Black-eared miner


The black-eared miner is an endangered honeyeater endemic to mallee woodland in south-eastern Australia.

Taxonomy

It is closely related to the much more widely distributed yellow-throated miner M. flavigula, and the taxonomic status of the black-eared miner is the subject of some controversy, with some researchers considering it a subspecies of M. flavigula.

Behaviour

Black-eared miners are co-operative breeders, living in colonies during the breeding season, and dispersing into the bush during non-breeding periods. Little is known of their movements during these periods.

Distribution and habitat

, identified by BirdLife International as being important for black-eared miner conservation, are areas containing relatively intact, mallee woodland in north-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. They comprise Murray-Sunset, Hattah and Annuello, the Riverland Mallee, and Wyperfeld, Big Desert and Ngarkat.

Conservation status

Black-eared miners are listed as endangered on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The species' conservation status in several Australian states follows: