Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata) | Photos, Calls and ID

LCLeast ConcernInvertebrates

ForestCup nestTiny · 8 g

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 2 — Photo: (c) Richard Littauer, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 3 — Photo: (c) er-birds, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 4 — Photo: (c) Daniel S. Katz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 5 — Photo: no rights reserved · CC0

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 6 — Photo: (c) Aitor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 7 — Photo: (c) Anthony Batista, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 8 — Photo: (c) tomas_kay, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 9 — Photo: (c) Blake Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Lesser Greenlet (Pachysylvia decurtata), photo 10 — Photo: no rights reserved · CC0

What the Lesser Greenlet sounds like

Sonogram of the Lesser Greenlet: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.

Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Guayas: 13.5 km N Salanguillo, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Esmeraldas: 23 road km NNW Alto Tambo, 2 km N main road, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · El Oro: Reserva Buenaventura 9 km WNW Piñas, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The lesser greenlet is 9.4 to 10.2 cm (3.7 to 4.0 in) long and weighs 6.6 to 10.3 g (0.23 to 0.36 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a gray-blue crown and upper face. They have grayish lores, a whitish eye-ring, and often a pale stripe above the lores. Their upperparts are olive-green that is lighter on the rump. Their wings' primaries and secondaries are dark grayish with bright greenish outer webs. Their tail is grayish green. Voice: The lesser greenlet's song is "a pleasant, rather quiet series of 2–3 phrases, continuously repeated and then changing into different motif, chi-chi-cher cher cher". Its calls include "a faint churr or a dry, rolled rattle, and various harsh, scolding nasal notes".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Lesser Greenlet

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Lesser Greenlet

Regular range

The map shades 11 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Costa Rica Belize Panama Guatemala Mexico Ecuador Nicaragua Honduras Colombia El Salvador Peru

About the Lesser Greenlet

The lesser greenlet is a small passerine bird in the family Vireonidae, the vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers. It is found in Mexico, every Central American country, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

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

Easily confused with

Golden-fronted GreenletPachysylvia aurantiifronsThe golden-fronted greenlet is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs an average of 9.5 g (0.34 oz).

Rufous-naped GreenletPachysylvia semibrunneaThe rufous-naped greenlet is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long and weighs about 10 to 12.5 g (0.35 to 0.44 oz). Dusky-capped GreenletPachysylvia hypoxanthaThe dusky-capped greenlet is 11.5 to 12 cm (4.5 to 4.7 in) long and weighs about 17 g (0.60 oz).

Side by side: Golden-fronted Greenlet vs Lesser Greenlet · Lesser Greenlet vs Rufous-naped Greenlet

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