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Nilgiri Laughingthrush - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 19:38, 16 March 2022 by KeithDickinson-10828 (talk | contribs) (added Gsearch-checked)
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Photo by atanumondal
Ooty, South India, October 2005

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

  1. 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/
  2. Avibase
  3. 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
  4. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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