Family Tanagers (Thraupidae)
Least Concern
White-eared Conebill (Conirostrum leucogenys)
Taxonomy
French: Conirostre oreillard German: Weißohr-Spitzschnabel Spanish: Conirrostro orejiblanco
Taxonomy:
Dacnis leucogenys
Lafresnaye
, 1852,Bogotá, Colombia
.
Subspecies and Distribution
C. l. panamense
(Griscom, 1927) – E Panama (from Gulf of San Miguel E to Darién) and NW Colombia (Sinú Valley in Córdoba).
C. l. leucogenys
(Lafresnaye, 1852) – N Colombia (Sucre, Atlántico, Magdalena and Cesar, and S in Magdalena Valley to Huila; E of Andes in Catatumbo lowlands of Norte de Santander) and adjacent W Venezuela (E across Zulia, Falcón and Yaracuy to Carabobo, in coastal cordillera).
C. l. cyanochroum
(Todd, 1924) – W Venezuela in foothills of Sierra de Perijá and W base of Andes (Mérida).
Descriptive notes
9·5 cm; c. 7 g. Small, short-tailed conebill with thin, sharply pointed bill. Male nominate race has crown and nape shiny black, contrasting white cheek and ear-coverts;... read more
Voice
Song a high, thin, tinkling series of notes, “tsing-le, tséet-e-tséet” or similar variant, usually... read more
Habitat
Dry to moist (semi-deciduous), open woodland, wooded borders, cacao plantations, gallery forest,... read more
Food and feeding
Few data on diet; arthropods and nectar taken. Lively pairs or parties of 3–5 individuals; sometimes with small mixed-species flocks.... read more
Breeding
In Colombia, pair building nest in Jan in upper Magdalena Valley (in Huila) and birds in breeding condition in Jan, Apr and May in N. No... read more
Movements
Resident.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Uncommon to locally fairly common. Can be found in a few protected areas, including El Paujíl Reserve (Colombia) and in or near Morrocoy National... read more
See C. margaritae. Three subspecies recognized.