Birds in Taiwan

Endemic Species

Collared Bush-Robin

Flamecrest

Formosan Magpie

Formosan Whistling-Thrush

Mikado Pheasant

Steere's Liocichla

Swinhoe's Pheasant

Taiwan Bush-Warbler

Taiwan Partridge

Taiwan Yuhina

White-eared Sibia

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Yellow Tit

Endemic Sub-Species

Black-browed Barbet

Vinaceous Rosefinch

More Birds in Taiwan

Chinese Crested Tern

Japanese White-eye

Fairy Pitta

Black-faced Spoonbill

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Garrulax morrisonianus

Endemic

            A large (26 cm) brown laughingthrush with prominent long white supercilium and moustachial stripe.  Crown gray, scaled white; sides of face and chin are brown; throat and nape are brown and scaled with gray edges.  Belly gray, vent chestnut.  Wings and tail are a slaty blue-gray with basally yellowish-brown edges to outer feathers and yellowish-brown edges to primaries.  Sexes similar.  Iris, blackish-brown; bill, yellow; legs, pinkish-brown.

            Distributed along central mountain range.  Quite common from 1,800–3,900 m to tree line most of the year, descending to lower elevation of 1,000 m in winter.

            Very tame.  Lives in pairs or small parties in scrub, bamboo thickets and the edges of forest clearings.  Vocalization is a rich, mellow chatter, resembling a frog or squirrel; will duet in pairs.  Forages mostly on the ground, feeding on berries, lizards, insects and larva.  Breeds in July.  The nest is usually placed in shrubs or tall grass.  Clutch size 2 eggs.

            White-whiskered Laughingthrush, also known as Taiwan Laughing Thrush, Formosan Laughing Thrush, Yushan Laughing Thrush is a common resident.  Local common name:  four eye-browed thrush.

References:  Endemic Species of Taiwan, compiled by Greenland Ecology Conservation Association of R.O.C.

                       www.gio.gov.tw/info/ecology/English