The black-faced laughingthrush is a bird species in the family Leiothrichidae.
Region
Eastern Himalayas and southwestern China
Typical Environment
Found in the eastern Himalayas through Bhutan and northeast India to southeastern Tibet and Yunnan in China. It favors dense broadleaf and mixed montane forests with thick undergrowth, including rhododendron and bamboo thickets. Birds use forest edges, streamside scrub, and regenerating secondary growth, often keeping low to mid-levels in cover. During cooler months it may descend slightly to lower elevations where fruiting shrubs and invertebrates are more abundant.
Altitude Range
1500–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This laughingthrush gets its name from its rich, laughing chatter that carries through montane forests. It often forages in small, noisy parties and readily joins mixed-species flocks. Though shy and skulking in dense undergrowth, it can be conspicuous when vocalizing. Some populations make short altitudinal movements following seasonal food availability.
Temperament
secretive yet gregarious
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct between cover
Social Behavior
Usually in pairs or small family groups, frequently joining mixed-species foraging flocks. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in dense shrubs or bamboo; both parents typically feed the young. Territorial singing and duetting occur during the breeding season, with soft contact calls maintaining group cohesion.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A rich series of fluty, laughing notes delivered in bursts, often antiphonal between mates. Calls include scolding chatters and whistles that carry well through dense vegetation.
Plumage
Warm brown to olive-brown body with rufous tones on the wings and tail; face largely black with contrasting pale streaking. Subtle scaling or mottling on the underparts and cleaner brown upperparts give a softly patterned look. Feathers appear plush with a loose, slightly fluffy texture typical of laughingthrushes.
Diet
Omnivorous, taking insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates gleaned from foliage and leaf litter. Also eats berries and small fruits, especially in the non-breeding season. Will occasionally take seeds and tender shoots when invertebrates are scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense undergrowth, along forest edges, and in bamboo or rhododendron thickets. Often forages near the ground or mid-story, hopping and probing among leaves and twigs.
