Photo: Seshadri.K.S / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ashambu Laughingthrush
Montecincla meridionalis
Ashambu Laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ashambu Laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 40.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes & Allies
- Genus Montecincla
- Species meridionalis
Where it lives
Southwestern India (Western Ghats in southern Kerala and adjacent southern Tamil Nadu)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 40.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Endangered
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ashambu Laughingthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Ashambu Laughingthrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ashambu Laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR sw India (Western Ghats in s Kerala and adjacent s Tamil Nadu).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 40.3 g, with a wing length of about 8.3 cm and a tail of around 8.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 163 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ashambu Laughingthrush?
The Ashambu Laughingthrush is a small bird that weighs around 40.3 g.
Where does the Ashambu Laughingthrush live?
The Ashambu Laughingthrush is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR sw India (Western Ghats in s Kerala and adjacent s Tamil Nadu), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Ashambu Laughingthrush belong to?
The Ashambu Laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Ashambu Laughingthrush eat?
The Ashambu Laughingthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Ashambu Laughingthrush migrate?
The Ashambu Laughingthrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ashambu Laughingthrush endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Ashambu Laughingthrush make?
1 real field recording of the Ashambu Laughingthrush — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ashambu Laughingthrush's range?
The Ashambu Laughingthrush has a mapped global range of about 163 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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