Manorina melanotis
The Black-eared Miner (Manorina melanotis) is a striking medium-sized honeyeater, typically measuring 23-26 cm in length with a weight ranging from 40-50 grams. Its plumage is a distinctive olive-grey, subtly mottled with darker feather centres, giving it a scaly appearance, while the underparts transition to a paler, almost white belly. Key identification features include a prominent black patch behind the eye, extending to form a distinct "ear" mark, accompanied by a small patch of bare yel...
This species is critically restricted to specific semi-arid mallee eucalypt woodlands, preferring areas with a dense, intact shrubby understory for foraging and nesting, typically at low elevations.
The Black-eared Miner primarily consumes insects and their larvae, which are gleaned from foliage or hawked in flight, supplemented by nectar, honeydew, and occasionally small fruits. They forage communally, moving systematically through the canopy and understory.
Black-eared Miners are profoundly social and diurnal, frequently observed in cohesive colonies known as "coteries," which maintain strict and aggressively defended territorial boundaries. They are quintessential cooperative breeders, meaning multiple adults-often including non-breeding helpers-co...
The Black-eared Miner's geographic distribution is exceptionally restricted and fragmented, confined to a small number of isolated patches of intact mallee eucalypt woodlands in semi-arid southeastern Australia. Historically, its range was broader across the mallee bioregion of Victoria, New Sout...
Critically Endangered
- The Black-eared Miner is one of Australia's most critically endangered bird species, with an estimated wild population of fewer than 500 mature individuals. - It is a cooperative breeder, meaning several adults, not just the parents, help to raise the young, sharing duties like feeding and nest...