Black-hooded Laughingthrush Garrulax milleti Scientific name definitions

28–30 cm. Large black, grey and white laughingthrush  . Nominate race has head to nape, ear-coverts and breast glossy blackish, feathers of forehead and above eye pointed, area behind ear-coverts white, shading into pale grey border around clear-cut black of hood, on mantle turning to dark olive-brown of upperparts; upperwings slatier and tail even darker; on belly grey shades darker, into dull olive-brown on flanks, thighs and vent; iris brown to crimson, triangular postorbital patch pale blue; bill black; legs blackish or dull plumbeous. Sexes similar. Juvenile apparently undescribed. Race <em>sweeti</em> has greyer, less brown-tinged, body and darker wings and tail than nominate.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Very loud outbursts of extended rapid cackling laughter, incorporating prolonged, rapid rattling calls , also ticking notes; very like that of G. strepitans.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Previously considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Da Lat Plateau EBA and Kontum Plateau Secondary Area (latter now becomes a full EBA with discovery of Trochalopteron ngoclinhense and Actinodura sodangorum). Confined to the Da Lat and Di Linh Plateaux in Vietnam, where locally common, and the Central Highlands of Vietnam, where fairly common around Ngoc Linh, and in Xe Kong and Attapu provinces, in Laos. As this species occurs at relatively low altitudes, it is vulnerable to habitat destruction through agricultural encroachment, charcoal-burning and fuelwood collection, particularly as the human population of the area is increasing because of government resettlement programmes. It occurs in a few protected areas, including Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area, in Laos, and Ngoc Linh, Kon Ka Kinh, Kon Cha Rang, Thuong Da Nhim and Chu Yang Sin Nature Reserves, in Vietnam; at last-mentioned site, estimated density 0·7 birds/ha, yielding total population for the reserve of 7690.