The white-eared ground sparrow (Melozone leucotis) is a large American sparrow which occurs locally in Middle America, mostly in foothills, from southern Mexico and Guatemala to northern Costa Rica.
This bird is found typically at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 m (1,600 and 6,600 ft) in the undergrowth and thickets of ravines, forest edge, and other semi-open woodland including second growth and large gardens. The nest, built by the female, is a massive bowl of stems, twigs and other plant material constructed on the ground or less than 75 cm (2.46 ft) up, and hidden amongst banana plants, orchids or similar cover. The female lays two brown-blotched white eggs, which she incubates for 12–14 days. The male helps in feeding the chicks.
The white-eared ground sparrow is on average 17.5 cm (6.9 in) long and weighs 43 g (1.5 oz). The adult has a stubby dark-grey bill and unstreaked olive-brown upperparts. The head is mainly black with a broken white eye ring and white patches in front of and behind the eye. The nape is green and the sides of the neck are bright yellow. The throat and breast patch are black, separated by a thin rufous-grey line, and the rest of the underparts are mainly white with grey on the flanks. Young birds have yellower underparts, and a duller indistinct head pattern.
North Nicaragua birds, M. l. nigrior, have a much broader black breast spot than the nominate Costa Rican form, and the northernmost of the three subspecies, M. l. occipitalis, has a grey crown stripe, obvious yellow supercilium, and very small breast spot.
White-eared ground sparrow calls include a thin tsip. The male's song is an explosive whistled spit-CHUR see-see-see.
The white-eared ground sparrow feeds on the ground on seeds, fallen berries, insects and spiders. It is usually in pairs, and is a shy species best seen at near or dusk, although easier to find than its skulking relative, Prevost's ground sparrow.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2020). "Melozone leucotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T103776706A138552832. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T103776706A138552832.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Olsson, Urban; Curson, Jon (1995). Buntings and Sparrows - A Guide to the Buntings and North American Sparrows. Illustrated by Clive Byers. Pica Press. ISBN1-873403-19-4.
Stiles, F. Gary; Skutch, Alexander F. (1989). A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN0-8014-9600-4.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melozone leucotis.
Wikispecies has information related to Melozone leucotis.
Pájaros de Costa Rica [Birds of Costa Rica] (in Spanish)
White-eared ground sparrow photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
White-eared ground sparrow species account at Neotropical Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Interactive range map of Melozone leucotis at IUCN Red List maps
January 01, 1970
white, eared, ground, sparrow, white, eared, ground, sparrow, melozone, leucotis, large, american, sparrow, which, occurs, locally, middle, america, mostly, foothills, from, southern, mexico, guatemala, northern, costa, rica, conservation, status, least, conce. The white eared ground sparrow Melozone leucotis is a large American sparrow which occurs locally in Middle America mostly in foothills from southern Mexico and Guatemala to northern Costa Rica White eared ground sparrow Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Passerellidae Genus Melozone Species M leucotis Binomial name Melozone leucotisCabanis 1861 This bird is found typically at altitudes between 500 and 2 000 m 1 600 and 6 600 ft in the undergrowth and thickets of ravines forest edge and other semi open woodland including second growth and large gardens The nest built by the female is a massive bowl of stems twigs and other plant material constructed on the ground or less than 75 cm 2 46 ft up and hidden amongst banana plants orchids or similar cover The female lays two brown blotched white eggs which she incubates for 12 14 days The male helps in feeding the chicks The white eared ground sparrow is on average 17 5 cm 6 9 in long and weighs 43 g 1 5 oz The adult has a stubby dark grey bill and unstreaked olive brown upperparts The head is mainly black with a broken white eye ring and white patches in front of and behind the eye The nape is green and the sides of the neck are bright yellow The throat and breast patch are black separated by a thin rufous grey line and the rest of the underparts are mainly white with grey on the flanks Young birds have yellower underparts and a duller indistinct head pattern North Nicaragua birds M l nigrior have a much broader black breast spot than the nominate Costa Rican form and the northernmost of the three subspecies M l occipitalis has a grey crown stripe obvious yellow supercilium and very small breast spot White eared ground sparrow calls include a thin tsip The male s song is an explosive whistled spit CHUR see see see The white eared ground sparrow feeds on the ground on seeds fallen berries insects and spiders It is usually in pairs and is a shy species best seen at near or dusk although easier to find than its skulking relative Prevost s ground sparrow References edit BirdLife International 2020 Melozone leucotis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T103776706A138552832 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 3 RLTS T103776706A138552832 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Olsson Urban Curson Jon 1995 Buntings and Sparrows A Guide to the Buntings and North American Sparrows Illustrated by Clive Byers Pica Press ISBN 1 873403 19 4 Stiles F Gary Skutch Alexander F 1989 A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica Comstock Publishing Associates ISBN 0 8014 9600 4 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melozone leucotis nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Melozone leucotis White eared ground sparrow media Internet Bird Collection Stamp usurped for El Salvador at bird stamps org Pajaros de Costa Rica Birds of Costa Rica in Spanish White eared ground sparrow photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University White eared ground sparrow species account at Neotropical Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology Interactive range map of Melozone leucotis at IUCN Red List maps Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White eared ground sparrow amp oldid 1197849106, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
