The red-tailed laughingthrush is a species of bird in the laughingthrush family Leiothrichidae. It is found in the montane forests of Myanmar, Laos, southern China and central Vietnam
Region
Southeast Asia and southern China
Typical Environment
Occupies subtropical and tropical montane evergreen broadleaf forests and dense secondary growth. Prefers thickets, bamboo understorey, rhododendron scrub, and forest edges near streams and clearings. It is typically found in dense cover, moving low and mid‑story while foraging. The species ranges from southern China through Myanmar, Laos, and into central and northern Vietnam.
Altitude Range
800–2600 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
A striking laughingthrush of the undergrowth, the red-tailed laughingthrush sports vivid rufous panels in the wings and tail that flash when it hops through dense cover. It forages in pairs or small family groups and often joins mixed-species flocks. Its name reflects the rolling, chuckling calls typical of laughingthrushes, which can carry far through montane forests.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family parties and frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in dense shrubs or bamboo. Both parents participate in raising the young, and groups maintain loose territories in suitable habitat.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Rich, varied whistles and chuckling phrases that can sound like laughter, delivered from cover. Calls include sharp scolds and rolling notes used to keep contact while moving through dense vegetation.
Plumage
Soft slate-gray body with bold rufous-red tail and wing panels; contrasting darker face with a mask-like pattern. Subtle brownish or chestnut tinge on the crown and scapulars, and fine, smooth-textured plumage overall.
Diet
Feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, including beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. Also consumes fruits, berries, and seeds, especially when invertebrate prey is scarce. It gleans from leaf litter and low branches and will probe mossy trunks and tangled vines.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense undergrowth and along forest edges, often near streams, clearings, and bamboo stands. Commonly works through thickets and low shrubs, sometimes following mixed flocks to exploit disturbed prey.
