Black Eared Hemispingus

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador, March 2011.

Bird name: Black Eared Hemispingus
Latin: Hemispingus melanotis
Other: Hemispingo orejinegro (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Hemispingus
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Bush-tanagers, Fawn-breasted Tanager

The Black-eared Hemispingus is another fast-moving, small tanager that is easily missed. Although pointed out to me quite a few times by the guide, I struggled to get any photos at all, until finally I saw a pair, foraging on relatively open ground, around some bamboo - a typical habitat. Wags tail left to right.

The Black-eared Hemispingus lives between 2200 and 3000m. Seen here at San Isidro Lodge, which is about 2300m.

Below, female Black-Eared Hemispingus in bamboo, San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador.


Below, male Black-Eared Hemispingus in (Chusquea?) bamboo, San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador.


Below, male Black-Eared Hemispingus wagging tail to right, San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador.


Below, male Black-Eared Hemispingus, San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador.