Photo: Andres Cuervo / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Foothill Elaenia
Myiopagis olallai
Foothill Elaenia (Myiopagis olallai) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Foothill Elaenia (Myiopagis olallai) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 12.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Myiopagis
- Species olallai
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Foothill Elaenia is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Foothill Elaenia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Foothill Elaenia (Myiopagis olallai) is a member of the Tyrannidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA nc Colombia, w Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 18,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Foothill Elaenia?
The Foothill Elaenia is a very small bird that weighs around 12.1 g.
Where does the Foothill Elaenia live?
The Foothill Elaenia is found across South America with a range covering SA nc Colombia, w Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Foothill Elaenia belong to?
The Foothill Elaenia (Myiopagis olallai) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Foothill Elaenia eat?
The Foothill Elaenia is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Foothill Elaenia migrate?
The Foothill Elaenia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Foothill Elaenia endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Foothill Elaenia make?
1 real field recording of the Foothill Elaenia — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Foothill Elaenia's range?
The Foothill Elaenia has a mapped global range of about 18,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Tyrannidae
A field guide to the Tyrannidae family — 444 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.