Identification
Small rainforest flycatcher that ranges from central Panama through western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Male is mostly gray, but female is clad mainly in shades of olive and yellow. Male’s dark wings with contrasting white wingbars help to identify him. Female is very similar to Forest Elaenia, but tends to have darker wings, brighter back, and cleaner breast; all of these are hard to see in the field and some birds cannot be identified with certainty. Note that Choco Elaenia is found only west of the Andes and does not overlap with Amazonian Elaenia or Gray-headed Elaenia. Typical song is a descending, accelerating trill. Pairs typically stay high in the forest, and often follow mixed species flocks.