Brownish Elaenia Elaenia pelzelni Scientific name definitions

The nondescript Brownish Elaenia is confined to riverine forest, especially on islands, along the Amazon and its principal tributaries. It occurs from the mouth of the Amazon west to northeast Peru and south into northernmost Bolivia, and prefers mature stands of Cecropia trees. Locally, at least, the species is fairly common. The Brownish Elaenia is relatively large for its genus, perches rather upright, and its plumage is mainly dull brownish, with three brownish-white wingbars and whitish underparts. Virtually nothing is known about its ecology, although the species is assumed to feed largely on insects and small fruits, and seems relatively catholic in its choice for foraging strata, occurring from low levels to the canopy.

18 cm. Distinctive large, dull brownish elaenia. Male has dull brownish head, ear-coverts and face paler brownish, white coronal patch (semi-concealed), inconspicuous whitish eyering and lores; upperparts uniform dull brownish; wings dusky brown, darker than back, all wing-coverts tipped pale (three brownish-white wingbars), remiges edged whitish; tail long, dusky brown; throat white, underparts whitish, breast and flanks washed dingy brownish, undertail coverts sometimes slightly brownish; iris dark brown; upper mandible black, lower mandible pale pinkish with black tip; tarsi black. Female lacks coronal patch. Immature has more whitish on wing feathers, rufous wingbars, fulvous underwing and uppertail coverts, pale-tipped tail.

No information on diet, but presumably insects and fruits; specialized habitat suggests possible extensive reliance on Cecropia fruits. Perches upright, from low levels to high in canopy; rather wary.

Calls include variety of burry and clear notes, e.g. low “chick-ert” or “chick-ert-ert” with first note slightly higher, a clearer “chick-urp” or “per-cheet” with second note higher; also, repeated liquid “whit” and high metallic “chick-eep”.

More study needed.