Coopmans's Elaenia Elaenia brachyptera Scientific name definitions

Coopman's Elaenia previously was considered to be a subspecies of the widespread Lesser Elaenia Elaenia chiriquensis, but the late Paul Coopmans recognized that this population had a distinctive song. Independent analysis of DNA sequence data also demonstrate that Lesser and Coopman's elaenias are very divergent genetically, although they still are sister species (that is, more closely related to each other than either is to any other species). Interestingly, although brachyptera previously was known only from the western slope of the Andes of southwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, it now is known to occur as well on the east side of the Andes of Ecuador. Its distribution on the east side of the Andes thus is rather peculiar, as Lesser Elaenia occurs on the eastern slope of the Andes both to the north and to the south, in eastern Colombia and eastern Peru.

13·5 cm. Small, nondescript elaenia, slightly elongated crown feathers producing square-shaped crest, which is occasionally parted to reveal white coronal patch, with vague whitish eyering and two prominent whitish wingbars. Sexes alike. Juvenile apparently undescribed. Compared to previously conspecific and allopatric E. chiriquensis, present species is slightly smaller, with darker, more brownish-olive upperparts, and greyer breast. E. flavogaster is larger and has more obvious crest, additionally rarely overlaps with present species, especially in favouring lower elevations. Very difficult to separate from E. pallatangae, but has more ruffled or squared-off crest, a shorter bill, perhaps slightly darker upperparts and breast, and less yellow belly (comparison based on fresh plumage).

W Andean foothills in SW Colombia (Nariño) and NW Ecuador (S to N Pichincha); also E Andes in E Ecuador (Napo to Morona-Santiago), perhaps extending to S Colombia and NE Peru (4 Rheindt, F.E., Krabbe, N., Wee, A.K.S. and Christidis, L. (2015). Cryptic speciation in the Lesser Elaenia Elaenia chiriquensis (Aves: Passeriformes: Tyrannidae). Zootaxa 4032(3): 251–263. Close ).

Inhabits semi-open habitats and clearings, including lighter woodland, in foothills and subtropics, at 700–2800 m in NW Ecuador, and at 930–1930 m in E Ecuador.

Nothing definitely reported, but probably largely similar to formerly conspecific E. chiriquensis.

Versus E. chiriquensis, the presumed dawn song is a much higher-pitched "tsee...tsee...chee-wee", but only one recording of this vocalization is currently available from W of Andes; in E foothills of Ecuador, the dawn song is a “wit...wit...weedeew”. Daytime song described as a burry “bweer, wheeb, wher’r’r’r”; also gives a higher-pitched, clear “tseee!” or “pee” compared to analogous calls of E. chiriquensis. This species also gives a rattle call lasting up to c. 1 second and comprising up to 15 notes that has no analogy among known vocalizations of E. chiriquensis; it is usually slightly rising at first and falling at end, with notes given at a fairly even pace and each note comprising two or three up-down-strokes, the first and last notes often of fewest strokes.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). In NW Ecuador, considered to be rather local, but status confused by identification difficulties; species has also recently been discovered on E slope of Andes in Ecuador, at two localities in Napo province and one in Morona-Santiago province. Nothing known concerning potential threats.