This small South American flycatcher undertakes long-distance migration. It has been studied breeding in Patagonia, and research documents identification problems with similar Elaenias.
A mist-net sample on Navarino Island was reported with two white wing bars, a strong eye ring, a white crown patch and white edges on the secondaries. The same study describes juveniles as lacking the white crown patch and having buffy bars. A breeding study reports no plumage difference between the sexes; similar Elaenias can still be difficult to separate by sight.
At the Patagonian study site it bred from December to February and built an open cup lined with feathers.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.