It is endemic to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago off the coast of Brazil.

Adults have a mostly olive-brown head with a minimal or no white stripe in the middle of the crest.

Their throat is grayish, their breast dark olive-gray, and their belly and undertail coverts yellow.

It inhabits scrublands, dry woodland and other open forest, and thickets and gardens near human habitations.

The Noronha elaenia's calls vary; one is a "high, descending 'tUuuw' in series with 1.5 sec intervals".

"Nevertheless, its future should be secure so long as sufficient forest cover survives.