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Laughingthrushes - Timaliidae |
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Laughingthrushes [24 cm] are large sized version of Babblers [14 cm]. Having the same behavior like Babblers, these are noisy birds and especially this group of birds are characterized by laughing calls. Laughingthrushes also has the tendency to gather and roam in groups. There are about 38 species of Laughingthrushes and almost all found in tropical Asia with the greatest number of species occurring in the region of south eastern slopes of the Himalayas. The 5 species seen in Malaysia are:- |
| Sunda Laughing-thrush | Garrulax palliatus |
| White-crested Laughing-thrush | Garrulax leucolophus |
| Black Laughing-thrush | Garrulax lugubris |
| Chestnut-capped Laughing-thrush | Garrulax mitratus |
| Chestnut-crowned Laughing-thrush | Garrulax erythrocephalus |
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The other birds which could be sighted in Malaysia and grouped into this family Timaliidae, are:-
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Laughingthrushes are good sized land birds for viewing. Most species have floppy tail and soft fluffy plumage. Their legs are strong for hopping and do spend a fair bit of time foraging on the ground. Their wings re short and rounded for short flights within the dense lower storey as most species are jungle birds. |
1. Black Laughingthrush Garrulax lugubris
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The Black Laughingthrush is also a large bird at 27 cm and also a resident of Sumatra. This is a bird of the sub-montane forest. A very shy bird which sometimes goes with the flock of Chestnut-capped but usually alone in the undergrowth. Had seen the bird in a flock of 8 birds as well. There is a proposal to start a new genus Melanocichla for this bird and a new name Melanocichla lugubris This is a very shy bird that is often heard but seldom seen. Its presence could be detected by the calls or watch carefully at a marauding flock of Laughingthrushes. In fact they should be available where the other Laughingthrushes are. Places like Awana, Frasers Hills and even The Gap. Not surprising that the Black Laughingthrush do behave like a ground bird as well. |
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2. Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush Garrulax mitratus
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The Laughingthrushes is 24 cm long originates from Sumatra and a very common resident of the Malaysian sub-montane forest. A new genus "Rhinocichla" would be started for this bird and the designation of Rhinocichla mitrata or Spectacled Laughingthrush would be used. I need not elaborate on the sighting of this birds as they are readily available. I wish I could get more information to indentify the females and the juveniles.. Below in photo No.23 is the clue to ID the juvenile. |
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3. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus peninsulae
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This Laughingthrush is around 27 cm long but the whole bird appears broader and larger. This is a resident of the Himalayas foothills in India and China. In Malaysia it has taken up resident in the montane region and a common bird. In the splitting process, a new genus "Trochalopteron" would be introduced and the new name given to this bird would Trochalopteron peninsulae and the common name Malayan Laughingthrush. Very so often I had seen the bird foraging on the ground. Walking out suddenly from the bushes and returning into the bushes the same way. Many photos below also confirm that point as the birds had their pictures taken while on the ground. Unlike the Chestnut-capped which were seen frequently, the Chestnut-crowned was hardly encountered as there was no reason for them to stay in the open other than the reason of picking up their meals. So find a spot in the montane environment where they look for food. Sure the birds could be spotted with ease. Like all Laughingthrushes, their continuous calls will signal their presence. |
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When birding the quietness of the forest was needed to trace the calls of birds. This endless repetition of calls from the Laughingthrushes would be interruptive. But it is also these calls that motivates the formation of bird waves though not always. The Laughingthrush covers vegetation at the rate and styles that the smaller birds may not follow. Overall I still would welcome their presence. |
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