Red-winged laughingthrush

The red-winged laughingthrush (Trochalopteron formosum) is a bird species in the family Leiothrichidae.

Red-winged laughingthrush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Leiothrichidae
Genus: Trochalopteron
Species:
T. formosum
Binomial name
Trochalopteron formosum
Verreaux, 1869
Synonyms

Garrulax formosus

The plumage is mostly brown with large areas of red in the wings and tail. The crown and ear-coverts are grey with dark streaks and the throat is dark. The bill and feet are blackish. It has a loud, whistling song and is 27 to 28 centimetres long. The red-tailed laughingthrush is similar but has a rufous crown and greyer back and breast.

It is found in south-west China (Sichuan, Yunnan and Guangxi provinces) and north-west Vietnam. It inhabits forest, secondary growth, scrub and bamboo from 900 to 3000 metres above sea level. It is an elusive bird which travels in pairs or small groups in dense cover near the forest floor. Little is known about its reproductive habits but in China breeding takes place during June and July.

Introductions

Ten individuals of the species were imported to the Isle of Man in 1990 and held in captivity at the Curraghs Wildlife Park. Nearby records of escaped birds living in the wild began from 1995. In 1996 breeding in the wild was confirmed. By 1998 all of the original ten captive birds had either died or escaped. The last published records of birds in the wild was in July 2005. It is presumed that the small population persisted for sometime after; however, it is believed that the population has since died out (2017).[2]

References

  1. BirdLife International (2018). "Trochalopteron formosum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22715761A132108397. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22715761A132108397.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Sharpe, Chris (2007). Manx Bird Atlas. Liverpool University Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-1-84631-039-3.
Red-winged Laughing Thrush in Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver, Canada.
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