The forest elaenia is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It breeds from Panama through Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas to Bolivia and Brazil. It also occurs on Trinidad.
Region
Central America and northern South America
Typical Environment
Found from Panama through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and across Amazonian Bolivia and Brazil, with an island population on Trinidad. It inhabits lowland and foothill tropical forests, especially edges, clearings with tall secondary growth, and gallery forests. The species also uses tall mangroves and riverine woodland. It forages mostly in the mid to upper canopy but will descend to lower levels along edges and in second growth.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small tyrant flycatcher is more often identified by its thin, whistled song than by its subtle plumage. It frequents forest edges, tall second growth, and mangroves, typically foraging in the mid to upper canopy. Pairs or small family groups are common, and it often joins mixed-species flocks. It is widespread from Panama through northern South America and also occurs on Trinidad.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and frequently joins mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Nests are small cups placed on forks or horizontal branches, typically concealed among leaves. Clutches are usually two eggs, with both parents participating in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, high, whistled phrases and soft trills, often delivered from mid to high perches. Repeated two- to three-note sequences are common at dawn and early morning. Calls are soft, sibilant tsee notes.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with a gray-tinged head, whitish throat, and yellowish underparts washed olive on the breast. Wings are dusky with two pale yellowish wingbars and narrow pale edging to the tertials. Typically shows a faint pale supercilium and may reveal a small, usually concealed, pale yellow crown patch.
Diet
Primarily captures small insects such as flies, beetles, and ants, and also takes spiders. Foraging includes brief sallies from perches and gleaning from foliage and fine twigs. It occasionally consumes small berries, especially in the wet season, but animal prey dominates.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in forest edges, tall second growth, and along riverine and gallery forests, favoring mid to upper canopy strata. Often forages along sunlit outer foliage and joins mixed flocks to exploit flushing insects.
