Elliot's laughingthrush is a bird species in the family Leiothrichidae.
Region
Eastern Tibetan Plateau and Southwestern China
Typical Environment
Occurs from southeastern Tibet through southern Qinghai and western Gansu to Sichuan and northwestern Yunnan. It inhabits moist montane forests, rhododendron and bamboo thickets, and shrubby edges along forest clearings and ravines. Birds frequently use dense cover, venturing to trails and forest margins to forage. Seasonal movements are mostly altitudinal, with birds descending slightly in harsh weather.
Altitude Range
2200–4600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Elliot's laughingthrush is a lively, ground-foraging member of the family Leiothrichidae, named for its rippling, chuckling calls. It often keeps to dense undergrowth but becomes conspicuous when scolding intruders with loud, laughing notes. The species is a high-montane specialist of southwestern China and the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Formerly placed in Garrulax, it is now widely treated in the genus Trochalopteron.
Temperament
skulking yet vocal
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between patches of cover
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in the nonbreeding season. Nests are built low in dense shrubs or bamboo, where both parents attend the young. Territorial during breeding, with conspicuous vocal displays from cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a varied series of mellow whistles, chuckles, and rolling notes that can sound like laughter. Calls include scolding churrs and excited chatter, often delivered antiphonally by pairs.
