Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

eBird describes the Yellow-bellied Elaenia like this:  Rather bulky small flycatcher, widespread in tropical lowlands. Fairly common in overgrown brushy clearings, savannas, and other semi-open areas with scattered bushes. Looks like many other small flycatchers, and where multiple species of elaenias occur it is often not possible to identify birds to species. On Yellow-bellied, note its spiky, white-based crest (rarely held flattened), burry drawled call, whitish wingbars, and pale yellow belly; does not flick its wings or tail.

The Birds of the World website offers this descriptive information for this bird:  The Yellow-bellied Elaenia is a medium sized, widespread elaenia found from southeastern Mexico south to northeastern Argentina. Generally Yellow-bellied Elaenias are brownish olive above with two white wing bars, a pale gray breast, and pale yellow belly.  Yellow-bellied Elaenia have a conspicuous bushy crest that often is raised when the bird calls, revealing a white coronal patch.  These flycatchers inhabit a variety of woodland habitats as well as scrub and savanna, and feed on fruits and insects.  Yellow-bellied Elaenias often are relatively conspicuous, perching in the open and vocalizing frequently.

I saw my first Yellow-bellied Elaenia early on the morning of Monday, February 6, 2023, during a pre-breakfast birding hike with my Tropical Birding Tour Group.  We were on a muddy road not far from our cabins when we spotted this little bird.  My photograph is worse than pathetic (my camera just doesn’t handle the low light of early morning), but the distinctive crest of this bird is clearly visible.  To see my blog post that includes our sighting of this  Elaenia, look here.