Silver Eared Mesia

Location: Fraser Hill, Pahang, Malaysia. Date: Sept 2011 Time 8.38 am

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The Silver-eared Mesia weighs about 15.14 gm. The total body length for all babblers is from 16.5-18 cm. Both male and female birds are olive on the dorsal aspect and yellow on the ventral aspect. The crown area is black, ear patches are silver, and there is minimal crimson color on the tail. The bill of both the male and female is yellow and made of culmen, an upper and lower mandible is present. The patches on the female's forehead, throat, and breast area are duller than the male's. The yellow colored area on the abdomen of the female is smaller than the male's. Females have light yellow under-tail coverts, lighter red-dish wing-patches, and a duller yellow fringes to the flying feathers than males'. Adult and juvenile Silver-eared Mesias resemble one another. The juvenile's slightly faded body color, and lessened black sheen on the head, differs from the adult bird. The eyes nearly touch in the median plane of the skull and can weigh as much as, or more than the brain. The outside pinna of the ear is missing and is replaced with ear coverts. Birds in the babbler family have strong legs and feet. There are three front toes (inner front toe, central front toe, and outer front toe) and one hind toe (hallux) on each foot.

DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

Silver-eared Mesias are distributed from the Eastern Himalayas to Western China, ranging South, down through Indo-China to Malaysia and Sumatra. They also reside in North, Northeast Indian subcontinent, Southwest China and Southeast Tibet. They live in bushes on the edge of broadleaved forest, secondary growth, jungle and scrub at elevations of 500-2,000m.

BEHAVIOR:

Silver-eared Mesias become uneasy when they are alone in captivity. They are easily trained to become tame in an aviary environment. In one observed captive group, a pair of male and female elders encaged with a younger mixed sex pair demonstrated territoriality. The two cocks were observed singing in a competitive fashion. Eventually the elder cock stopped singing altogether and the younger cock continued singing. Once the eggs were laid by the elder pair, the younger cock pushed the eggs down from the nest and pecked holes in them. Their calls are very loud and the whistle is instantaneous, like that of an alarm, when they are trapped or chased. While singing they repeat "che tchu-tchu che-rit" or "che chu chiwi chwa". The sound is pleasant and the spacing is obvious. A flat "pe-pe-pe-pe-pe" resembles a flute. They prefer small flocks and travel in groups of 6 to 30 birds. They sleep closely together and groom each other frequently. They mate for life. The cock's breeding song is a very loud call with five notes and the "churr" is soft. When they begin to nest the black color of the end of their bill turns clear ivory. While the eggs are incubating under the hen at night, the cock sits near by on another twig or on the edge of the nest. The cock will at times, sit between the hen and rim of nest. Chicks can find food on their own at three weeks, but are fed by parents up to one month of age. At 12 days of age, chicks are able to fly about three feet in distance. Male chicks try to sing once six to seven weeks old.

DIET:

Silver-eared Mesias prey upon insects and some plant material. Vegetables and certain fruit are eaten when available, and they search for berries under bushes. Worms are not in their diet. In captivity they will eat grapes, blueberries, raspberries, apple and orange slices, peanut butter and margarine sandwiches, flowers, and buds. The cock will feed the juveniles captured insects.

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:

Three to four large eggs are laid at a time. They usually hatch 13 days after the hen starts sitting on them. The average size of an egg is 21.75 x 16mm (7/8 x 5/8") weighing 3.25g. Chicks leave the nest at 12 days of age and can feed on their own once they are three weeks old.

CONSERVATION STATUS:

Leiothrix argentauris is listed in the CITES Appendix II. Appendix II has a list of species that will possibly become extinct if trade is not thoroughly managed. If purchased legally the species is allowed to be traded. Various organizations are making efforts to trade captive breeds instead of wild birds for pet trade.