Sooty-headed Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias griseiceps) - 21Aug2024

This tyrannulet species has a highly disjunct population across northern South America but the ones I saw were at higher elevations in Colombia.  These tyrannulets are tricky for identification, so this is a group I hope to study more. Luckily I had local guides helping me on this trip.

Planalto Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias fasciatus) - 14Aug2022

This little tyrant was giving me a hard time with photos, but to be honest even if the photos were good, this species looks a lot like 3-4 other tyrannulets so I was relying on the guide to identify it based on local knowledge and sound.  Photos taken in the Pantanal in Brazil.

Straneck's tyrannulet (Serpophaga griseicapilla) - 20Aug2022

Straneck's Tyrannulet is also known as Grey-crowned Tyrannulet which is a much better name.  I am for descriptive names every time although in fairness the Plain Tyrannulet and Straneck's Tyrannulet both have gray crowns too.  Luckily this one photographed below in the Pantanal was IDed based on it's call. 

White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata) - 13Aug2022

This species is easily confused with Plain or Straneck's Tyrannulets so I was relying on the guide on confirming this by sound.   Unfortunately it did not put up its crest to reveal the white underneath.   Photographed in the Pantanal in Brazil.

Hispaniolan Elaenia (Elaenia fallax) - 29Dec2024

This bird was a big target for me when I went to the Dominican Republic.  Previously they were lumped with the one found on Jamaica as the Greater Antillean Elaenia but they split it out in the recent taxonomic update.  I did finally get it when I went hiking with Melissa in the Ebano Verde Reserve in the interior of the island.  I will need to go back anyhow as I missed some other species, so hopefully I can bag a better pic.

Lesser Elaenia (Elaenia chiriquensis) - 16Aug2022

This small elaenia has a massive range across South America and some of Central America.  The identification is tricky so hearing it is probably the best way to find one.  Luckily I was with an expert local guide on my trip to the Pantanal and they identified it for me.  I had also had one on my first trip to Colombia, but didn't obtain photos so this was especially sweet.

Large Elaenia (Elaenia spectabilis) - 13Aug2022

This large "hehe" elaenia can be found over a large range in the central South America.  It is very large comparatively and has three very well defined wing-bars making it perhaps an easier identification than some of the other elaenias.  I had the below bird at Pousada Aguape in the southern Pantanal of Brazil.

Small-billed Elaenia (Elaenia parvirostris) - 22Aug2022

Here is another elaenia that has a huge range in South America but also has vagrated to North America including a record in Canada!  I saw mine in the Pantanal in Brazil.  This elaenia is also tricky to identify but it does have a pretty well defined eye-ring which reduces the number of candidates. Of course if you hear it, that clinches it.

Plain-crested Elaenia (Elaenia cristata) - 15Aug2022

This elaenia has a range across most of the eastern portions of South America that goes as far west as the Pantanal which is where I saw this one.  Like many elaenias they have a tendency to vagrant and have been seen outside this core range although not outside of South America. 

Greenish Elaenia (Myiopagis viridicata) - 17Aug2022

This Elaenia has a huge range across Central and South America.  It is fairly nondescript with the exception of its greenish upper parts which are not seen in my picture.  I probably wouldn't have pegged the ID on this without confirmation from the local guide who I think also heard this one. 

Grey-headed Elaenia (Myiopagis caniceps) - 12Aug2022

This is one of the easier to identify Elaenias and has a range across the central parts of South American including the Pantanal which is where we saw and heard this one.

Forest Elaenia (Myiopagis gaimardii) - 01Aug2019

Elaenias are notoriously difficult to identify, especially if not seen very well.  Luckily our guide heard this one and was able to nail the ID.  This species has a huge range across most of northern South America.  I photographed this one on my first trip to Colombia near the Santa Marta mountain range.

Subtropical Doradito (Pseudocolopteryx acutipennis) - 22Aug2022

We were ecstatic to bag this bird in the Pantanal because it wasn't expected per our guide, although I do see other reports in the Pantanal.   Its normal range is mostly west of Brazil from Colombia down through Argentina.  It almost looks like a Yellowthroat but it is actually a tyrant flycatcher.  

Bearded Tachuri (Polystictus pectoralis) - 11Aug2022

This tiny tyrant flycatcher has a Near Threatened status per IUCN classification but it does have a fairly large range in several disjunct populations in South America.  There are only 2 species in this genus.  We saw only one on our trip to the Pantanal in Brazil.

White-throated Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus leucophrys) - 07Aug2024

This high elevation tyrant flycatcher can be found all the way down the spine of the Andes from Venezuela to Argentina.  I had mine in Colombia.

Suiriri Flycatcher (Suiriri suiriri) - 15Aug2022

The Suiriri and Chapada Flycatchers look pretty identical to any birder seeing them for the first time and they share the same range and habitats.  So you really need to hear them or have a capable guide to help you identify them.  We had both in the span of 10 minutes in Chapada dos Guimaraes in Brazil.  The Suiriri vocalized but stayed in the back of a tree whereas the Chapada was very accommodating.  

 

Brown-capped Tyrannulet (Ornithion brunneicapillus) - 01Aug2019

This photo would have been unusable if I hadn't ramped up the contrast as it was super backlit.  Sometimes you gotta make lemonade out of lemons.  This species can be found in Central America and the very northern parts of South America.  I was on my first trip to Colombia and this was one of several birds flitting around way up in the canopy.