Palani Laughingthrush

The Palani laughingthrush, Montecincla fairbanki, is a charming bird endemic to the Western Ghats' montane forests, south of the Palghat Gap in Southern India. Exhibiting a grey bib and rufous belly, this species is adorned with a prominent dark eyestripe and a broad white brow, distinguishing it from its relatives.

Identification Tips

To identify the Palani laughingthrush, look for its dark grey-brown crown and narrow dark grey eyestripe, contrasted by a broad white supercilium that extends behind the eye. The throat and upper breast are distinctly grey, faintly streaked with brown, transitioning to a rusty brown on the lower breast and belly. The upper parts are olive brown, and the bill is a lighter brown compared to the black-chinned laughingthrush. The iris is typically dark red or red-brown, and the sexes appear similar in the field.

Habitat

This species thrives in high montane forests, where it can often be found flitting among the foliage.

Distribution

The Palani laughingthrush is confined to the higher regions of the Palani Hills, extending into the Annamalai Hills in western Tamil Nadu and Munnar in Kerala. Its range is strictly south of the Palghat Gap.

Behaviour

Observed in pairs or small groups, the Palani laughingthrush may also participate in mixed-species feeding flocks. It exhibits a breeding season from December to June, peaking in April and May. The nests are cups of grass and moss, concealed in dense vegetation, and typically contain two blue eggs with reddish markings.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire includes loud, ascending notes of "pee-koko," followed by more abrupt sounds. A variety of calls, including low "kweer" calls, are used in different contexts, with some resembling antiphonal duets.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists of nectar from flowers like Lobelia excelsa, Rhododendron, and Strobilanthes species, as well as petals from Strobilanthes and fruits from plants such as Viburnum, Eurya, Rubus, and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Palani laughingthrush as Near Threatened, indicating that it faces threats that could lead to its vulnerability in the near future.