Pere David's Laughingthrush Pterorhinus davidi Scientific name definitions

23–25 cm; 52–69 g. A medium-sized featureless laughingthrush, plain grey-brown with curved yellow bill, grey wingpanel and mostly blackish tail. Nominate race has crown and upperparts uniform brownish mid-grey with faint pinkish-lavender tinge, upperwing slightly darker with grey edges of inner primaries, tail as wing basally but becoming blackish on distal third; long narrow bristles overlap nostril, lores and feathers above and below eye mottled blackish and thinly whitish (especially over eye), supercilium from eye to over ear-coverts paler and buffier than upperparts, ear-coverts as upper­parts; bristly chin blackish-brown, submous­tachial area and upper throat pale brownish-grey with dark brown shaft streaks, underparts pale brownish-grey, slightly darker on flanks and vent; iris greyish-brown to light brown; bill bright yellow, culmen and tip dull yellowish-green; legs dark reddish-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile is slightly browner than adult. Race <em>concolor</em> is slightly greyer and less brown overall 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.

Scrub-forest, thickets and low bushes, often along streams, willows and bushes along rivers and on hills near rivers, moor-like terrain, mountain slopes, brushwood and scrub oak on dry hillsides; at 1600–3300 m, occasionally down to 800 m.

Resident.

Insects, including scaly-winged insects, grubs, also fruit and various seeds, including cultivated millet (Pennisetum glaucum); mostly vegetable matter and seeds in winter. Forages in pairs or in small parties of 3–7 individuals.

Song loud, sweet and warbling, varied and melodious, “wiau wa-wíkwíkwík woitwoitwoitwoit”. Usual call a musical “di dio dio”, and for contact and alarm a series of “wiau” notes.

Apr–Sept; multi-brooded. Nest an untidy, shallow cup, made of dry grass blades and stems, dead leaves, small twigs and roots, lined with very fine rootlets and fibres or grass stems and feathers, placed in low bush. Clutch 3–6 eggs, plain turquoise-blue. No other information available.

Not globally threatened. Considered to be relatively uncommon throughout large range.