Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
The species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified given recent taxonomic splits.
Trend justification
The species is undergoing a moderate decline (Partners in Flight 2019).
Melozone leucotis occurs in the highlands of Costa Rica, northern central Nicaragua and Honduras.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Derhé, M., Ekstrom, J. & Palmer-Newton, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-eared Ground-sparrow Melozone leucotis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-eared-ground-sparrow-melozone-leucotis on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.