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Silver Eared Mesia |
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Bird Breeds:
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DESCRIPTION
7 inches (18cm). Orange-yellow underparts, blending into red throat, rump
and undertail. Yellow on brown folded wing, mantle olive with red, black
crown. Legs brownish, beak yellow, eyes red. Female lacks red throat and
rump, is duller on yellow.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
Eastern Nepal through Indo-China to Sumatra.
HABITAT
Mountain forests, except in winter, when it descends to lower terrain,
joining other birds. Flocks up to 10, feeding on insects or fruit near
ground.
DIET
Mealworm, ant pupae, millet, canary-grass seed, maw seed, hemp, chopped
boiled egg, berries, banana slices, chopped apple or pear, soaked raisins,
soaked stale bread and grit, lettuce, spinach, chickweed.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Male's full, deep call and song too loud for indoors.
CAGE LIFE
Good breeder, generally tolerant of other birds in large community aviary.
Pair builds free cup-shaped nest together, between twigs, preferably in
thick small bushes or shrubs. Line with dry bamboo leaves, roots (prefers
coloured ones) and moss. In aviary, also uses canary 'string nests' with
coconut fibres, roots and maybe bamboo leaves. Breeds April to August.
Lays 3 to 4 light green-blue eggs with red-brown and brown markings mostly
at blunt end. Incubation 14 days by both parents, mainly female, fledging
13 to 14 days.
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Pet Sites
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