White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps

The White-crested Elaenia is a small- to medium-sized member of the difficult-to-identify genus Elaenia. Although the breeding distribution is centered on the Andes Mountains and in southern South America, the White-crested Elaenia occurs throughout much of South America as an austral migrant. Indeed, some of the more interesting aspects of the natural history of the White-crested Elaenia are represented by its geographic variation, and the complicated patterns of migration and of overlap of migratory and resident populations. It is a fairly common and widespread species, although it easily can be confused in the field with several other species.