A small hummingbird with distinctive white "ears" (face markings). Restricted to specific southwestern habitats.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The white-eared hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found from the southwestern U.S. to Nicaragua.
Source: Wikipedia — White-eared hummingbird Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium hummingbird with a bold white stripe behind the eye, a straight red bill tipped black, and (male) a green-and-violet face and throat.
Similar species. Broad-billed Hummingbird has a similar bill but lacks the bold white ear stripe; the broad white eye-stripe is the key White-eared mark.
Voice. A repeated, metallic, tinkling 'tink-tink-tink' like a tiny bell.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Flower nectar; small insects and spiders for protein.
Behavior. A hummingbird of pine-oak mountain canyons in the Southwest borderlands; a rare summer visitor that visits flowers and feeders.
§ Range
Arizona and New Mexico; Mexico
§ Habitat
Mountain pine-oak forests
§ Threats
Habitat loss in mountain pine-oak woodlands.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the white-eared hummingbird is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support southwestern mountain conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — White-eared hummingbird
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Basilinna leucotis
- IUCN Red List — search for Basilinna leucotis
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Basilinna leucotis
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
