- Montecincla fairbanki
Identification
20.5cm. A small laughingthrush.
- Dull olive-brown above
- Greyish-brown crown
- Narrow brown eye-stripe
- White supercilium
- Greyish cheek, upper breast and throat
- Rusty-chestnut belly and vent
Distribution
Asia: Endemic to southwest India. Found in the Palni and Anaimalai hills and northern Kerala.
Restricted-range species, fairly easy to see in certain places like Munnar.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Ashambu Laughingthrush.
Has also variously been placed in genus Strophocincla, Trochalopteron and formerly Garrulax.
Habitat
Scrub and secondary forest, thickets along streams in tea and cardamon plantations, sometimes gardens, edges of broadleaf forest. Recorded at 800 - 2135m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, berries and fruit.
Forages in undergrowth and low bushes, usually in groups of 6 to 14 birds, sometimes more.
Breeding season from December to June. The nest is a cup made of coarse grasses, moss and bracken leaves. It's placed in a bush or among tall brackens up to 3m high. Lays 2 eggs.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Palani Laughingthrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Palani_Laughingthrush
