The streaked laughingthrush is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae.
Region
Himalayas and adjacent foothills
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern Afghanistan through northern Pakistan and the Indian Himalayas to Nepal and Bhutan, with local populations in southern Tibet. It favors forest edges, tangled scrub, rhododendron thickets, hedgerows, and village gardens. The species often frequents terraced fields and orchards where dense undergrowth provides cover. It adapts well to human-modified montane environments provided sufficient shrub layer remains.
Altitude Range
1200–3500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The streaked laughingthrush is a lively, ground-favoring songbird of the Himalayan foothills, often seen in scrub and gardens around hill towns. Its name comes from its loud, laughing chatter given by pairs or small groups. Several subspecies vary subtly in tone and streaking across its broad range.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and fluttering between cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, foraging close to the ground within dense shrubs. It nests low in bushes, building a cup of twigs and rootlets. Both parents participate in feeding the chicks and defending the nest with noisy calls.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, bubbly series of chuckles, chatters, and rising whistles that can sound like laughter. Contact calls are scolding and harsh, often delivered in quick sequences when birds are moving through cover.
