Greater Antillean Elaenia

About the Greater Antillean Elaenia

The Blue Mountain elaenia (Elaenia fallax) is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is endemic to Jamaica. The American Ornithological Society, the International Ornithological Committee, and the Clements taxonomy formerly considered it to be conspecific with the Hispaniolan elaenia. In 2025 it was split by the IOC and Clements Checklist owing to DNA evidence, subtle physical differences between the two species and more substantial vocal differences. It is considered monotypic.

The Blue Mountain elaenia is 14.5 to 16 cm (5.7 to 6.3 in) long and weighs about 13 to 15 g (0.46 to 0.53 oz). It is a medium-sized elaenia with a slight crest. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark olive-brown head with white or pale yellowish lores, a faint white or pale yellowish eyering, a faint darker line through the eye, and a thin white strip in the center of the crown that is usually not visible. Their upperparts are dark olive-brown. Their wings are dusky with paler edges on the flight feathers. The tips of their wing coverts are whitish or greenish white and... Wikipedia →