White-eared Solitaire

The white-eared solitaire is 22 to 24 cm (8.7 to 9.4 in) long and weighs about 58 g (2.0 oz). Adult males have a large white patch from their bill through their ear coverts on an otherwise black head. They have a rich chestnut nape and upperparts with some white in the carpal area. Their wing coverts are rich chestnut and their flight feathers blackish with a wide white bar on the underside. Their tail is mostly blackish with white on the ends of the outer feathers. Their underparts are black. Adult females have a browner crown than males and some brown on their underparts. Voice: The white-eared solitaire's song is "a single, ringing, even note" that is repeated about every 10 to 20 seconds. In the more northerly part of its range the song "tends to be a little more musical, although sounds 'rusty' " and from Cuzco Department south is "flatter, buzzier, and more nasal: zzzeeee". Its calls are "a quiet dzz and a high, ringing tseee". Its alarm call is "a low growl".