Habitat
Thickets lining streams through tea and cardamom plantations, scrub and secondary forest, occasionally in gardens, and on the edges of broadleaf evergreen forests.
South-eastern Kerala and south-western Tamil Nadu (north of c. 9º north), in south-western India.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Habitat destruction and degradation through harvesting of forest products, hydroelectric power development and road building are the mian threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Insects, berries and fruit, including brambles.
Palani Laughingthrush (Montecincla fairbanki) [XC537489]
by Amrutha Rajan from Idukki, Kerala, India (call)
Palani Laughingthrush (Montecincla fairbanki) [XC736468]
by id from Kodaikanal, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India (song)
Subspecies
Species sometimes placed in genus Trochalopteron. Has until recently often been combined in a species with subspecies jerdoni of Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron cachinnans). Further study is required.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
fairbanki (Blanford, 1869) - South-eastern Kerala and south-western Tamil Nadu (north of c. 9º north), in south-western India.
meridionalis (Blanford, 1880) - Southern Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu (south of c. 9º north).
Similar Species
Nilgiri Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron cachinnans) which has a blackish face and throat, with nominate cachinnans having a warm rufous upper breast and ear-coverts.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet