Brownish Elaenia (Elaenia pelzelni)

Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in).  The Brownish Elaenia is mostly gray-brown with a pale belly. The head is darker. The wing coverts are dusky with poorly defined brownish wing bars. The bill is black with only the base of the lower mandible dull orange. It is restricted to riverine habitats including river islands and early successional vegetation where often associated with Cecropia spp. It is similar to the rare Slaty Elaenia, but is distinguished by larger size, browner plumage, and by being restricted to forest edges and river islands with stands of Cecropia spp. Also, see Large Elaenia.

Status: The Brownish Elaenia is restricted to a small range in Amazonia where it appears restricted to the river islands and forest edges of the Amazon and Napo Rivers. It also occurs in Co, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Fío-Fío Pardusco.

Sub-species: Brownish Elaenia (Elaenia pelzelni), Berlepsch, 1907.

Meaning of Name: Elaenia: Gr. elaineos= of olive-oil, oleaginous. pelzelni: In honor of August Pelzel Edler von Pelzeln (1825-1891) Austrian ornithologist, collector

See more of the Family Tyrannidae