Black-throated Laughingthrush
Pterorhinus chinensis
黑喉噪鹛
Introduction
A passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae found across mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, including Hainan Island. Inhabits subtropical and tropical moist forests from lowland to montane elevations, typically up to 1,525 meters. The Hainan Island population is considered by some authorities to represent a distinct species (Swinhoe's laughingthrush), though most taxonomies treat it as a subspecies. Closely related to the chestnut-backed laughingthrush and rufous-necked laughingthrush. Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though native populations are experiencing declines; introduced populations in Taiwan are increasing.
Distribution & Habitat
Native range encompasses Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam throughout most of Indochina and southern China. Absent from southern and central Thailand. Introduced populations established in Hong Kong (from released cagebirds), Taiwan (increasing), Singapore, and Thailand's Bang Phra Non-hunting Area. A population in Hawaii was extirpated by 1967. Inhabits broadleaf evergreen, mixed deciduous, and secondary forests, as well as bamboo thickets and scrubland. On Hainan, the endemic subspecies is restricted to the Hainan Bawangling National Nature Reserve between 400 and 1,200 meters elevation.
Behavior & Ecology
Social species occurring in flocks. Uses a variety of woodland habitats including broadleaf evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest, secondary forest, bamboo thickets, and scrubland. In Indochina, most abundant in lower montane forest. The article does not provide specific details on diet, breeding biology, or vocalizations.
Conservation
IUCN Red List classification: Least Concern. However, native populations are experiencing declines throughout most of its range. Some introduced populations have shown local increases, particularly in Taiwan where the population is estimated at around 100 breeding pairs.
Culture
The article does not contain information on cultural significance or folklore.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Pterorhinus
- eBird Code
- bltlau1
Vocalizations
Subspecies (5)
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Pterorhinus chinensis chinensis
southern China (southeastern Yunnan, southern Guangxi, and southern Guangdong) to northern Laos
-
Pterorhinus chinensis germaini
southern Vietnam (Phantiet and Phanrang provinces)
-
Pterorhinus chinensis lochmius
southern China (southwestern Yunnan) to southeastern Myanmar, northern Thailand, and northern Laos
-
Pterorhinus chinensis monachus
Hainan (southern China)
-
Pterorhinus chinensis propinquus
southern Myanmar to southwestern Thailand
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.