The grey-sided laughingthrush is a species of passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae.
Region
Southern China and Indochina
Typical Environment
Occurs in montane evergreen broadleaf and mixed forests with dense undergrowth, often along forest edges, ravines, and bamboo stands. Its range includes southern China (notably Yunnan and adjacent provinces) and extends into northern Myanmar, northern Laos, and northern Vietnam. It favors thick, shady cover and often keeps close to the ground or mid-story while moving in small groups. The species may join mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season.
Altitude Range
800–2800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The grey-sided laughingthrush is a skulking forest songbird often heard before it is seen, delivering rich, musical phrases typical of laughingthrushes. It forages in small, noisy parties through dense undergrowth and bamboo thickets. Formerly placed in the genus Garrulax, it is now generally treated as Pterorhinus within the family Leiothrichidae.
Close-up of head, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through dense cover
Social Behavior
Typically seen in small family groups or loose parties that keep close contact through frequent calls. Pairs nest in dense shrubs or low trees, building a cup-shaped nest and laying a small clutch. Outside the breeding season, it may associate with mixed-species foraging flocks.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Rich, melodious phrases with fluty notes interspersed with chatters and whistles, often delivered in a series. Calls include sharp chacks and softer contact notes to maintain group cohesion.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with contrasting gray flanks and sides; paler buffy underparts with subtle shading. Face shows a gray wash with fine, diffuse markings and a slightly paler throat. Tail is medium-length with slightly rounded tip and darker centers.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of insects and other small invertebrates, including beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. Supplements with fruits and berries, especially in the non-breeding season. Occasionally takes seeds and small snails while foraging in leaf litter.
Preferred Environment
Forages near the ground and in the understory of dense forest, often along bamboo thickets and tangled shrubs. Will edge into forest margins and trails where cover remains thick.
