White-crested Elaenia

Elaenia albiceps

Tyrant Flycatchers and Allies · Passeriformes · Uncommon

The White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps) is a uncommon tyrant flycatcher found in 11 countries, weighing about 16 g. The white-crested elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.

Least ConcernUncommonEats invertebratesforestcup nest16 g

About the White-crested Elaenia

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

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

How to identify it

The white-crested elaenia is 13.5 to 15 cm (5.3 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 12.5 to 24.2 g (0.44 to 0.85 oz). It is a small to medium size elaenia with a small bushy crest. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies E. a. albiceps have a mostly dull olive to olive-gray head with a partially hidden white or creamy white stripe in the middle of the crest. They have whitish lores and eyering. Their upperparts are dull olive to olive-gray. Their wings are dusky with white or whitish tips on the coverts that show as two wing bars. Voice: The white-crested elaenia's vocalizations apparently differ somewhat among the subspecies, though not all have been studied in detail. The dawn song of E. a. griseigularis is "a series of deep, burry, falling-rising djeewee notes interspersed with occasional per'brr'djwee notes" and its calls are "a low, rich, modulated djur and a longer, descending djeeer". The dawn song of E. a.

What the White-crested Elaenia sounds like

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

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a White-crested Elaenia?
The white-crested elaenia is 13.5 to 15 cm (5.3 to 5.9 in) long and weighs 12.5 to 24.2 g (0.44 to 0.85 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a White-crested Elaenia?
The White-crested Elaenia is a small sized bird weighing about 16 g.
Where can you see a White-crested Elaenia?
The White-crested Elaenia occurs in 11 countries, including Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.
What does a White-crested Elaenia sound like?
You can listen to 3 field recordings of the White-crested Elaenia on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a White-crested Elaenia?
The White-crested Elaenia is most easily confused with the Mountain Elaenia, the Small-billed Elaenia and the Caribbean Elaenia.
Is the White-crested Elaenia endangered?
The White-crested Elaenia is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the White-crested 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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