One of the principal threats to the endangered black-eared miner is that they readily hybridize with yellow-throated miners where they co-exist, making some suggest that the black-eared miner should be considered a subspecies of the yellow-throated miner. However, further research has demonstrated that before dramatic alteration of the black-eared miner's preferred mallee habitat began around 1950, the two species had separable phenotypic characters, so they should be considered separate species.
The main threat to the endangered black-eared miner is its tendency to hybridize with the yellow-throated miner when they coexist. This has led some to suggest that the black-eared miner could be viewed as a subspecies of the yellow-throated miner. However, further research has shown that prior to significant changes in the black-eared miner's habitat around 1950, the two species had distinct physical characteristics, indicating they should be regarded as separate entities.