Brown-capped Laughingthrush Trochalopteron austeni Scientific name definitions

24 cm; 59–74 g. Medium-sized rich brown laughingthrush with white scales below . Nominate race has crown to nape rich rufous-chestnut with indistinct pale buffy shaft streaks, shading paler and browner on mantle (where shaft streaks disappear) and warm brown on remaining upperparts; upper­wing with whitish-tipped chestnut greater coverts, whitish-edged outer primaries and broad rufous-chestnut wing fringing, whitish tips of tertials; chestnut central tail with heavily graduated, whitish-tipped dark brown outer feathers; head side and neck side, chin and throat rich rufous-chestnut, vague whitish flecks on submoustachial area and small whitish streaks on neck side; breast and upper flanks warm brown with bold whitish scaling, this dominating on belly (which becomes mainly whitish), with lower flanks, thighs and vent white-peppered ochrous grey-brown; iris umber to whitish-brown or greyish-brown; bill black; legs pale pinkish-grey to brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile is slightly paler below than adult, with broader but less contrasting whitish scaling, and has small, pointed white tail tips. Race <em>victoriae</em> has whitish scaling and mottling extending onto throat and lower head side, with brown of plumage slightly olive-tinged.

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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.

Sings  with repeated loud clear jolly phrases, including “whit-wee-wi-weeoo”, “whichi-wi-chooee”, “whi-chi-weeoo” and “whiwiwi-weeee-weeoo”, sometimes more rapid “whi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-weee”; songs often accompanied (presumably by female) with fairly harsh “jee-jee-jee” or “jee-jee…jee-jee…”. Songs have been described also as e.g. “fweétfwufuwhééo” (first note steeply upslurred, second short and lower, third starting and ending low, prolonged, and upslurred and then downslurred), “fwittittééwtéw” (first note short and low, second short and highest, last 2 longer and slurred, tumbling successively lower), and as more prolonged but subdued versions, and as very distinct, crescendoing “fwit, fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit-fuwééééít!” (quick, clipped “fwit” notes). Calls include subdued but harsh “grrrret-grrrret-grrrret…” in alarm.