Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron cachinnans)

Other Names (World)
Nilgiri Laughingthrush (cachinnans), Black-chinned Laughingthrush, Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush, Grey-breasted Laughingthrush (jerdoni), Gray-breasted Laughingthrush (jerdoni), White-breasted Laughingthrush (jerdoni), Jerdon's Laughingthrush (jerdoni)

Family
Leiotrichidae (Laughingthrushes And Allies)

Size
20 - 21 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Jerdon, 1839)

Habitat
Dense undergrowth and moist, shady lower storey vegetation of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, especially densely wooded ravines and hollows ("sholas") and forest edge. From 1,200 - 2,285 m.

Range (Guide)

India (B) (NB).

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2012) and decreasing.

Status EN
Habitat destruction and degradation through conversion of forest into plantations, reservoirs, crops and human settlements are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Invertebrates, nectar, flowers, fruits, berries.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (4)...)

Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Montecincla cachinnans) [XC474085]
by L. Shyamal from Doddabatta area, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India (song)

Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Montecincla cachinnans) [XC604265]
by id from Melkundah, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India (call, song)

Subspecies
Garrulax jerdoni jerdoni (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been moved from Garrulax jerdoni into Garrulax cachinnans, elevating Garrulax jerdoni fairbanki to species rank (including Garrulax jerdoni meridionalis), following Rasmussen and Anderton (2005). All taxa concerned are transferred into the genus Strophocincla, resulting in two recognised species Palani Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron fairbanki) (including meridionalis) and Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron cachinnans) (including jerdoni).

Genus usually subsumed in Garrulax. Species sometimes placed in genus Trochalopteron. Subspecies jerdoni has until recently often been combined in a separate species with Palani Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron fairbanki). Further study is required.

The following 2 subspecies are recognised:

jerdoni (Jerdon, 1839) - South-western Karnataka (Brahmagiri Hills, Banasore Peak) and north-eastern Kerala (Coorg, Wynaad), in south-western India. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Banasura Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron jerdoni).
cachinnans (Jerdon, 1839) - Nilgiri Hills (western Tamil Nadu and adjacent north-eastern Kerala).

Similar Species
Palani Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron fairbanki) which has a grey or whitish throat, breast and ear-coverts.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron cachinnans) - 10 files

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