Garrulax merulinus
The Spot-breasted Laughingthrush (Garrulax merulinus) is a medium-sized passerine bird, typically measuring 23-25 cm (9-10 in) in length and weighing between 50-70 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a warm olive-brown on the upperparts, transitioning to paler, rufous-brown on the underparts. The defining feature, giving the species its name, is the distinct pattern of bold blackish-brown spots and streaks concentrated on its buffy-white throat and upper breast, offering a key identification ...
Found in dense undergrowth, secondary forests, scrub, bamboo thickets, and plantations, from lowlands to foothills, typically up to 1500-2000 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on beetles, ants, larvae, and other invertebrates, supplemented with small fruits and seeds. Forages mainly on the ground.
Diurnal and often secretive, the Spot-breasted Laughingthrush is most active during early morning and late afternoon, preferring to remain hidden within dense vegetation. It is primarily a ground feeder, meticulously searching through leaf litter and low growth for invertebrates, using its strong...
The Spot-breasted Laughingthrush is a resident species distributed across a wide area of Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent. Its primary breeding and year-round range includes northeastern India (Assam, Nagaland), northern Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, and northern and centra...
Least Concern
- The Spot-breasted Laughingthrush gets its name from the distinctive dark spots and streaks on its pale throat and breast. - Despite its often loud and boisterous calls, this bird is famously difficult to spot, preferring to skulk in dense undergrowth. - It belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, ...