Sunda Laughingthrush
Garrulax palliatus
Forest laughingthrush of montane and submontane areas. Slate-gray head and chest, chestnut wings and tail. Pale blue eyering gives it a startled appearance. Forages close to or on the ground, noisily flipping leaf litter. Also visits campsites and trailheads like Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, but Sunda is comparatively shier. Raucous song starts off with a few distinct hooting notes and promptly descends into a jumble of chaotic noise, often giving away its presence in the undergrowth. Also gives squeaky yelps, quieter “chup” notes, and dry rattles.
Identification
The length of its body is characterized as medium-sized, about 24–25cm.
Taxonomy
Genus: Garrulax; Family: Leiothrichidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Garrulax palliatus
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Garrulax
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds

Black-eared Shrike-Babbler
Pteruthius melanotis
Colorful small bird with a cartoonish large-eyed appearance. Luminous yellow underparts, yellow-green upperparts, and dark rust-colored throat are present in both sexes, but female is slightly paler and not as strongly marked as the male. Overall can be very similar to Clicking and Trilling Shrike-Babblers, but lacks any reddish coloration on the forehead, has a more extensive silvery brow and nape, and is darker overall. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it joins mixed-species foraging flocks. Song is high-pitched, rapid, and repetitive: “tweeweeweeweeweeweewee.”

Rufous-collared Robin
Turdus rufitorques
Large, bulky thrush of highlands south of Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Found in pine-oak forest, adjacent farmland, and villages. Feeds on the ground in fields and also in fruiting trees and bushes. Often perches atop exposed tall standing dead trees early and late in the day. Male striking and unmistakable, if seen well. Female and immature male are paler and browner overall, with subdued rusty collar and breast. Some immature females have almost no rusty, but note yellow bill and legs and white streaks on feathers under base of tail.

Chestnut-bellied Euphonia
Euphonia pectoralis
Tiny bird with a strong bill. Males are glossed metallic dark blue with a chestnut belly and yellow shoulder. Females are mostly olive-green with a gray crown, throat, and central belly. Note the chestnut vent. Found in the canopy of humid forests and forest borders; often accompanying mixed-species flocks. The call is a series of rattling notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.