Small-billed Elaenia in Chicago, IL ~ April 20, 2012

Right after work Thursday night, Jason Horn, Dick Colyer, and I started the 12-hour drive to Douglas Park in Chicago to hopefully see an Elaenia that had been found there back on Tuesday. Elaenias are the South American equivalent of our 'Empidonax' flycatchers when it comes to tricky identifications. Birds out of their normal range can be extremely difficult. Birders who had already seen the bird and took photos helped narrow down the species to either a White-crested or Small-billed Elaenia.

We got to the park in the late morning on Friday and found a few birders standing at the east end of the Field House. After only a few minutes, Jason spotted the bird actively working a small grove of trees. Despite the fact that the bird moved around almost warbler-like at times, we still managed to get very satisfying looks at it. The light crest patch was noticeable when the bird was facing us and the three wingbars, which lean the identification towards a Small-billed Elaenia, were easily seen. Photos were a challenge because of the bird's quick movements and the fairly dark, cloudy day.

Elaenia at Douglas Park, Chicago, Illinois. Note the fairly short bill, faint eyering, and the three wingbars, which lean the identification towards a Small-billed Elaenia.

Elaenia at Douglas Park, Chicago, Illinois. This blurry photo shows the light central crown patch.

Elaenia at Douglas Park, Chicago, Illinois. This is another photo showing the front portion of the central crown patch.

Other birds seen there included American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Caspian Tern, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, and Palm, Yellow-rumped, and Orange-crowned Warbler.

Orange-crowned Warbler at Douglas Park, Chicago, Illinois.

We left a few hours later and got back home around 5:00 AM on Saturday morning, covering about 1500 miles.

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Update: The Illinois Records Committee accepted the bird as a Small-billed Elaenia.

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