QL An Exquisitely, Distinctively Colored, Yet Thoroughly Shy Bird That Stands Out Despite Their Best Efforts To Remain Inconspicuous – Meet The Red-tailed Laughingthrush!

A medium-sized, exquisitely, distinctively colored, though thoroughly shy bird that doesn’t like to stray far from its habitat.

Meet the Red-tailed laughingthrush

The red-tailed laughingthrush (Trochalopteron milnei), is a species of bird in the Leiothrichidae family. Measuring 26-28 cm and weighing in at 66-93 grams this medium-sized laughing thrush is subtle ochrous-grey, with a bright rufous-chestnut brown and black face and white ear-coverts.

Their wings and tail are crimson.

Females like very similar to males though slightly duller.

Photo Courtesy of Kitty Terwolbeck / CC BY 2.0

Red-tailed laughing thrush is endemic to and found in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and China.

These birds prefer to inhabit the understorey of broadleaf evergreen forests strictly in mountainous areas in altitudes between 1800 and 2500 meters.

Red-tailed laughing thrush dines mainly on insects, berries, and fruit, especially the Saurauja species.

During the breeding season, from April through to June, a cup-shaped nest is built by both sexes made from grasses and bamboo leaves. Built about one meter above the ground, 2-3 eggs are laid within and incubated for 17-18 days. Once the chicks have hatched they are fed by both parents and become fledged in 14-16 days.

Due to this species-wide range and relatively stable population it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN list of bird species.