Greenish Elaenia (Myiopagis viridicata)

Identification & Behavior: ~13.5 cm (5.2 in). The Greenish Elaenia is mostly yellow olive above. It has a pale superciliary from the base of the culmen over the eye. It has a semi-concealed yellow crown patch. The wing coverts are gray faintly fringed with yellowish. The bill is mostly black with yellow-orange on the base of the lower mandible. The breast is olive and grades to yellow towards the rest of the underparts. It is distinguished from the Pacific Elaenia by a more horizontal posture, smaller size, and less patterned face without a black ear patch.

Status: The Greenish Elaenia is a fairly common resident in the humid and semi-deciduous forests of northwest Peru and in parts of the Huallaga Valley. It is also an Austral migrant to southeast Peru, where it is expected during the months of March through October. The Greenish Elaenia also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Fío-Fío Verdoso.

Sub-species: Greenish Elaenia (Myiopagis viridicata implacens), (P. L. Sclater), 1862.   SW Colombia (Nariño), W Ecuador (S to Loja) and extreme NW Peru.
(Myiopagis viridicata viridicata), (Vieillot), 1817.  SE Peru, N Bolivia, SC, E & SE Brazil, Paraguay, and NW & NE Argentina (S to Tucumán, Formosa and Corrientes).

Meaning of Name: Myiopagis: Gr. muia, muias= fly and pagis= trap, snare. viridicata: L. viridis= green, virere= to be green. Viridicatus= made green.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae