Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus treacheri

The Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus treacheri) is a striking and endemic passerine of Borneo's montane forests, captivating birders with its distinctive appearance and rich vocal repertoire. Measuring approximately 23-25 cm in length and weighing around 55-65 grams, its most prominent feature is the deep chestnut hood covering its head and nape, contrasting sharply with its olive-brown upperparts and creamy-white underparts, often with streaking on the flanks. A dark loral patch a...

Habitat

This species primarily inhabits lower to upper montane and submontane evergreen forests, generally found at elevations ranging from 750 meters to 3,000 meters above sea level.

Diet

Their diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates, supplemented by a variety of berries and small fruits, obtained through active gleaning and probing.

Behavior

Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrushes are highly social birds, typically found in small to medium-sized noisy flocks of 6-12 individuals, often joining mixed-species foraging parties. They are largely diurnal, spending their days actively foraging in the forest understory and mid-story, and roosting c...

Range

The Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush is strictly endemic to the island of Borneo, distributed across the higher elevation regions of both Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) and Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan), with records also from Brunei's montane forests. Its range is fragmented, restricted to ...

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Fun Facts

- The 'laughing' in their name comes from their distinctive, often cacophonous and echoing vocalizations, which can sound like hearty human laughter or loud cackles. - They are endemic to the island of Borneo, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world, making them a special treat for birde...

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