Image via Macaulay Library
Elegant Crescentchest
- Scientific name
- Melanopareia elegans
- Family
- Melanopareiidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Wing shape
- Rounded
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The Elegant Crescentchest, or Melanopareia elegans, was first formally described by the ornithologist René Primevère Lesson in 1837. Belonging to the family Melanopareiidae, this species is native to the arid scrublands and dry forests of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Its discovery occurred during a period of intense European biological exploration in South America, where naturalists sought to catalog the distinct, isolated avifauna of the Andean foothills.
The bird is characterized by a distinctive, dark crescent-shaped patch across its chest, which serves as a key identifier in the field. Its anatomy, featuring rounded wings suited for short-distance flight and a notched tail, reflects its life as a terrestrial dweller that prefers foraging in dense, low-lying vegetation. While it remains a subject of study for ornithologists interested in the evolutionary divergence of neotropical passerines, its elusive nature in the wild continues to fascinate those who document the biodiversity of the Tumbesian region.
Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Elegant Crescentchest
Elegant Crescentchest is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Elegant Crescentchest on collecto.rs?
Elegant Crescentchest doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Elegant Crescentchest?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Elegant Crescentchest catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Elegant Crescentchest is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
