Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush Pterorhinus treacheri Scientific name definitions

22–24 cm. Nominate race has chin, area around bill base, lores, narial feathering and supercilium chestnut, forehead, forecrown and area from chin to below eye darker chestnut, pointed feathers of forecrown greyish-white; neck side and upperparts slightly ochraceous mid-grey, upperwing and tail slightly darker, long white wingpanel on outer primaries, tail with blackish tip; throat , breast and upper belly dull greyish-tinged buffy ochre with dull buffy shaft streaks, flanks greyer, lower belly, thighs and vent rufous-chestnut; iris red to reddish-brown, bright yellow orbital skin below and behind eye; bill yellowish-brown to dull orange; legs dirty yellow to yellow. Differs from very similar P. mitratus in having narial feathering, lores and superciliary area slightly paler, clearer chestnut, eyering only on lower and rear edge of eye and bright yellow (not white), chestnut of ear-coverts extending up towards nape, feathers of forecrown greyer, upper malar and chin chestnut, upperparts purer grey, underparts paler ochrous with vague pale shaft streaks. Sexes similar. Juvenile presumably duller than adult. Race <em>damnatus</em> is like nominate, but breast less streaked and less tinged ochre; griswoldi has richer-coloured vent.

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Until recently considered conspecific with P. mitratus. Three subspecies recognized.

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.

Broadleaf evergreen forest, forest edge, disturbed and secondary forests and adjoining cultivation, low growth in old rice fields; generally at 200–2800 m, but reaching 3350 m.

Resident.

Grasshoppers and crickets (Orthoptera), ants (Formicidae), earwigs (Dermaptera), caterpillars, moths (Lepidoptera), leafhoppers (Cicadellidae), larval bugs taken and shaken from “spittle”, small black beetles (Coleoptera), muscid and non-muscid flies; also small millipedes (Diplopoda); also flowers and fruits of Rhodamnia, fruits of Medinilla and other melastomes, Glochidion and Macaranga, Trema cannabina, Embelia ribes, Sambucus, petals and sepals of introduced Passiflora edulis. Creeps and hops within a few metres of ground, but sometimes enters canopy. Forages in parties of 4–5 or more individuals; forms mixed foraging flocks with Garrulax palliatus and other birds, tree-shrews (Tupaia) and ground-squirrels (Dremomys) on ground and with Sundasciurus squirrels in canopy. Hops up sloping boughs in manner of a woodpecker (Picidae), but not using tail for support, and picks insects off surface; clings to vertical substrates such as tree-fern trunks. Will forage on forest floor and lawns in manner of Turdus thrush, tail held cocked; takes grounded flying ants, and exloits road-killed or vehicle-damaged insects.

Song a fluty, sometimes quite high-noted series of phrases with lower, slightly clicky introductory notes, e.g. “chu-wu, chwi-wi-wi-wi-wiee-wiu-wu” or “ch-wu, ch-wu, chwi-wi-wi-wi-wiu” and “ch-wu, chwi-wi”; also “wiu-wu-wu-wi-wi-wee-wu” (rising “wi” notes and descending last 2 notes), and even-pitched “wi, wi-wi-wi-wi” or “wu-tuwu-tuwu” or “ri’-ri’-ri’” interspersed with “to-we-oh to-we-oh”. Has low, harsh, hoarse scolding call notes; contact call within flock a soft, complaining, descending “ah-ah-ah-ah”, these notes sometimes given singly.

Feb–Apr and Oct. Nest a loose cup of grass stems, tendrils, dead leaves and roots with no inner lining, with outer layer of leaf skeletons, fern leaves and a few feathers, placed c. 3–9 m above ground in long mass of creepers or tangle of ferns hanging from small tree. Clutch 2 eggs, bright greenish-blue or blue. No other information.

Not assessed. Abundant in mountains of Borneo. Common in Sabah, including in Mount Kinabalu National Park; present in Kayan Mentarang National Park, in E Kalimantan.