Sierran Elaenia

Elaenia pallatangae

Tyrant Flycatchers and Allies · Passeriformes · Rare

The Sierran Elaenia (Elaenia pallatangae) is a rare tyrant flycatcher found in 5 countries, weighing about 18 g. The sierran elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.

Least ConcernRareEats invertebratesforestcup nest18 g

About the Sierran Elaenia

The sierran elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

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

How to identify it

The sierran elaenia is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long and weighs about 12 to 18 g (0.42 to 0.63 oz). It is a small elaenia without a crest. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have an olive head with lighter and yellower cheeks, yellowish lores, a yellowish eyering, and a thin white strip in the center of the crown. Their upperparts are olive. Their wings are dusky olive with paler edges on the flight feathers. The tips of their wing coverts are yellowish white and show as two bars on the closed wing. Their tail is dusky olive. Voice: The sierran elaenia's dawn song is "a burry djee'wee interspersed with an occasional sneezy tjrr". Its day song is "a pure rising-falling peew or rising whee?" and its call is "a low djr-djr-djr".

What the Sierran 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

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Sierran Elaenia?
The sierran elaenia is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long and weighs about 12 to 18 g (0.42 to 0.63 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Sierran Elaenia?
The Sierran Elaenia is a small sized bird weighing about 18 g.
Where can you see a Sierran Elaenia?
The Sierran Elaenia occurs in 5 countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Guyana.
What does a Sierran Elaenia sound like?
You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Sierran Elaenia on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Sierran Elaenia?
The Sierran Elaenia is most easily confused with the Plain-crested Elaenia, the Small-headed Elaenia and the Olivaceous Elaenia.
Is the Sierran Elaenia endangered?
The Sierran Elaenia is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Sierran Elaenia for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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