Large elaenia with a striking headdress. It inhabits lightly-wooded areas, such as overgrown clearings, forest edge, and river islands, along the eastern base of the Andes. Mostly gray and olive with a yellow belly and white wingbars. Spiky white crest is frequently held erect, and is bordered by dark forehead tufts that can look like little horns. Usually found hawking insects from a conspicuous perch, and gives short, burry calls.