From Opus

Alternative names: Plain-coloured Laughingthrush; Plain Laughingthrush

Garrulax subunicolor

[edit] Identification

23 - 25.5 cm. A medium-sized, dull laughingthrush.

• Dusky olive plumage entirely scaled with black
• Head slatier with obscured scales
• Striking golden panels in wings and tail-sides
• Dark shortish bill

Juveniles are warmer coloured and less distinctive scaled.

[edit] Similar species

Can be confused with Blue-winged Laughingthrush but lacks chestnut-and-dark wing and tail patterns of the latter.

[edit] Distribution

Found in the Himalayas from central Nepal east over Bhutan and northeast India to north Burma, southern China and extreme north Vietnam.
Common in parts of its range.

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies recognized:

• G. s. subunicolor from central Nepal to northeast India and adjacent Tibet
• G. s. griseatum in north and northeast Burma and south China (Yunnan)
• G. s. fooksi in south China (Yunnan) and northern Vietnam

This species is sometimes placed in the genus Trochalopteron.

[edit] Habitat

Braodleaf evergreen forest with thick undergrowth, secondary growth, bramble and rhododendron thickets, bamboo. Found from 1500m to 4000m.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects, snails and berries. Also noted at flowers.
Forages on or near the ground, usually not very shy. Seen in pairs or groups of up to 10 or more birds.
Breeding season from April to August. The nest is a cupe made of grass and moss. It's placed close to the ground in a bush or sapling. Lays 3 - 4 eggs.
Resident species with some elevational movement.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. 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
3. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

• List of references

[edit] External Links