark with two wing bars and the margins of the feathers whitish in color, the cheeks are whitish, the throat is greyish and olive in color on the high chest; the sides, flanks, the center of the lower chest and the abdomen are whitish with a faint pale yellow hue, the legs are black, the iris is dark brown and the bill is black with the base of the lower jaw of meat color.
Both sexes are similar. The immature (3) does not have white on the crown, it is more brown on the upper parts and on the wing bars.
Subspecies
- Elaenia chiriquensis albivertex Pelzeln, 1868
- Elaenia chiriquensis brachyptera Berlepsch, 1907
- Elaenia chiriquensis chiriquensis Lawrence, 1865
Geographical distribution
It is found from Costa Rica to the Northwest of Argentina and Brazil; in Colombia it is in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Serranía de Perijá, in the Central and Eastern Cordilleras, also towards Meta and Caquetá, in the Western Cordillera in Valle, Cauca, probably in Antioquia and in Nariño. It is up to 2,200 m high.
Habitat
Present in mountain pastures with the presence of scattered shrubs and trees, crops, open areas with bushes.
Feeding
It feeds mainly on berries and insects; It usually forages solitary or in pairs making short flights from perches covered by foliage.
Reproduction
Known breeding seasons. Reproduction has been reported between March and July and between April and June in Trinidad, with eggs between September and November in Brazil; in Colombia, adults in reproductive condition have been found between March and July in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Serranía de Perijá and Huila.
Main threats
Although the species is tolerant of disturbed and secondary environments, the population is thought to be declining due to continued habitat destruction from fire, ranching and extensive agriculture, and selective logging and burning.
Conservation Status
Its population density has not been quantified, but the species is classified as «common» (Stotz et al. 1996), it is considered as of least concern
Vocalization
He has a fast and incessantly repetitive song at dawn «a ui d´di di» also makes different soft and whiny calls, like «uiib» or «biibzb» or more buzzing like «chibu» yuibu «friii» or «fiii»
http://www.xeno-canto.org/18520
References
BirdLife International. 2012. Elaenia chiriquensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T22699295A38664306. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T22699295A38664306.en. Consulted on October 20, 2016. Silva e Silva, R.
Hilty, S. L. & Brown, W. L. (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 836 pp. Hilty, S. L. & Brown, W. L. (2001). Guide to the birds of Colombia. Cali: SAO-Universidad del Valle and American Bird Conservancy.
