The Streak-eared Bulbul is recorded from Thailand through southern Indochina and the northern and central Malay Peninsula. Accounts describe moist lowland forest as well as open edges and human-modified places.
It has a prominent gray-white streak behind the ear, a grayish head, brown back and wings, a pale throat, and a yellowish-brown rump.
It is reported in moist lowland forest and also in open woodland, edges, farmland, orchards, parks, and near settlements. It may occur in pairs or small groups in trees and low shrubs.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.