Yellow-bellied elaenia, Costa Rica

There are not many of these pretty little flycatchers around. Taken in a friend's garden.

comments (7)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Looking at this photo once, I'm wondering if perhaps this is a plain-crested elaenia instead? Posted 8 years ago
1. Thibaud Aronson
  
  Lion
  
  I think you might be right, Ferdy. I'm the first to admit I'm not great with Elaenias, but as far as I know, Lesser should never show such a pronounced crest. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks for checking. I did another round of checking reference images, and it seems in 90% of cases there's no crest or a small one at best. Yet I did find a handful examples like this:
    https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16611110
    
    So quite in doubt now. Are those also misidentified, or is it perhaps still possible?
    
    My suggestion "plain-crested elaenia" may also be doubtful, doesn't seem reported from Middle America. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
      
      Lion
      
      OK, so plain-crested is definitely out of the question, I just checked and indeed it doesn't occur in CR.
      As for that photo on inat, Camilo is a great guy, but I've known him to make mistakes.
      I checked ebird bar charts for Guanacaste province, and I think this is the more common, and "crestier" yellow-bellied elaenia. Posted 4 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Thanks! The exceptions do seem to be mostly by him. Will go with your suggestion. Posted 4 years ago
      2. Thibaud Aronson
        
        Lion
        
        Sounds good! Posted 4 years ago

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

Stunning photo! Posted 4 years ago

The Yellow-bellied elaenia

The yellow-bellied elaenia is a small bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. It breeds from southern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula through Central and South America as far as northern Argentina, and on Trinidad and Tobago.

Info 4 0

Similar species: Perching Birds

Species identified by Ferdy Christant