Alternative name: Père David's Laughingthrush; Peking Laughingthrush; David's Babbler
- Garrulax davidi
Identification
23 - 25cm. A medium-sized, featurless laughingthrush.
- Plain grey-brown
- Curved yellow bill
- Grey winpanel
- Blackish tail
Distribution
Found in northern and central China.
Relatively uncommon in large range.
Taxonomy
Two to four subspecies recognized:
- G. d. davidi in north-central and northeast China
- G. d. concolor in northern Sichuan and adjacent Qinghai
Clements also recognizes chinganicus in Manchuria and experrectus in Gansu but differences are negligible or even undetectable in larger samples. Therefore this two subspecies should be merged with the nominate.
This species is sometimes placed in the genus Pterorhinus.
Habitat
Scrub-forest, thickets and low bushes. Often found along streams or rivers, also in moor-like terrain. Found between 1600m to 3300m, occasionally lower.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, also on fruit and various seeds.
Usually seen in pairs or small groups of 3 to 7 birds.
Breeding season from April to September. The nest is an untidy, shallow cup made of dry grass, dead leaves and small twigs and roots. It's placed low in a bush. Lays 3 - 6 eggs.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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) Plain Laughingthrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 December 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Plain_Laughingthrush
