Trochalopteron melanostigma
The Silver-eared Laughingthrush, *Trochalopteron melanostigma*, is a strikingly marked member of the Old World babbler family Leiothrichidae, known for its distinctive appearance and melodious, often chattering calls. Measuring approximately 22-26 cm in length and weighing around 50-70 grams, this medium-sized songbird is easily identified by its prominent silvery-white ear-coverts, which contrast sharply with its dark facial mask and the warm rufous-brown plumage of its underparts. Its upper...
Found primarily in dense evergreen and broadleaf montane forests, as well as secondary growth and bamboo thickets. It inhabits elevations typically ranging from 900 to 2,500 meters, preferring the understory and lower canopy.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide array of insects and their larvae, supplemented with berries, small fruits, and seeds. They forage mainly on the ground by raking through leaf litter or gleaning from low vegetation.
Silver-eared Laughingthrushes are highly social, typically observed foraging in noisy, cohesive flocks of 5 to 15 individuals, sometimes joining mixed-species foraging parties. They are diurnal, active throughout the day, often scratching through leaf litter on the forest floor with their strong ...
The Silver-eared Laughingthrush boasts a wide distribution across Southeast Asia, primarily inhabiting the mountainous regions. Its breeding range extends from extreme northeastern India and Myanmar, eastwards through southern China (Yunnan, Guangxi), northern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietna...
Least Concern
- The 'laughing' in their name comes from their distinctive, often cacophonous and echoing calls that sound like a human laugh. - They are often part of mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly with other babblers and sometimes even larger birds. - Despite their vibrant appearance, they can be...