The
Formosan laughing thrush has a body length of 28cm and a wing
length of 9-11cm. Both males and females have the same plumage:
olive, grayish-brown crowns; feathers with brownish-black
edges that look like fish scales; olive green backs; and dark
gray flight feathers that are golden yellow at the tips and
on the outer edges of their bases. The bird's two most outstanding
characteristics are its white supercilium and mandibular line.
Formosan laughing thrushes also have dark, chestnut colored
faces, necks, throats, chests, and lower tail coverts; olive
brown abdomens; light brown beaks; and dark, flesh colored
legs and feet.
Behavior:
Formosan
laughing thrushes have thick, mellow, and full voices and
are often found singing duets in pairs. Their diet consists
primarily of insects and seeds, though as a "companion"
of the Cinaceous rosefinch, they also enjoy scavenging around
in rubbish piles. The Formosan laughing thrush is characterized
as a brilliantly colored bird with two supercilium-one located
above the eye and the other just below-glittering beautifully
in the sun while the bird is in flight. Unafraid of humans,
Formosan laughing thrushes live primarily on open ground,
in shrubs, by trailsides, on mountain roads, and near mountain
cabins, and are often seen hopping around on the ground. They
are often mistaken by people to be squirrels because of their
large body build, and unless disturbed or scared, they usually
do not fly, preferring to remain on the ground most of the
time. When they are seen gliding from tree to tree with their
tail feathers spread open, however, they are graceful beyond
compare, and are probably the most beautiful of all high-altitude
flying birds.
Habitat:
Formosan
laughing thrushes are endemic to Taiwan and usually found
in mountain areas at altitudes of 2300-3500m. Unlike other
birds from the Timaliidae family, Formosan laughing thrushes
live at very high elevations, though in the winter, they will
descend to areas located at altitudes of 1000m.
