Silver eared mesia (Leiothrix argentauris) is found from northern India east across SE Asia to southern China. This is also found south to Sumatra. This 6.5 inch bird has a black head. There is an orange spot on the forehead and a white area behind the eye. The throat and upper breast is orange, and the middle and lower breast is yellow. The back is brownish, but the dorsal side of the tail has a bright red area. The gray-brown tail has yellow edges. The wings are brown, and the dorsal leading edge of the outer wing is reddish with some yellow.

There are 10 subspecies. The nominate subspecies, Leiothrix argentauris argentauris, is found in the Himalayan area in places like Nepal and Assam. The subspecies aureigularis is found from southern Assam to south western Myanmar. The subspecies vernayi is found from northeastern Assam to southern China. The subspecies galbana is found from eastern Myanmar (Burma) east into Thailand.

The subspecies ricketti is found from southern China into northern Indochina. The subspecies rubrogularis is found in southern China. The subspecies cunhaci is found in southern Laos.

The subspecies rahanensis is found in highlands in Malaysia. The subspecies rookmakeri is found in mountains in northern Sumatra. The subspecies laurinae is found in the mountains of southern Sumatra.

The genus Leiothrix is found from India south through SE Asia to Malaysia and Sumatra. This genus is also found east into central and southern China. There are two species in the genus. Both species are rather colorful.

Babblers (Family Timaliidae) are a group of Old World birds that contain some small wren-like birds, and also some larger species that are as large as jays. There are 280 species in this family. The family is also represented in North America.

In most modern bird taxonomies, the perching birds (Passeriformes) is treated as a single order. This large order has about 5739 different species. Recently, Monroe and Sibley in 1993 have divided this large order into six main divisions. To help our users navigate this gigantic number of species, we have arbitrarily placed these 6 different divisions at the order level.

This division can be referred to as:
Order Passeriformes (5739 species)
Suborder Passeri (4580 species)
Parvorder Passerida (3473 species)
Superfamily Sylvioidea (1204 species)

In most modern bird taxonomies, the perching birds (Passeriformes) is treated as a single order. This large order has about 5739 different species. A common characteristic of this order is three forward toes and one reverse pointing toe. Most of species are also characterized by a tendon locking mechanism that permits their feet to lock onto branches when they relax. Recently, Monroe and Sibley in 1993 have divided this large order into six main divisions. To help our users navigate this gigantic number of species, we have arbitrarily placed these 6 different divisions at the order level.

This division can be referred to as:
Order Passeriformes (5739 species)
Suborder Passeri (4580 species)
Parvorder Passerida (3473 species)

This large Passerida group can be divided into 3 additional groups as follows:
Superfamily Muscicapoidea (613)
Superfamily Sylvioidea (1204)
Superfamily Passeroidea (1656) 613 + 1204 + 1656 =3473

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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