| Pacific elaenia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Genus: | Myiopagis |
| Species: | M. subplacens |
| Binomial name | |
| Myiopagis subplacens (Sclater, PL, 1862) | |
 | |
ThePacific elaenia (Myiopagis subplacens) is a species ofbird in subfamily Elaeniinae of familyTyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found inEcuador andPeru.[2]
The Pacific elaenia was originallydescribed asElaenia subplacens. It was moved to genusMyiopagis in the mid twentieth century and later confirmed by genetic analysis to belong there.[3][4][5] The Pacific elaenia ismonotypic.[2]
The Pacific elaenia is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long; one male weighed 14.9 g (0.53 oz) and four females averaged 16.9 g (0.60 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a gray-brown crown with a partially concealed bright yellow stripe along its middle. They have whitishlores, a partial white eyering, a grizzled whitish lower face with blackish ends on the earcoverts, and a wide whitishsupercilium that continues down behind the black of the ear coverts. Their upperparts are brownish olive. Their wings are dusky with pale yellow edges on the inner flight feathers and yellowish tips on thecoverts; the last form two faint bars on the closed wing. Their tail is grayish olive. Their throat and breast are pale grayish with whiter streaks on the breast; their belly is pale yellow. Both sexes have a brown or dark brown iris, a black bill with a pinkish or dirty white base to themandible, and black or dark gray legs and feet.[6][7][8]
The Pacific elaenia is found in the Pacific lowlands and foothills from westernEsmeraldas Province in northern Ecuador south into Peru as far asLambayeque and southwesternCajamarca departments. It inhabits somewhat dry to semi-humid deciduous forest,secondary forest near older forest, and tall scrub. In elevation it reaches 1,700 m (5,600 ft) in Ecuador and 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in Peru.[6][7][8]
The Pacific elaenia is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.[6]
The Pacific elaenia's diet has not been studied, but it is known to include insects and small fruits. It typically forages singly or in pairs in the forest canopy and seldom joinsmixed-species feeding flocks.[6][7][8]
Nothing is known about the Pacific elaenia's breeding biology.[6]
| Songs and calls |
The Pacific elaenia's dawn song is "an endlessly repeated 'chrrr, chrrr, che-wik, chrrr, chrrr, che-wik...' ".[7] During the day it sings "a sharp, burryPJIT! djurrrree, the second note rising" and its calls include "a gruffpjrt and similar notes".[8]
TheIUCN has assessed the Pacific 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 uncommon to fairly common in Ecuador and fairly common in Peru.[7][8]
