The golden-winged laughingthrush is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is endemic to Ngọc Linh mountain.
Region
Central Highlands of Vietnam
Typical Environment
Occurs only on the Ngọc Linh massif in evergreen montane and cloud forests with dense undergrowth. It frequents bamboo patches, rhododendron thickets, and mossy, shaded slopes, often near streams. The species keeps close to the ground and mid-understory, moving through vine tangles and forest edges. It is highly localized and absent from degraded lowlands.
Altitude Range
1450–2400 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This shy laughingthrush is restricted to the Ngọc Linh massif of central Vietnam and is seldom seen away from dense montane understory. Its name comes from the rich golden panels on the wings that flash when it hops or flies between thickets. Habitat loss and trapping for the cage-bird trade are key threats, and the species is the focus of local conservation efforts.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups moving quietly through dense understory. It forages methodically near the ground and sometimes joins mixed-species flocks. Nests are placed low in thick vegetation, with breeding likely during the local rainy season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A rich, melodious series of whistles and fluting notes interspersed with chatter, typical of laughingthrushes. Duets between pair members are common, carrying well through the forest in early morning.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts and paler underparts with a grayish face; prominent golden-yellow wing coverts and tertial edges form a striking wing panel. Subtle scaling on the face and a slightly paler throat are often visible at close range. Tail is medium-length with slightly warmer rufous tones toward the base.
Diet
Takes a variety of insects and other invertebrates from leaf litter and low foliage. Also consumes berries, small fruits, and occasionally seeds, especially when insect prey is less abundant. Will probe mossy trunks and flip leaves while foraging.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory of montane evergreen forest, bamboo stands, and along forest edges and streamside thickets. Often forages within a meter or two of the ground where cover is thick.
