White-crested Elaenia

Fiofío Común

Elaenia albiceps

Length: 145mm. Sexes alike. Bill dark brown with base of mandible pearl; iris dark brown; upper part of head brownish olive with centre of crown white; hind neck and upperparts mostly brownish olive; rectrices dark olivaceous brown; lores, auriculars, throat, foreneck, breast and flanks olivaceous grey; belly yellowish white; undertail coverts white. Lesser wing coverts as back; median and greater coverts dark olivaceous brown with whitish margins forming two bars; remiges dark olivaceous brown with tertiaries margined whitish and thinner margins in secondaries.

Legs black. Average weight: 15g. Juveniles are similar to adults but slightly paler and lack the white in crown. Habitat and behaviour: this species inhabits forested and shrubby areas, mainly the southern beech woodlands; it is very common and can be found in groups where individuals are constantly communicating with each other uttering particular whistles that give it its name. It is very active and captures insects in the vegetation, perched, on the wing or on the ground; it feeds also on small wild berries such as Maqui (Aristotelia), Calafate (Berberis), as well as a wide range of cultivated berries such as blackberries and blueberries. The White-crested Elaenia nests among the vegetation, building a simple cup-shaped nest, using plant fibres, lichens, wool and feathers; females lay up to three white eggs with reddish and dark brown mottling.

Range: the race Elaenia albiceps chilensis occurs in Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, west of Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego, as far south as Isla de los Estados. It is also found throughout the west of Argentina to Jujuy, as well as in Chile; in winter it migrates northwards, arriving as far as Colombia.