Abstract: A row crop harvester, such as a corn head, has a plurality of forwardly extending gathering members adapted to move between adjacent rows of row planted crops as the harvester advances, and each gathering member includes a hood-like downwardly and forwardly inclined shield structure having forwardly converging sides tapered to a forward gathering point. Removably mounted on top of the shield structure is a shield extension or ear saver that includes an upright inverted U-shaped support, the opposite ends of which are receivable in upright sockets on the opposite sides of the shield structure, a rear panel coplaner with the support and closing the interior thereof, the rear panel having a lower edge abutting the top of the shield structure, and a front panel that is generally semiconical in shape and extends forwardly and downwardly from the support, the apex of the front panel abutting the top of the shield structure.