I saw five lifer hummingbirds at the hummingbird feeders at Finca El Pilar near Antigua, Guatemala on March 21, 2026 with my guide, Bobby. I've previously posted on the azure-crowned, berylline and rufous sabrewing hummingbirds. The light was not great and the viewing area was not great and most of my photos are not great. I only got one semi-decent photo of the white-eared hummingbird.
It has a dark head that often appears blackish, depending on the lighting, a prominent white stripe extending from the back of the eye downward (diagnostic) and greenish upperparts with some cinnamon edging near the rump. The female has a brownish cap, whitish underparts with green spots and a dark bill with very limited red. The male has a red bill with a black tip. In good light the male's forehead is brilliant purple and the throat is iridescent green. The lower underparts are whitish with heavy green scaling.
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| Illustration of a female, ssp. leucotis, from Birds of the World. |
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| Illustration of a male, ssp. leucotis, from Birds of World. |
I saw ssp. leucotis, the nominate ssp., which is found in the highlands of central and southern Mexico, extending into Guatemala. It is common in the montane pine-oak forests around Antigua. Despite the range map below, ssp. borealis can be found in southern Arizona and occasionally in Texas and New Mexico. It is found at an elevation range of 3,900 to 11,500 feet.
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| Range from Birds of the World. |
