Montecincla meridionalis
The Ashambu Laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis) is a striking, medium-sized songbird endemic to the southernmost Western Ghats of India, a true 'sky island' species. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm in length, it exhibits a rich, rufous-chestnut plumage on its underparts, contrasting sharply with its darker brown back and wings. Distinctive field marks include a prominent black facial mask bordered by a crisp white supercilium that extends from above the eye to the nape, and a rufous cr...
This laughingthrush inhabits dense evergreen shola forests and adjacent montane grasslands, typically at elevations above 900 meters. It prefers the thick undergrowth and forest edges.
Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including beetles, caterpillars, and other insects, supplemented by berries, seeds, and small fruits found in the undergrowth.
Ashambu Laughingthrushes are primarily diurnal, often active during the cooler parts of the day and roosting communally in dense vegetation. They are ground-foraging birds, meticulously gleaning insects from leaf litter and low vegetation, often flicking leaves with their bills. While generally s...
The Ashambu Laughingthrush is strictly endemic to a small, fragmented region within the southernmost Western Ghats of India. Its entire known range is confined to the Ashambu Hills, primarily within the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, spanning parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. It is found e...
Endangered
- The Ashambu Laughingthrush was only recognized as a distinct species in 2017, having previously been considered a subspecies of the Kerala Laughingthrush (Montecincla fairbanki). - It is a true 'sky island' species, restricted to the high-altitude, isolated forest patches of the Ashambu Hills. ...