Silver-eared Mesia (Leiothrix argentauris)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Silver-eared Mesia

Leiothrix argentauris (Hodgson, 1837)

≈17 cmLength28 gWeight

When foraging, it often forms large flocks of up to 30 birds, feeding mostly near the ground.

Busiest months: February–March · Most records: China, Malaysia, Thailand

Least Concern

How to identify

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: February–March · Most records: China, Malaysia, Thailand

Silver-eared Mesia has been recorded at 105 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 9 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Tai Po Kau Nature ReserveHong Kong (China)1,769 records
  2. Bukit FraserMalaysia1,514 records
  3. Tai Lam Country ParkHong Kong (China)491 records
More places
  1. Doi Inthanon NPThailand458 records
  2. Pat Heung Catchwater, Tai LamHong Kong (China)445 records
  3. Doi Pha Hom Pok NP – Doi AngkhangThailand402 records
  4. Doi Inthanon NP – Mae Ouam (Km 34.5)Thailand354 records
  5. Bukit Fraser – Former Jelai Highland Resort AreaMalaysia287 records
  6. Doi Pha Hom Pok NP – Doi Angkhang Royal Agricultural StationThailand267 records
  7. Bukit Fraser – Telekom LoopMalaysia258 records

Countries and regions with the most records

ChinaMalaysiaThailandBhutanMyanmar (Burma)IndiaCambodiaLaos

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

Questions

How big is the Silver-eared Mesia?

The Silver-eared Mesia is about ≈17 cm long and weighs around 28 g.

Where does the Silver-eared Mesia live?

Its breeding range: Oriental: Himalayas to Sumatra. It is most often recorded in China, Malaysia and Thailand.

When is the best time to see the Silver-eared Mesia?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in February and March (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Silver-eared Mesia endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Silver-eared Mesia as Least Concern.

What does the Silver-eared Mesia eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Silver-eared Mesia in?

It belongs to the family Laughingthrushes & Allies (Leiothrichidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
≈17 cm
Weight
28 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
74 mm
Tail
75 mm
Bill
17 mm
Tarsus
25 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Oriental: Himalayas to Sumatra

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Subspecies · 3
  • Leiothrix argentauris argentauris c, e Himalayas, n Myanmar and sw China
  • Leiothrix argentauris vernayi ne Assam (ne India), n Myanmar and s China
  • Leiothrix argentauris ricketti s China and n Indochina

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Laughingthrushes & Allies Leiothrichidae
Genus
Leiothrix

Other birds in the genus Leiothrix

Red-billed LeiothrixRed-billed LeiothrixLeiothrix luteaBrown-cheeked FulvettaBrown-cheeked FulvettaAlcippe poioicephalaBlack-browed FulvettaBlack-browed FulvettaAlcippe groteiBrown FulvettaBrown FulvettaAlcippe brunneicaudaJavan FulvettaJavan FulvettaAlcippe pyrrhopteraNepal FulvettaNepal FulvettaAlcippe nipalensisDavid's FulvettaDavid's FulvettaAlcippe davidiHuet's FulvettaHuet's FulvettaAlcippe huetiGrey-cheeked FulvettaGrey-cheeked FulvettaAlcippe morrisoniaYunnan FulvettaYunnan FulvettaAlcippe fratercula
Silver-eared Mesia

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/). ↗

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