Caribbean Elaenia
Elaenia martinica
Rather drab and inconspicuous flycatcher of tropical woodland, semi-open areas with bushes and trees. Often found at fruiting trees, where eats small berries. Limited overlap in range with slightly larger and brighter Yellow-bellied Elaenia, which has a spiky, white-based crest, unlike Caribbean, which usually holds its crest flattened; also note that Caribbean has a bright orange base to the underside of its bill, duller wingbars, and different voice; does not flick its wings or tail.
Taxonomy
In 1760, the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the Caribbean elaenia in his Ornithologie based on a specimen collected on the island of Martinique. He used the French name Le gobe-mouche hupé de la Martinique and the Latin Muscicapa Martinicana cristata. Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. When in 1766, the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition, he added 240 species that had been previously described by Brisson. One of these was the Caribbean elaenia. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Muscicapa martinica and cited Brisson's work. This species is now placed in the genus Elaenia that was introduced by the Swedish zoologist Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1836.<p>Seven subspecies are recognized:<p>Its natural habitats are tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and heavily degraded former forest.
- Scientific name
- Elaenia martinica
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Elaenia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Hieraaetus ayresii
Small black-and-white eagle. Has a compact, powerful shape, and the hint of a crest. The upperparts are black, and there are heavy black markings on the underparts and evenly across the underwing. Found in thick woodland and forest. Soars frequently. Call is a loud, repeated “kwee-ya.” Similar to other hawk-eagles, but has more heavily marked underparts. Easily separated in flight, when Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle shows black barring across the entire underwing.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
The largest nuthatch in North America, with distinctive white face, black cap, and blue-gray upperparts. Also note rusty lower belly and undertail coverts. Females have a slightly paler crown than males. Fairly common and widespread, usually in mature woodlands with large trees. Creeps along tree trunks and branches, often upside-down. Sometimes joins mixed flocks with other songbirds. Visits feeders. Listen for insistent yammering calls. Some subtle variation across range, mainly in the darkness of the sides and back, width of the black crown, and vocalizations.
Black-crowned Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
A large and vocal babbler of montane rainforest and shrubby edges. Note warm russet-brown body with bright rufous chest, white throat, white-bordered black mask, and a bright red bill. Forages actively in the dense midstorey, sometimes in mixed species flocks, and can be difficult to see well. Somewhat similar to Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler, but note Coral-billed’s deeper red, sturdier bill and rufous chest. Often gives harsh grating or excited chattering calls as well as soft, oriole-like notes.
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