Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pacific Elaenia
Myiopagis subplacens
Pacific Elaenia (Myiopagis subplacens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pacific Elaenia (Myiopagis subplacens) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 15.9 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 subplacens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15.9 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 Pacific Elaenia is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Pacific Elaenia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pacific Elaenia (Myiopagis subplacens) is a member of the Tyrannidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA w Ecuador, nw Peru.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 15.9 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 109,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pacific Elaenia?
The Pacific Elaenia is a small bird that weighs around 15.9 g.
Where does the Pacific Elaenia live?
The Pacific Elaenia is found across South America with a range covering SA w Ecuador, nw Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Pacific Elaenia belong to?
The Pacific Elaenia (Myiopagis subplacens) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pacific Elaenia eat?
The Pacific Elaenia is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pacific Elaenia migrate?
The Pacific Elaenia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pacific 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 Pacific Elaenia make?
1 real field recording of the Pacific Elaenia — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pacific Elaenia's range?
The Pacific Elaenia has a mapped global range of about 109,000 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
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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.