White-crested Laughingthrush
Garrulax leucolophus
Visual Identification
Appearance
The White-crested Laughingthrush is a striking bird with a distinctive white crest atop its head. Its body is primarily chestnut-brown, with a black mask extending from the beak through the eyes, contrasting sharply with its white throat and cheeks.
The wings and tail display a deeper, rufous tone. Males and females are mostly similar, with females having smaller crests, duller mantles and greyer napes. Juveniles show a duller version of adult plumage and a less prominent crest.
Size
Length
27cm to 31cm
Wingspan
35cm to 40cm
Weight
90g to 130g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
White Brown
Secondary Colour
Black Rufous
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Grey
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
White-crested Laughingthrushes inhabit tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests, favouring areas with dense undergrowth and bamboo thickets.
Their range extends from the eastern Himalayas through Southeast Asia, including parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and southern China. They have been successfully introduced to Singapore.
These birds are typically found in lowland and hill forests, adapting well to secondary growth and forest edges. They maintain year-round territories and do not migrate.
Elevation Range
Up to 2,720 meters
Climate zones
Tropical, Subtropical
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a White-crested Laughingthrush. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Quite agile, particularly when foraging on the ground and navigating dense undergrowth. Their ability to manoeuvre through bamboo thickets and forest vegetation whilst searching for food demonstrates considerable nimbleness, though they're not as acrobatic as some smaller passerines.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Moderate strength for their size, evidenced by their ability to scratch and turn over leaves effectively while foraging. Their robust build and strong legs allow them to handle prey items like small reptiles, though they're not particularly powerful compared to predatory birds.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Highly adaptable species, thriving in various forest types from lowland to hill forests up to 2,720 metres. Their omnivorous diet, ability to live in secondary growth, and successful cooperative breeding strategy demonstrate remarkable adaptability to different conditions.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Moderately aggressive, particularly when defending territory and nests. Their social nature typically promotes cooperation rather than aggression, but they maintain clear territories and will actively defend against intruders. Their handling of small prey also indicates a decent level of assertiveness.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Good endurance, maintaining active foraging behaviour throughout the day and engaging in regular vocal displays. Their ability to sustain group activities and ground-foraging behaviour requires decent stamina, though they're not known for particularly long-distance movements or extended periods of intense activity.
Diet
The White-crested Laughingthrush has an omnivorous diet. It primarily feeds on insects, including beetles, ants, and caterpillars, but also consumes small reptiles, fruits, and berries.
They often forage in groups, using their strong bills to probe the leaf litter for food.
Behaviour
White-crested Laughingthrushes are highly social, often seen in noisy groups of 6-12 individuals. They forage on the ground, using their strong legs to scratch and turn over leaves in search of food.
These birds are known for their cooperative breeding behaviour, with group members helping to raise young.
Vocalisation
The White-crested Laughingthrush is renowned for its varied and loud vocalisations. Their calls include a series of raucous, laughing notes that sound like 'haa-haa-haa-haa' or 'ko-ko-ko-ko'.
They also produce softer, melodious whistles and chattering sounds when communicating within their group.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding season for White-crested Laughingthrushes typically occurs from March to August, coinciding with the monsoon season. Pairs form strong bonds and often mate for life within their social groups.
Nests are cup-shaped structures made of twigs, leaves, and grass, usually placed in dense vegetation 1-3 meters above the ground. Females lay 2-4 pale blue eggs per clutch.
Incubation lasts about 14 days, with both parents sharing duties. Nestlings fledge after approximately 14-16 days but continue to receive care from group members for several weeks after leaving the nest.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While the White-crested Laughingthrush is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting its forest habitats and monitoring population trends across its range.
Birdwatching Tips
- Listen for their distinctive, cackling calls to locate a group
- Look for movement on the forest floor, where they often forage
- Observe early morning or late afternoon when they are most active
- Check dense undergrowth and bamboo thickets in tropical forests
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Predators
Main predators include larger birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles, as well as small carnivores like civets and martens.
Did You Know?
- White-crested Laughingthrushes are excellent mimics, capable of imitating other bird calls and even human sounds.
- They have a cooperative breeding system where non-breeding group members help raise the young.
- Despite their name, these birds are not closely related to true thrushes but belong to the babbler family.
References
- 1 3
website: BirdLife International. 2024. Garrulax leucolophus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T22734757A264217858.
View source - 2
report, 2007: del Hoyo et al.
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