The tepui elaenia (Elaenia olivina) is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.[3] It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.[4]
| Tepui elaenia | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Genus: | Elaenia |
| Species: | E. olivina
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| Binomial name | |
| Elaenia olivina | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and systematics
editThe tepui elaenia has two subspecies, the nominate E. o. olivina (Salvin & Godman, 1884) and E. o. davidwillardi (Dickerman & Phelps, WH Jr, 1987).[3] For much of the twentieth century the nominate was treated as a subspecies of the sierran elaenia (E. pallatangae). It (with subspecies E. o. davidwillardi) were not recognized as a separate species until about 2008 after which taxonomic systems made the change.[5][6][7]
Description
editThe tepui elaenia is about 14.5 to 15 cm (5.7 to 5.9 in) long and weighs about 15 to 20 g (0.53 to 0.71 oz). It is a small elaenia with a very small crest. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark olive-brown head with lighter cheeks, a thin yellowish white eyering, and a thin white strip in the center of the crown. Their upperparts are dark olive-brown. Their wings are mostly dark olive-brown with whitish or yellowish edges on the flight feathers. The tips of their wing coverts are whitish and show as two bars on the closed wing. Their tail is dark olive-brown. Their underparts are mostly yellowish with a strong olive wash on the throat, breast, and flanks and an unmarked yellow belly. Subspecies E. o. davidwillardi has darker olive-brown upperparts and brighter underparts than the nominate. Both sexes of both subspecies have a dark brown iris, a black bill with a pinkish base to the mandible, and black legs and feet.[8][9][10]
Distribution and habitat
editThe tepui elaenia is a bird of the tepui region where southeastern and southern Venezuela, far northwestern Brazil, and western Guyana meet. It has a disjunct distribution. The nominate subspecies is found on tepuis in all three countries of the border region. Subspecies E. o. davidwillardi is found only on Cerro de la Neblina in extreme southern Amazonas state of Venezuela. The species primarily inhabits scrubby edges and rocky openings in humid montane forest. It also occurs in secondary forest, especially sites dominated by Melastomataceae. In elevation it ranges between 1,500 and 3,000 m (4,900 and 9,800 ft) in Brazil and between 950 and 2,400 m (3,100 and 7,900 ft) in Venezuela.[8][9][10]
Behavior
editMovement
editThe tepui elaenia is a year-round resident throughout its range.[8][9]
Feeding
editThe tepui elaenia feeds on insects and small fruits, especially those of Melastomataceae. It forages at all levels of the forest and often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. It finds food by mostly by gleaning while perched.[8][9]
Breeding
editThe tepui elaenia's breeding season has not been established but includes at least January to April in Venezuela. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.[8]
Vocalization
editThe tepui elaenia's vocalizations are not well known. As of late 2024 xeno-canto had only eight recordings of the nominate subspecies and none of subspecies E. o. davidwillardi.[11] At that time the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library had a larger number of recordings of the nominate but also none of davidwillardi. What is thought to be the nominate's day song is "irregular sharp notes, e.g. 'chi-tree-trew...tree-trew...chip...' and its call "a 'pfeééu' ".[8]
Status
editThe IUCN has assessed the tepui elaenia as being of Least Concern. Its population size is not known and is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is known from only a few sites in Brazil and Guyana but is considered fairly common in Venezuela. Subspecies E. o. davidwillardi is considered common on its single tepui.[8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ a b BirdLife International (2017). "Tepui Elaenia Elaenia olivina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103681376A112297147. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103681376A112297147.en. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ Salvin & Godman, 1884. Elainea olivina (protonym). Ibis. BHL
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Tyrant flycatchers". IOC World Bird List. v 14.2. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 28 September 2024. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved September 29, 2024
- ^ Rheindt, F. E., L. Christidis, and J. A. Norman (2008). Habitat shifts in the evolutionary history of a Neotropical flycatcher lineage from forest and open landscapes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 8:193.
- ^ Rheindt, F. E., L. Christidis, and J. A. Norman (2009). Genetic introgression, incomplete lineage sorting and faulty taxonomy create multiple cases of polyphyly in a montane clade of tyrant-flycatchers (Elaenia, Tyrannidae). Zoological Scripta 38(2):143–153.
- ^ Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 28 September 2024. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved September 29, 2024
- ^ a b c d e f g del Hoyo, J., N. Collar, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Tepui Elaenia (Elaenia olivina), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.sieela2.01 retrieved October 2, 2024
- ^ a b c d e Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela (second ed.). Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 572.
- ^ a b c van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 294–295. ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7.
- ^ "Tepui Elaenia Elaenia olivina". xeno-canto. October 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.