Meet the Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush:
The chestnut-hooded laughingthrush (Pterorhinus treacheri) measures around 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) in length and exhibits sexual dimorphism, with both males and females having distinct features. The head and chin are chestnut brown, and the upper parts and the side of the neck are slaty-grey. A long white wing patch is present on the primaries. The throat, breast, and upper belly are dull yellowish-brown, while the flanks are purer grey. The lower belly, thighs, and vent are reddish-brown. The tail is darker grey with a blackish tip. A yellow half eye-ring is found behind and below the eye. The bill is dull orange to yellowish-brown, and the legs are yellowish.
Juvenile chestnut-hooded laughingthrushes are duller than adults.
Related reading:
– A Stunning-looking, Heavily Striated Bird, Possessing Somewhat Interesting, Highly Peculiar Calls!
There are subspecies with slight variations in plumage coloration, such as P. t. damnatus and P. t. griswoldi.
This bird species is endemic to Borneo. It was initially described as a separate species in 1879 by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe.
This species primarily inhabits montane and hill forests, forest edges, disturbed vegetation, and cultivated areas within the mountainous regions of Borneo. It can be found at elevations ranging from 200 m (660 ft) to 3,350 m (10,990 ft).
Chestnut-hooded laughingthrushes are omnivorous and feed on arthropods, fruits, and flowers. They forage in small groups and often join mixed-species foraging flocks.
Breeding typically occurs from February to April and in October. The nest is cup-shaped and made of grass, tendrils, leaves, and roots. It is usually suspended from a small tree in a mass of creepers or ferns. Clutches consist of two glossy, bright blue to greenish-blue eggs.
Despite habitat destruction and fragmentation, the chestnut-hooded laughingthrush is currently classified as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its extensive range and relatively stable population. However, ongoing monitoring is needed to assess any changes in its conservation status.
