Chestnut crowned laughing thrush on a log by the field, Bhutan

The chestnut-crowned laughingthrush (Trochalopteron erythrocephalum) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. Also known as the Red-headed Laughing Thrush is a pretty noisome bird. It is a local resident in Himalayas, north-east India and Bhutan, China, and Nepal. It is about 24 – 26cm a medium-sized, variable laughingthrush. It has brownish plumage, brilliant green-gold panels on wings and sides of tail. There are heavy black spots on upper mantle and scales on breast. It has a chestnut forehead and nape, blackish lores and throat with a Dark eye.

The chestnut-crowned laughingthrush is found in understorey and bamboo in broadleaf evergreen forest. Also in mixed forest, secondary growth and rhododendron scrub. Found at an altitude of 1000m to 3400m. It is a resident species with some altitudinal movement in the Himalayas. It feeds mainly on inscects, berries, seeds and other vegetable matter. Forages on or close to the ground in pairs or small groups, sometimes together with other laughingthrushes. It is classified as least concern by IUCN however and not globally threatened.