Black-eared Miner
Manorina melanotis
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since: 7/15/2016
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since: Tue Mar 01 2022 14:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Population trend: Decreasing
Other names: None
Priority Species? Yes
The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derived from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.
Description
The Black-eared Miner can be confused with Yellow-throated Miner, and in particular with hybrids between these two species. The Black-eared Miner has a roughly uniform grey colouring from crown to rump. There is a black mask, starting at the bill and extending under and over the eye, and uniformly over the ear-coverts. Black-eared Miners are restricted to mature mallee eucalypt woodland, in areas that have not been burnt for at least 50 years and have not been cleared.
Threats
The fundamental reason for decline of the Black-eared Miner is that most of its preferred habitat has been cleared. This has allowed the closely related Yellow-throated Miner to colonise habitat remnants and interbreed with Black-eared Miners. Genetic swamping is now the greatest threat. The other major threat is fire�