The chestnut-eared laughingthrush is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is found in Vietnam and possibly Laos.
Region
Central Annamite Range (Kon Tum Plateau)
Typical Environment
Occurs in montane evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, particularly around Kon Ka Kinh and adjacent protected forests. It uses dense understory, bamboo thickets, and forest edges, typically remaining close to the ground or in low shrubs. The species’ range is small and fragmented, and it may extend marginally into adjacent parts of Laos, though records there remain uncertain. Human disturbance and forest degradation limit its occurrence to the least-disturbed tracts.
Altitude Range
800–1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Discovered in the late 1990s, the chestnut-eared laughingthrush is a shy understory bird of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, with possible occurrence just across the border in Laos. It favors dense evergreen forest and often keeps to low tangles, making it hard to see. Habitat loss and trapping for the cage-bird trade are principal threats. Its name refers to the distinctive chestnut patch on the ear-coverts.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low fluttering between cover
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups and sometimes joins mixed-species flocks. Nests are likely cup-shaped and placed low in dense vegetation. Breeding behavior is thought to be monogamous, with both adults attending the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Loud, musical series of chuckles and ringing notes that can sound like laughter. Calls include scolding chatters and mewing whistles used to keep contact in dense cover.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with greyish underparts showing fine scaling; darker mask through the lores and face. A prominent chestnut patch on the ear-coverts contrasts with the otherwise subdued tones. Wings and tail show warmer brown edges; throat paler.
Diet
Consumes a mix of insects and other invertebrates such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars, supplemented with berries and small fruits. Forages by gleaning leaves and probing mossy logs and leaf litter. May occasionally take small snails or seeds. Often feeds quietly in shaded understory.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of evergreen forest, bamboo thickets, vine tangles, and forest edges near streams. Frequently forages close to the ground or within the lower shrub layer, using cover to remain concealed.
