Conirostrum leucogenys
The White-eared Conebill (Conirostrum leucogenys) is a captivating small songbird, belonging to the Thraupidae family, which includes the tanagers. Measuring a dainty 10.5-12 cm in length and weighing a mere 8-13 grams, this avian jewel is instantly recognizable by its striking plumage. Its upperparts are a soft, unstreaked bluish-grey, contrasting sharply with a pristine white throat and underparts, which may sometimes exhibit a faint yellowish wash. The most distinctive field mark, giving t...
This conebill primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid scrub, dry woodlands, and the edges of open forests. It often frequents thorny thickets and can be found in disturbed areas, gardens, and urban parks, typically at elevations from sea level up to around 1200-1500 meters.
Their primary diet consists of nectar, extracted from a variety of flowers, supplemented by small insects and larvae, and occasionally minute fruits.
White-eared Conebills are active diurnal foragers, often observed singly, in pairs, or small family groups. They exhibit a unique foraging strategy, primarily probing flowers for nectar with their specialized bills, often hanging acrobatically to access blooms. Beyond nectar, they also glean smal...
The White-eared Conebill is found in fragmented populations across northern South America. Its primary range includes the Caribbean lowlands of northeastern Colombia, particularly along the Guajira Peninsula, extending eastward into northern Venezuela. In Venezuela, it occupies the coastal mounta...
Least Concern
- Despite its small size, the White-eared Conebill can be quite assertive, sometimes chasing away other birds from nectar sources. - Its exceptionally slender, pointed bill is a perfect example of co-evolution, adapted to fit specific flower shapes for nectar feeding. - Conebills, as a genus, wer...