About Melozone leucotis Cabanis, 1861
The white-eared ground sparrow (Melozone leucotis) is a large American sparrow found locally in Middle America, mostly in foothills, ranging from southern Mexico and Guatemala to northern Costa Rica. It typically occurs at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 m (1,600 and 6,600 ft), living in undergrowth and thickets of ravines, forest edges, and other semi-open woodland areas including second growth and large gardens. The female builds the nest, which is a massive bowl made from stems, twigs and other plant material. Nests are placed on the ground or less than 75 cm (2.46 ft) above ground, and hidden among banana plants, orchids or similar cover. The female lays two white eggs marked with brown blotches, and incubates them for 12–14 days. The male helps feed the chicks. On average, this species is 17.5 cm (6.9 in) long and weighs 43 g (1.5 oz). Adult white-eared ground sparrows have a stubby dark-grey bill and unstreaked olive-brown upperparts. Their 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; the rest of the underparts are mainly white, with grey coloring on the flanks. Young birds have yellower underparts and a duller, less distinct head pattern. The subspecies M. l. nigrior, found in North Nicaragua, has a much broader black breast spot than the nominate Costa Rican form. The northernmost of the three recognized subspecies, M. l. occipitalis, has a grey crown stripe, an obvious yellow supercilium, and a very small breast spot. Calls of the white-eared ground sparrow include a thin tsip. The male's song is an explosive whistled spit-CHUR see-see-see. This sparrow feeds on the ground, eating seeds, fallen berries, insects and spiders. It usually occurs in pairs, and is a shy species that is most easily seen near dawn or dusk. It is easier to locate than its skulking relative, Prevost's ground sparrow.
