About the White-eared Sibia
The white-eared sibia is a bird in the laughingthrush family Leiothrichidae. The species is sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Malacias. It was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1864. There are no subspecies.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The white-eared sibia is an elegant, long-tailed babbler, 22 to 24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) long and weighing an average of 40–50 g (1.4–1.8 oz). The head is black with a conspicuous white stripe through the eye, and the stripe ends in long white filamentous plumes. The wings and tail are deep blue-black, with a noticeable white wingbar. The upper back and breast is dark grey, and the belly and rump are deep rufous chestnut. The bill is black and the legs brown-flesh coloured. Both the sexes are alike, and the plumage of juvenile birds hasn't been described.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Rufous SibiaHeterophasia capistrataThe rufous sibia is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae.
Beautiful SibiaHeterophasia pulchellaThe beautiful sibia is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae.
Long-tailed SibiaHeterophasia picaoidesThe long-tailed sibia is a species of Leiothrichidae from Southeast Asia.
Learn the White-eared Sibia for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.