Photo: Jamesneohbirder / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Laughingthrush
Melanocichla lugubris
Black Laughingthrush (Melanocichla lugubris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Laughingthrush (Melanocichla lugubris) is a member of the Timaliidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 78.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Timaliidae Babblers, Scimitar Babblers
- Genus Melanocichla
- Species lugubris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 78.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Timaliidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Laughingthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black Laughingthrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Laughingthrush (Melanocichla lugubris) belongs to the Timaliidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR montane Malay Pen. and Sumatra.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 78.6 g, with a wing length of about 12.2 cm and a tail of around 12.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Laughingthrush?
The Black Laughingthrush is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 78.6 g.
Where does the Black Laughingthrush live?
The Black Laughingthrush is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR montane Malay Pen. and Sumatra, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black Laughingthrush belong to?
The Black Laughingthrush (Melanocichla lugubris) belongs to the Timaliidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Laughingthrush eat?
The Black Laughingthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black Laughingthrush migrate?
The Black Laughingthrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Laughingthrush endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Laughingthrush make?
1 real field recording of the Black Laughingthrush — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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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Guides for this bird
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