Ashy-headed laughingthrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashy-headed laughingthrush |
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| In Sinharaja Forest Reserve in the south-west of Sri Lanka | |
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Garrulax cinereifrons |
The ashy-headed laughingthrush (Argya cinereifrons) is a cool bird from the Leiothrichidae family. This family includes many "laughingthrushes." These birds are known for their soft, fluffy feathers. They mostly live in warm, tropical places, especially in Southeast Asia.
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Understanding the Ashy-headed Laughingthrush
How Scientists Classify Birds
Scientists group living things into different families and groups. This helps us understand how they are related. The ashy-headed laughingthrush used to be in a group called Garrulax.
After a big study in 2018, scientists moved it to a group called Argya. This new group was used again after being set aside for a while.
What Does This Bird Look Like?
The ashy-headed laughingthrush is a medium-sized bird. It is about 23 centimeters (9 inches) long. It has a long, floppy tail.
Its back is a reddish-brown color. Its belly is a deep, creamy yellow. The bird's head is grey, and its throat is white.
Like other birds in its family, these birds are quite noisy. Their special "laughing" calls are often the best way to know they are nearby. This is because they can be hard to spot in their favorite hiding places.
Where Does This Bird Live?
The ashy-headed laughingthrush lives only in Sri Lanka. This means it is an endemic bird to that country. Its home is in rainforests.
You will rarely see it outside of thick jungles. It also likes dense bamboo forests in the wet parts of Sri Lanka. This bird does not migrate, meaning it stays in one place. It has short, rounded wings and does not fly very strongly.
Even though its home is shrinking, this laughingthrush can be found in all the wet zone forests. It is quite common in places like Kitulgala and Sinharaja. It builds its nest hidden in thick bushes. A female usually lays three or four eggs.
How Do These Birds Behave?
Ashy-headed laughingthrushes often live in groups. These groups can have up to twelve birds. They also often join "mixed feeding flocks." These are groups of different bird species that feed together in tropical jungles.
They mostly eat insects. However, they also enjoy eating berries from the jungle.
In Culture
In Sri Lanka, people call this bird alu demalichcha. This means "ash-babbler" in the Sinhala language. The ashy-headed laughingthrush has even appeared on a 3 rupee Sri Lankan postal stamp.
