Brownish elaenia

Brownish elaenia
Brownish elaenia at Iranduba, Amazonas, Brazil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Elaenia
Species:
E. pelzelni
Binomial name
Elaenia pelzelni
Berlepsch, 1907

The brownish elaenia (Elaenia pelzelni) is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.[2] It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and possibly Colombia.[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

The brownish elaenia is monotypic.[2]

Description

The brownish elaenia is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long. It is a large elaenia with no crest. The sexes have almost the same plumage. Adults have dull brownish head with lighter brown cheeks, a faint whitish eyering, and whitish lores. Males have a partially hidden white patch on the crown; females lack it. Both sexes' upperparts are plain dull brownish. Their wings are mostly dusky brown; the flight feathers have whitish edges and the tips of the coverts are pale brown. The latter show as three brownish white bars on the closed wing. Their tail is dusky brown. Their throat is white, their breast and flanks are whitish with a dingy brownish wash, their belly whitish without the wash, and their undertail coverts whitish with sometimes a slight brownish cast. Both sexes have a dark brown iris, a black maxilla, a pale pinkish mandible with a black tip, and black legs and feet.[4][5][6][7][excessive citations]

Distribution and habitat

The brownish elaenia is found along the main stem of the Amazon River in Peru and Brazil and also its major southern tributaries. These include the Napo and possibly the Ucayali rivers in northeastern Peru, the Beni and Madre de Dios rivers in far northern Bolivia, and the Juruá, Madeira, lower Xingu, and Iriri rivers in Brazil.[4][6][7] Some sources also place it in extreme southeastern Colombia where the upper Amazon forms the border with Peru.[5][8][9] However, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society classes it as hypothetical in that country because it has no formally documented records from there.[3]

The brownish elaenia primarily inhabits river islands with forest dominated by Cecropia; it also occurs in shrubby second growth there and along the riverbanks. In elevation it ranges from sea level only up to about 200 m (650 ft) above it.[4][5][6][7][excessive citations]

Behavior

Movement

The brownish elaenia is probably a year-round resident throughout its range but is suspected of making local movements in response to changing food supplies or water levels.[4][6]

Feeding

The brownish elaenia's diet has not been studied but is assumed to be insects and fruits. Its "specialized habitat suggests possible extensive reliance on Cecropia fruits".[4]

Breeding

"More study needed."[4]

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to the brownish elaenia on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The brownish elaenia's vocalizations are "a deep, gruff DJI-drt or DJI-drt-drt, and a rich p' chup-urt?".[6]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the brownish elaenia as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered generally uncommon to fairly common but is not well known.[4][6]

References

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2018). "Brownish Elaenia Elaenia pelzelni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22699286A130203235. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22699286A130203235.en. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Tyrant flycatchers". IOC World Bird List. v 14.2. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 27 July 2024. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved July 28, 2024
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Hosner, P. (2020). Brownish Elaenia (Elaenia pelzelni), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.broela1.01 retrieved September 28, 2024
  5. ^ a b c McMullan, Miles; Donegan, Thomas M.; Quevedo, Alonso (2010). Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Bogotá: Fundación ProAves. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-9827615-0-2.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Schulenberg, T.S.; Stotz, D.F.; Lane, D.F.; O'Neill, J.P.; Parker, T.A. III (2010). Birds of Peru. Princeton Field Guides (revised and updated ed.). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-0691130231.
  7. ^ a b c van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 292–293. ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7.
  8. ^ Donegan, T., P. Salaman, D. Caro, and M. McMullan (2010). Revision of the status of bird species occurring in Colombia 2010. Conservación Colombiana 13:25–54.
  9. ^ BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Brownish Elaenia Elaenia pelzelni. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/brownish-elaenia-elaenia-pelzelni on 28 September 2024.