Silver-eared Mesia is a stunning small bird of the Himalayan foothills and surrounding parts of Southeast Asia. Its yellow breast, olive green back, black crown and silver ear patches make it unmistakably stunning.Here at The Corbett Rajae Homestay in the center of the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve (north edge of Jim Corbett National Park), we are delighted to point out its significance because Rathuadhab is the westernmost stronghold of this species within the Himalayas — making a stay here particularly significant for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers.
Based on global statistics from Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird Status & Trends, Silver-eared Mesia strongholds occur throughout northern and eastern India, Bhutan, Myanmar and southern China, with sporadic altitudinal movements. Although there are records in the Eastern Himalayas, its presence in the western Himalayan region — like Uttarakhand — is relatively rare. Rathuadhab in the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve is where bird enthusiasts have spotted this species between 15 October and March, one of the only places in the western Himalayas where this is possible. This window is the same as what we refer to as the “Silver-eared Mesia season”. By coming to The Corbett Rajae Homestay at this time, you have a good chance of seeing this species in one of its most westerly known ranges — a highlight for birding tourists.
Size & appearance: Approximately 15–18 cm long. Both have olive upperparts, yellow underparts, a striking red wing patch, black crown and characteristic silver ear-patches (“silver-eared”) which provide the species with its name.
Flocking behaviour: They frequently forage in vocal groups of 5–30, occasionally in mixed-species “waves” in the understorey.
Diet: Mainly insects and their larvae, supplemented with fruit and sometimes seeds. Insect remains were reported in 87% of faecal samples and fruit remains in 97% in Hong Kong (where introduced).
Breeding: Male and female contribute cooperatively to nesting; the nest is a bamboo/leaf cup that is usually at ground level or up to an altitude of ~2 m high. Clutches of 2–5 eggs (4 in India are common) are deposited; incubation takes ~13-14 days; fledging ~12 days.
In its core habitat, the Silver-eared Mesia inhabits dense montane forests, bamboo-thickets, well-vegetated ravines and occasionally secondary growth. Altitudinal movements have been recorded — for example, some winter-migrant behaviour in Nameri National Park, Assam.
At Rathuadhab, the western-north Himalayan zone’s habitat provides a special niche: serene forest edges, mixed broad-leaf/bamboo understorey and less crowds. That’s exactly what makes the location particularly inviting for this species and for off-beat birders.
Best time: Mid-October through February is peak for Silver-eared Mesia sightings in Rathuadhab.
Booking: Contact us via phone at 9411561965 (Shivang) or 9412052189 (Sanjay) or book directly through our site.Festival: The Kalagarh Nature Festival, 18–21 December 2025 (3 nights/4 days) priced at ₹13,500 per person (stay, food & activities included) is ideal for bird-watchers.
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