Grey-headed Elaenia

Myiopagis caniceps

Least ConcernRareInvertebratesForestCup nestTiny · 11 g

About the Grey-headed Elaenia

The grey-headed elaenia or Atlantic grey elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The 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). Adult males have a medium gray crown with a partially concealed white stripe along its middle. They have an indistinct whitish loral spot and a grizzled whitish lower face. Their upperparts are olive gray. Their wings are black with white edges on the inner flight feathers and white tips on the coverts; the last form two bars on the closed wing. Their tail is grayish. Their throat is white, their breast pale gray, and their belly grayish white. Adult females are smaller than males. Voice: The grey-headed elaenia's main vocalization is a "series of varying length, starting with 2-4 single/extr. high notes, then gliding down and accelerating to a long trill, slowing down and often finishing with some up-and-down, lilting notes". The species typically vocalizes the most in the early morning but continues intermittently all day; it vocalizes from the forest canopy.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Grey-headed Elaenia sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular range

When to see it

Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Grey-headed Elaenia for real

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