Elaenia obscura
The Highland Elaenia (Elaenia obscura) is a moderately-sized tyrant-flycatcher, typically measuring 15-16 cm in length and weighing around 15-20 grams. It presents a rather unassuming yet elegant appearance, characterized by olive-green upperparts, a slightly paler olive-grey throat and breast, and yellowish-white underparts, often with faint streaking. A key field mark is its often inconspicuous but sometimes raised crest, and two distinct whitish to pale yellowish wingbars against dark wing...
Found primarily in humid montane and cloud forests, forest edges, and shrubby clearings within high-elevation Andean regions. Typically inhabits elevations between 1,500 and 3,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of arthropods such as flies, beetles, and wasps, captured through sally-gleaning. Small fruits and berries also constitute a significant part of their diet, especially during certain seasons.
Highland Elaenias are diurnal birds, often observed foraging solitarily or in pairs, though they may join mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season. They employ a sally-gleaning foraging strategy, perching upright on exposed branches and darting out to snatch insects from foliage or in mid...
The Highland Elaenia boasts a widespread distribution across the Andes Mountains of South America. Its breeding and year-round range extends from northern Colombia, south through the highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, reaching as far south as northwestern Argentina. This species is primaril...
Least Concern
- The genus name *Elaenia* comes from the Ancient Greek word 'elaineos,' meaning 'of olive oil,' referring to the often olive-green plumage typical of many species. - Despite its 'obscura' (Latin for 'dark' or 'obscure') epithet, the Highland Elaenia is not particularly dark, but rather subtly co...