The white-eared ground sparrow is a large American sparrow which occurs locally in Middle America, mostly in foothills, from southern Mexico and Guatemala to northern Costa Rica.
Region
Mesoamerica
Typical Environment
Found locally from the foothills of southern Mexico through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and into northern Costa Rica. It occupies dense thickets, second-growth forest, coffee plantations, and forest edges. The species keeps close to the ground, especially in ravines, hedgerows, and overgrown clearings. It avoids deep interior forest and very open habitats, favoring shrubby cover.
Altitude Range
600–2000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This large ground-loving sparrow favors dense understory and edges, where it often goes unseen despite its bold head pattern. It forages like a towhee, double-scratching through leaf litter for seeds and insects. Several subspecies vary subtly in head markings across its range from southern Mexico through northern Costa Rica.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats close to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in dense vegetation or on banks, well concealed. Pairs maintain small territories with strong site fidelity during the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, mellow whistles with short pauses, often delivered from a low perch within cover. Calls include sharp metallic chips used to maintain contact in dense vegetation.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with gray underparts and rufous-brown flanks; long, dark tail. The head is striking with a black mask and crown contrasting a bold white ear patch and pale supercilium.
Diet
Omnivorous, taking grass and weed seeds, small fruits, and a variety of insects and other invertebrates. It often double-scratches through leaf litter to uncover hidden prey. Seasonal availability of seeds and arthropods influences diet composition.
Preferred Environment
Forages on or near the ground in dense thickets, along hedgerows, and at forest edges. Frequently uses shaded agroforestry habitats such as coffee plantations and overgrown clearings.
