The Chinese hwamei or melodious laughingthrush is a passerine bird of eastern Asia in the laughingthrush family Leiothrichidae. The name "hwamei" comes from its Chinese name huà méi, which means "painted eyebrow", referring to the distinctive marking around the bird's eyes. The species is a popular cagebird because of its attractive song.
Region
East Asia and Pacific Islands
Typical Environment
Native to mainland China and adjacent parts of northern Indochina, inhabiting forest edges, dense scrub, bamboo thickets, and secondary growth. It favors understory cover and often forages in leaf litter near forest margins, streams, and farmland hedgerows. The species adapts well to human-modified landscapes, including orchards and parks. Introduced populations, notably in Hawaii, use valley forests, suburban gardens, and shrubby gulches. It tends to remain close to dense cover and rarely ventures into open areas for long.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 4/5
Also called the melodious laughingthrush, the Chinese hwamei is famed for its rich, fluting song and has long been kept as a cagebird. Its name means 'painted eyebrow,' referring to the striking white eye-line and eye-ring. The species is native to mainland China but has been introduced in places such as Hawaii, where it has established local populations.
At San Diego Zoo
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, keeping to dense cover and skirting along thickets. Pairs are monogamous in the breeding season and defend territories with song. The nest is a cup of grasses and roots placed low in shrubs or bamboo, with clutches typically of 2–4 eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A rich, melodious series of clear whistles, trills, and fluting phrases delivered at length. The song is varied and can incorporate mimicry, making it prized in traditional songbird competitions.
