Ashy-headed Laughingthrush
Argya cinereifrons
Medium-sized, rufous babbler with a gray hood, beady pale eye, buff throat patch, and blackish bill and legs. Gregarious, usually encountered within small groups low in the understory, or on the ground, in wet forests of the lowlands and foothills. Can join mixed species flocks. Mixture of gray head, black bill and legs, and paler buff underside identify it from all other babblers on Sri Lanka. Variety of untidy vocalizations given, including scratchy notes, whistles, squeals, metallic “churrs” and “chirps”, and chattering calls, all given in combination.
Identification
The ashy-headed laughingthrush is a rangy bird, 23 centimetre (9 in) in length with a long floppy tail. It is rufous brown above and deep buff below, with a grey head and white throat. Like other babblers, these are noisy birds, and the characteristic laughing calls are often the best indication that they are present, since they are often difficult to see in their preferred habitat.
Taxonomy
The ashy-headed laughingthrush was formerly placed in the genus Garrulax but following the publication of a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study in 2018, it was moved to the resurrected genus Argya.
- Scientific name
- Argya cinereifrons
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1851)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Argya
Range and habitat
The ashy-headed laughingthrush is a resident breeding bird endemic to Sri Lanka. Its habitat is rainforest, and it is seldom seen away from deep jungle or dense bamboo thickets in the wet zone. This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight.<p>Although its habitat is under threat, this laughingthrush occurs in all the forests of the wet zone, and is quite common at prime sites like Kitulgala and Sinharaja. It builds its nest in a bush, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is three or four eggs.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Philippine Eagle-Owl
Ketupa philippensis
A large owl of lowland and foothill forest, including secondary habitat and plantations. Warm brown with a heavily marked back, a heavily streaked rufous head and chest, and a more sparsely streaked pale belly. Note the square-shaped head with flattened ear tufts and the yellow eyes. Unmistakable. No other owls of similar size occur in its range. Gives a long, drawn-out, spooky whistled note whose pitch rises slightly, then falls at the end.
Yellow-green Grosbeak
Caryothraustes canadensis
A well-named grosbeak that is olive-greenish above and brighter yellow below, with a distinctive black face and a stout bill with a silver base. Disjunct range stretches from eastern Panama to southeast Brazil. Occurs in the subcanopy of lowland forest, up to around 1,000 m. Typically found in small groups, sometimes as a part of a larger mixed-species flock. Often draws attention to itself with piercing buzzy and squeaky calls. Not likely confused, but compare with female Red-and-black Grosbeak, which has entirely black head.
Rock Partridge
Alectoris graeca
This well-marked European endemic prefers rocky slopes and dry areas of hill and montane forest. Up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft), but can be found in lower-lying open flat areas with sparse grass and low bushes in some regions. Highly territorial and vocal, giving an irregular series of "chick chek pe-ti-chek chi-chek" notes, particularly in the early morning. Often runs away rather than flying. Throat is white, while similar looking Chukar has a creamy throat; virtually no overlap in range with other similar species.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.