Jamaican Elaenia
Myiopagis cotta
A rather small woodland flycatcher that is easily overlooked. It is the only flycatcher in its range with a short white eyebrow and no wingbars. Also note the crisp white crescent below its eye and small black bill. Often detected by its song, which consists of several rapid, loud, slightly squeaky, descending notes (typically five): “Tsi-Tsi-Tsi-Tsi-Tsa”. It is most often found feeding high within the forest.
Identification
The Jamaican elaenia measures 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in) from bill to tail and weighs 11.5–13 g (0.41–0.46 oz). Its plumage is a greenish-olive above, a whitish yellow below, and its head is slightly darker with feathers somewhat elongated, concealing their bright orange-yellow patch. Its wings and tail are a dusky olive color with yellow stripes throughout. Its bill is short and black along with its legs. Juvenile Jamaican elaenia lack the coronal patch on their head, has pale gray underparts, and their belly is more yellow.
Taxonomy
Genus: Myiopagis; Family: Tyrannidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Myiopagis cotta
- Authority
- (Gosse, 1849)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Myiopagis
Range and habitat
The Jamaican elaenia is native to Jamaica where 75% of its original forest has been cleared and what remains of that is majority second growth. The 25% that remains of original forest remains on high mountains and cliffs and places that are undisturbed by humans or places that prove to be more difficult to get to or uninhabitable land. Likewise, land in Jamaica is also protected by the John Crow national park. Their habitat is also exposed to hurricane damage, use of pesticides, plantations, forest removal, forest fires, and urbanization.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Spot-throat
Modulatrix stictigula
Supreme understory skulker in montane forest, resembling a hybrid between a thrush and babbler. A dull but distinctive-looking bird if seen well, with brown-olive upperparts and rusty underparts, a bold dull blue-gray eye-ring and black-speckled tawny throat. The bill is dark on top and pale underneath. Immature is paler, lacking the spotted throat. Singles or pairs are highly localized residents flicking through leaf litter or following ants in undergrowth of Eastern Arc montane forest, between 900–2700m; shy and hops or runs quickly across the forest-floor, seldom permitting absorbing looks. Thrush-like song is a varied but distinctive shrill series of whistles and slurs. Calls include a single upslurred sweet “seeuuuiit”, and a scratchy “werrrt” in alarm.
Caatinga Antwren
Radinopsyche sellowi
Small antbird with a long, graduated tail. Males are mostly gray with a black crown, white eyebrow, and paler underparts. Note the short black eye-line. Females have buff-edged crown feathers and pale buff underparts. Occurs in dry woodland and scrub (caatinga) including enclaves of savanna in the Amazon. Sometimes accompanies mixed-species flocks. Sings a short fast rattle: “wrrrrrru.” The male of the similar Black-capped Antwren has a longer and more distinct eye-stripe, and the male of the Large-billed Antwren has a longer, thicker bill.
White-tailed Alethe
Alethe diademata
A forest skulker with clean-cut pale underparts, a gray wash on the side of the breast and face, and rusty brown upperparts and central crown. The tail has distinctive white tips to the outer feathers. Juvenile is heavily spotted above. A shy and inconspicuous resident in the dense understory of lowland and mid-altitude forest up to 1500 meters, found singly and in pairs; several individuals may follow ant swarms, where they lose their fear of humans. Sings a loud musical 3–4 note “whooo-wheet-whooee” and similar melodic notes; also gives harsh “chht” calls.
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