From Opus

Photo by noddingdogbob
Location: Cayman Brac

Elaenia martinica

[edit] Identification

15.5 - 18 cm (6-7 inches) mainly olive-gray flycatcher.
Upperside is olive-gray with two whitish wing-bars, seemingly variable in strength geographically.
Throat and lower belly is lighter, and some places seems to have a yellow belly, sometimes more noticeable on photos than during observation.
In Dominica, the cheek below the eye seems to be as dark as the area above the eye, another variable feature, it seems.
When these birds are excited, they can pull the crown feathers to the side and show a white to yellowish white stripe in the middle. Otherwise show very minimal crest.
Upper mandible is black, lower mandible has pink base two-thirds out.
Legs are dark.

[edit] Similar Species

Yellow-bellied Elaenia has a more yellow underside, and a stronger crest (Range overlap in St. Vincent and Grenada).

[edit] Distribution

The seven subspecies are distributed across the southern parts of the Caribbean, both along the western side (off Eastern Mexico) and the Lesser Antilles to Barbados. In addition found in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

[edit] Taxonomy

There are 7 subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

Forests, scrubs, and woodlands, mostly in lowlands, but where the Yellow-bellied Elaenia is also found, Caribbean Elaenia normally is displaced to the higher ground.

[edit] Behaviour

Often sits on branches a little below the the top of the bush/tree so that they are not visible to the Gray Kingbird, a very agressive species to other birds that catch insects.

[edit] Vocalisation

People from North America sometimes think they hear an Eastern Phoebe when this species is around.

[edit] External Links