Black-eared warbler

Black-eared warbler
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Parulidae
Genus:	Basileuterus
Species:	B. melanotis
Binomial name
Basileuterus melanotis Lawrence, 1868
Synonyms
Basileuterus tristriatus chitrensis

The black-eared warbler or Costa Rican warbler (Basileuterus melanotis) is a species of bird in the family Parulidae. It was previously considered conspecific with the three-striped warbler and the Tacarcuna warbler.

Description

The black-eared warbler measures 13 cm (5.1 in) in length. It is mostly olive-brown with a buffy belly and underparts. It has distinct black and white striping on the head and a dark cheek. Male and female three-striped warblers have similar plumages.

Their song is a rapid series of squeaky chirps.

Distribution and habitat

It is found from Costa Rica to western Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest. The black-eared warbler typically forages on the ground, especially near riparian areas.

References

• Donegan, T.M. 2014. Geographical variation in morphology and voice of Three-striped Warbler Basileuterus tristriatus. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 134: 79–109.
• Gutiérrez-Pinto, N., A.M. Cuervo, J. Miranda, J.L. Pérez-Emán, R.T. Brumfield, and C.D. Cadena. 2012. Non-monophyly and deep genetic differentiation across low-elevation barriers in a Neotropical montane bird (Basileuterus tristriatus; Aves: Parulidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64: 156–165.