White-eared Conebill (Conirostrum leucogenys) [XC428308]
by Jerome Fischer from Mana Dulce, Cundinamarca, Colombia (song)
White-eared Conebill (Conirostrum leucogenys) [XC825907]
by Andrew Spencer from Quebrada Madrigal, Cambao, Cundinamarca, Colombia (call)
Subspecies
Genus has sometimes been placed in Coerebidae or Parulidae, but molecular-genetic data indicate that it belongs in present family, with Oreomanes as sister-group. This species was originally placed in genus Ateleodacnis, and some taxonomists argue that it, along with the other lowland conebills (Chestnut-vented Conebill (Conirostrum speciosum), Bicolored Conebill (Conirostrum bicolor) and Pearly-breasted Conebill (Conirostrum margaritae)), should be returned to that genus. As a group they are morphologically quite distinct from most highland members of present genus.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
panamense (Griscom, 1927) - Eastern Panama (from Gulf of San Miguel east to Darién) and north-western Colombia (Sinú Valley in Córdoba).
leucogenys Lafresnaye, 1852 - Northern Colombia (Sucre, Atlántico, Magdalena and Cesar, and south in Magdalena Valley to Huila; east of Andes in Catatumbo lowlands of Norte de Santander) and adjacent western Venezuela (eastern across Zulia, Falcón and Yaracuy to Carabobo, in coastal cordillera).
cyanochroum (Todd, 1924) - Western Venezuela in foothills of Sierra de Perijá and western base of Andes (Mérida).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet