About the Greenish Elaenia
The greenish elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Mexico, every Central American country, and every mainland South American country except Chile and French Guiana. It has also occurred as a vagrant in southern Texas.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The greenish elaenia is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 11 to 13 g (0.39 to 0.46 oz). The sexes have essentially the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies M. v. viridicata have a greenish olive crown with a faint grayish tinge and a partially concealed bright yellow stripe along its middle. (Males have a larger yellow patch than females.) Adults have a dark loral streak, a whitish gray supercilium, a partial white eyering, and grizzled whitish ear coverts. Their upperparts are olive-green. Voice: The greenish elaenia's dawn songs and daytime calls seem to fall into four groups. The population in western Mexico sings a "high-pitched sweet tsewee-tseee....g'tseewe...tsewee-tseee...g'tseewe.... typically alternating a two-note and a one-note phrase". Its call is a "high-pitched two-note descending tsee-tseeu". The population in eastern Mexico sings a "moderately high pitched g'tswee-ee-ut...
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Greenish Elaenia sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.
When to see it
Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Forest ElaeniaMyiopagis gaimardiiThe forest elaenia is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family.
Grey-headed ElaeniaMyiopagis canicepsThe grey-headed elaenia is 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 9.5 to 17 g (0.34 to 0.60 oz).
Pacific ElaeniaMyiopagis subplacensThe Pacific elaenia is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long; one male weighed 14.9 g (0.53 oz) and four females averaged 16.9 g (0.60 oz).
Learn the Greenish Elaenia for real
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