White-eared Ground-Sparrow
Encyclopedia
The White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Melozone leucotis, is a large American sparrow
which breeds in a small range of Central America
at middle altitudes from southern Mexico
and Guatemala
to northern Costa Rica
. The species range is on the Pacific
side of Central America
, and Belize
, (on the Gulf of Mexico
), and Honduras
are not in its normal range.
This bird is found typically at altitudes between 500 and 2000 m 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 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 long and weighs 43 g. 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 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, insect
s and spider
s. It is usually in pairs, and is a shy species best seen at near or dusk, although easier to find than its skulking relative, the Prevost's Ground-Sparrow
.
American sparrow
American sparrows are a group of mainly New World passerine birds, forming part of the family Emberizidae. American sparrows are seed-eating birds with conical bills, brown or gray in color, and many species have distinctive head patterns....
which breeds in a small range of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
at middle altitudes from southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
to northern Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. The species range is on the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
side of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, and Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, (on the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
), and Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
are not in its normal range.
This bird is found typically at altitudes between 500 and 2000 m 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 up, and hidden amongst banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
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 long and weighs 43 g. 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 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
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
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
Supercilium
The supercilium is a plumage feature found on the heads of some bird species. It is a stripe which runs from the base of the bird's beak above its eye, finishing somewhere towards the rear of the bird's head. Also known as an "eyebrow", it is distinct from the eyestripe, which is a line which runs...
, 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, insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s. It is usually in pairs, and is a shy species best seen at near or dusk, although easier to find than its skulking relative, the Prevost's Ground-Sparrow
Prevost's Ground-Sparrow
Prevost's Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuatum, also known as the White-faced Ground-Sparrow, is an American sparrow.-Etymology:Its English name commemorates French naturalist Florent Prévost. The isolated Costa Rican form may be a separate species, Cabanis's Ground-Sparrow Prevost's Ground-Sparrow...
.
External links
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow on the Internet Bird Collection
- RangeMaps & synopsis InfoNatura NatureServe
- Stamp photo (for El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
) - Photo; Article "Birds of Costa Rica"
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow photo gallery VIREO
