White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus Scientific name definitions

26–31 cm; 108–131 g. Large chestnut-and-brown laughingthrush with white hood, crest and breast and broad black mask; long erectile crown feathers frequently raised to form crest. Nominate race has crown white, nape mid-grey (forming grey band when crest lowered), lores, cheek and ear-coverts black (forming broad elongate mask); mantle and back dull rufous-chestnut, shading into olive-brown posteriorly and on upperwing, slatier tail; throat and upper breast white, tinged pale grey at breast side, chestnut of mantle extending across lower breast and merging on upper belly into rufescent olive-brown rest of underparts; iris brown to dark crimson, orbital skin pale bluish-slate; bill slate-black or horn-black; legs dark slate-lead to blackish-green. Sexes similar, but male may be brighter rufous above. Juvenile has shorter crest and more ashy-brown nape; may be more rufescent above, particularly on wing fringes. Race patkaicus is like nominate, but generally has more extensive and slightly darker chestnut on mantle; <em>belangeri</em> has entire upperparts below nape rufous-chestnut, black of lores extends narrowly across lower forehead, white of throat and upper breast extends onto belly and merges with rufous-chestnut of flanks and lower belly (rather than being sharply delineated below upper breast), remaining underparts chestnut; <em>diardi</em> is like last, but slightly stronger rufous-chestnut above, with pale grey hindcollar, still more extensive white below, to lower belly, with dull rufous-brown on flanks, thighs and vent.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

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 and mixed deciduous forest, disturbed, secondary and regenerating forest, scrub, bamboo-jungle, overgrown abandoned cultivation, plantations and gardens near forest; lowlands to 2135 m, typically below 1600 m.

Mainly insects , including beetles (of families Buprestidae, Elateridae, Rutelidae, Passalidae and Cerambycidae), and spiders (Araneae), berries and seeds; also small reptiles and flower nectar. Generally in lower to middle storeys. Forages mostly on ground, hacking at earth and tossing aside leaves in search of invertebrates; changes place in bounding hops. Noisy and gregarious at all seasons, in flocks of 6–12, sometimes up to 40, individuals, often associating with other (notably necklaced) laughingthrushes in bird waves; in Bhutan flocks of up to 20 occur Dec–Feb, but generally only up to five Mar–Jul and then up to ten Aug–Nov.

Very vociferous. Varied sounds from different flock-members combine to produce sudden, very loud outbursts of extended cackling laughter, typically involving rapid chattering and repetitive double-note phrases; outbursts often introduced by a few subdued “ow” or “u’ow” or “u’ah” notes, and often fade out, a single individual continuing to mutter subdued low notes such as staccato, hoarse “ker-wíck-erwíck”. Sometimes less co-ordinated choruses spring up and peter out in seeming disorder.

Not globally threatened. Generally common. Common and widespread in Nepal. In Bhutan abundant in the Sunkosh, C & E valleys, and in foothills, and present in Thrumshingla National Park; probably most abundant at 1000–1600 m, but at 1600–1900 m recorded density of 1 breeding pair/1 km of road. Common and widespread in NE India, where as many as 33·3 birds/km² in hill forest in Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal), and present in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Namdapha and Mouling National Parks (all Arunachal Pradesh), Kaziranga National Park (Assam), and Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary and Dampa Tiger Reserve (Mizoram); in W of Indian range, seen intermittently in Rajaji National Park (Uttar Pradesh), disappeared in 1977 from New Forest campus at Dehra Dun, and uncommon in Dehra Dun valley, but common in Corbett National Park (Uttaranchal Pradesh). Locally common in SE Bangadesh. Common across SE Asian range. Common in Khao Yai National Park, in Thailand . Common in Cambodia at least before 1970. Common in Xe Pian National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), Phou Khaokhoay, Phou Xang He, Xe Bang Nouan and Dong Hua Sao NBCAs, in Laos, and in various other areas of the country, including part of Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA; and present in Phou Xiang Thong NBCA. In Vietnam, common in Cuc Phuong, Bach Ma and Nam Bai Cat Tien National Parks, and present in Na Hang Nature Reserve, Chu Yang Sin Nature Reserve, and in twelve protected areas in the Annamese lowlands. Common feral resident in Singapore, originating from escaped captives (2 Wong Soon Huat Felix (2014). The spread and relative abundance of the non-native White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus and Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata in Singapore. Forktail. 30: 90–95. Close ).