Alternative names: Ashy Laughingthrush; Black-capped Laughingthrush
- Pterorhinus cineraceus
Garrulax cineraceus
Ianthocincla cineracea
Identification
21 - 24cm (8¼-9½ in). A mid-sized, sandy-brown laughingthrush:
- Black crown
- black postocular stripe and coarse mostachial patch on whitish face
- Broad black subterminal band on tertials and tail
- Silver-grey primary edgings with blackish primary coverts
- Rather heavy, pale bill
- Pale eye
Juveniles much more rufescent overall and lacking head pattern except for postocular stripe.
Similar species
Recalls Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush but lacks dense spots and scales and has no rufous in plumage.
Distribution
Found in south China, northern Burma and northeast India.
Scarce in India, uncommon in Burma, fairly common in China.
Taxonomy
Also placed in the genus Ianthocincla and Garrulax.
Subspecies
Three subspecies[1]:
- G. c. cineraceus in north-east India (Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur) and west Burma
- G. c. strenuus in northeast Burma and south China (Yunnan)
- G. c. cinereiceps in south China (Gansu, Shanghai, Fujian, Guandgdong, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shanxi)
Cinereiceps may represent a separate species but further study is needed.
Habitat
Edges of evergreen broadleaf forest and mixed broadleaf-coniferous forest, secondary growth, abandoned cultivation, bamboo, scrub and grass. Sometimes close to villages. At 200m to 1750m in China, 1220m to 2500m in Burma and 1280m to 1830m in India.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on small beetles and other insects. Takes also seeds, berries and small fruit.
During breeding season seen in pairs, otherwise in small groups. In China often together with Chinese Hwamei. Forages mostly on the ground.
Breeding
Breeding season from March to October. The nest is a flimsy but compact cup made of moss, leaves, grasses, rootlets and fine twigs. It's placed in a bush or fork of bamboo. Lays 2 - 4 eggs. Brood parasitism by Common Hawk-Cuckoo reported in India.
Movements
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/
- 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. (2025) Moustached Laughingthrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Moustached_Laughingthrush
