Skip to main content
Near Threatened

Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus nuchalis

Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus nuchalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists
See what's near you right now

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus nuchalis) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 78 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes & Allies
  4. Genus Pterorhinus
  5. Species nuchalis

Where it lives

Northeastern India and Myanmar

Quick facts

Weight
78 g
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus nuchalis) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR ne India and Myanmar.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 78 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

Songs & calls

Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush — Song

Recorded by Hans Matheve Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush?

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 78 g.

Where does the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush live?

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR ne India and Myanmar, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush belong to?

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus nuchalis) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush eat?

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush migrate?

The Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

What sound does the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush make?

1 real field recording of the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

Conservation

Near Threatened

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Leiothrichidae

More in Songbirds

Guides for this bird

Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds

How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.

4 min read

Back to top