Alternative name: Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush
- Montecincla cachinnans
Identification
20.5cm. A small laughingtrush.
- Black upper throat
- Broad black eyeline
- White supercilium
- Orange-rufous cheek, lower throat and central underparts
Distribution
Endemic to southwest India where found in a small area in the Nilgiri hills in western Tamil Nadu.
Common in its range but the population is small and decreasing as a result of habitat destruction. Classified as endangered. Mostly seen around Ooty hill station.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Banasura Laughingthrush.
Has also variously been placed in genus Strophocincla, Trochalopteron and formerly Garrulax.
Habitat
Shola forest with dense undergrowth and fringes. Also in wooded gardens, forest edge and patches of thick scrub.
Behaviour
Diet includes invertebrates, nectar, flowers, berries and fruits.
Forages on the ground, usually in pairs or groups of up to 12 birds.
Breeding season from January to July. It builds a nest of roots, dead leaves, small twigs, and lichen, neatly lined with very fine grass stems. 2 greenish-blue, with a few large and small brown blotches and streaks, eggs are laid.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. 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
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Nilgiri Laughingthrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Nilgiri_Laughingthrush
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
