M. melanotis lives mainly in the Murray Mallee region in Southern Australia
M. melanotis lives mainly in the Murray Mallee region in Southern Australia (Threatened Species, 2005, para. 2). A few birds can be found in the northwestern Victoria with the greatest numbers found in the Murray Sunset, NP. In NSW, it lives in the mallee in the Scotia region. Before the reduction in number, the species might have been present in the mallee region throughout southwest NSW.
Black-eared Miners are mainly found in large tracts of mature mallee with a post fire age greater than 25 years although they prefer a mallee vegetation that has not been burned for the past 50 years. They feed mainly on arthropods such as grasshoppers, weevils, spiders, ants, and flies. During breeding periods, the birds live in colonies of between 8 and 40. Breeding is usually opportunistic and may occur when conditions are fitting, however, highest breeding rates occur between September and December.
Researchers have disagreed over the taxonomy of this bird with some considering it a variant of M. flavigula. The birds are co-operative breeders (individuals assist in caring for the young that are not their own), live in large flocks during the breeding season, and separate during non-breeding periods.
