Coopmans's Elaenia

Overview

Coopmans's elaenia (Elaenia brachyptera) is a small tyrant flycatcher found in Colombia and Ecuador. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the lesser elaenia but was recognised as a distinct species in 2016 following a 2015 study.

Identification

• Approximately 13.5 cm long with a small squarish crest and brownish olive upperparts.
• Distinctive white tips on wing coverts create two wide bars on the closed wing, while the throat is grey and belly pale yellow.
• Features a black bill with a pinkish mandible base, black legs, and dark brown irises.
• Vocalisations include a unique rattle call lasting up to one second and comprising up to 15 notes, which differentiates it from the lesser elaenia.

Habitat

Inhabits semi-open landscapes such as light woodlands, clearings, and forest edges across a disjunct range in southwestern Colombia and Ecuador. Elevation ranges from 700 to 2,800 m in the northwest and approximately 900 to 1,900 m on the eastern slopes of the Andes.

Did you know?

The two distinct populations possess similar but not identical dawn songs, with the northwestern population singing 'tsee...tsee...chee-wee' and the eastern population singing 'wit...wit...weedeew'.