HABITAT AND RANGE:
Melodious Laughing Thrushes are native
to Southeastern Asia, including southern
China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Hong
Kong, and Taiwan. They have also been
introduced into Hawaii. Their habitats
include mountain forests, forests at the
base of mountains, thickets, scrub,
farmlands, and bamboo forests up to
4,000 feet in elevation.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The overall length of these birds is
about ten inches. Their upper parts are
olive-brown except for a tawny crown,
and the underparts are tawny to gray.
Their most distinguishing feature is a
conspicuous white eye ring and streak
behind the eye. There are blackish
streaks on the crown, nape, throat,
upper breast, and tail. Both sexes look
similar.
ADAPTATIONS:
There are about fifty species of
laughing thrush with a wide range of
vocalizations including chattering with
the quality of distant human laughter.
DIET:
The diet mainly consists of insects, but
also contains some fruit.
REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
The Melodious Laughing Thrush breeds
between April and June. Two or three
eggs are laid in a nest of bamboo leaves
and roots, located in a shrub or bamboo
clump.
STATUS IN WILD:
Not listed in the list of protection
animals. But, in the bio-diversity
schedule of China for the 21st century,
it is listed as a preferred protection
bird.
