Alternative name: Père David's Laughingthrush; Peking Laughingthrush; David's Babbler
- Pterorhinus davidi
Garrulax davidi
Identification
23 - 25cm (9-9¾ in). A medium-sized, featureless laughingthrush.
- Plain grey-brown
- Curved yellow bill
- Grey wingpanel
- Blackish tail
Distribution
Found in northern and central China.
Relatively uncommon in large range.
Taxonomy
This species is sometimes placed in the genus Pterorhinus or in Ianthocincla.
Subspecies
Two to four subspecies recognized[1]:
- P. d. davidi in north-central and northeast China
- P. d. concolor in northern Sichuan and adjacent Qinghai
Clements also recognizes chinganicus in Manchuria and experrectus in Gansu but differences are negligible or even undetectable in larger samples. Therefore these two subspecies should be merged with the nominate.
Habitat
Scrub-forest, thickets and low bushes. Often found along streams or rivers, also in moor-like terrain. Found between 1600m to 3300m, occasionally lower.
Behaviour
Usually seen in pairs or small groups of 3 to 7 birds.
Diet
Feeds on insects, also on fruit and various seeds.
Breeding
Breeding season from April to September. The nest is an untidy, shallow cup made of dry grass, dead leaves and small twigs and roots. It's placed low in a bush. Lays 3 - 6 eggs.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Plain Laughingthrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Plain_Laughingthrush
