The yellow-crowned elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Amazonia and the Guianas
Typical Environment
It occurs in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. The species favors riverine edges, gallery forests, varzea and igapó (seasonally flooded) woodlands, and tall secondary growth. It is most often found near watercourses and oxbow lakes where dense midstory and canopy foliage provide foraging sites. It also uses forest gaps and scrubby clearings adjacent to mature forest.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The yellow-crowned elaenia is a small tyrant flycatcher of river-edge forests and seasonally flooded woodlands across northern Amazonia and the Guianas. Its bright yellow crown patch is often hidden, making voice and behavior important for identification. It frequently joins mixed-species flocks along forest edges and young secondary growth. Like many elaenias, it forages by quick sallies and foliage-gleaning for tiny insects.
Temperament
active and somewhat inconspicuous
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between quick perch-to-perch sallies
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, often accompanying mixed-species flocks along edges. Nests are small cup nests placed in forks of shrubs or small trees near water or in secondary growth. Pairs defend a modest territory during breeding.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Voice is a series of thin, high-pitched whistles and buzzy notes, often delivered in brief phrases. Calls include sharp tsiit and soft, descending whistle sequences repeated from exposed perches.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with paler, grayish-olive head and two crisp whitish wingbars; underparts are whitish to pale yellow washed with olive on the flanks.
Diet
Primarily small insects and other arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs or taken by short sallies. It occasionally hovers to pick prey from foliage. Small berries and soft fruits may be taken opportunistically, especially when insect activity is low.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, riverbanks, and in the midstory to canopy of flooded forests and gallery woodlands. It also feeds in tall secondary growth and scrub near water.
