Nilgiri Laughing Thrush

Scientific Name:

Trochalopteron cachinnans

Occurrence:

The Black-chinned Laughing thrush is endemic to the Nilgiris hill ranges and found in dense forest patches of Nilgiri. Nilgiri Laughing Thrush is one of the few laughing thrushes found in India.

Distribution and Habitat

Endemic to the Niligiri region of peninsular India, the distribution is restricted very much due to it’s habitat lost. Though it’s common in its habitat the population is small and reducing due to heavy destruction of Shola forests. The preferred spots are Shola forest with dense undergrowth and fringes. Also in wooded gardens, forest edge and patches of thick scrub.

The race jerdoni is restricted to the Brahmagiri areas of Coorg and Wayanad, while the nominate race cachinnans is found in the Nilgiri hills.

Photographing this bird is a real challenge, as it keeps moving inside the thickets rarely popping out to show its presence. Chances are high to spot these endangered species at Doddabetta and Ooty areas of Nilgiri hills.

Breeding

Breeding season from January to June during an year. The nests are being made from February to beginning of June. The nest is normally built using roots, dead leaves, small twigs, and lichen, neatly lined with very fine grass stems. They normally have two eggs in greenish-blue with a few large and small brown spots and streaks.

Diet

This species mainly feeds on invertebrates, nectar, flowers and fruits, mostly within three meters of the ground. The feeding time is at early morning and late afternoon.

Ecological Behaviour:

 Nesting occurs between January and July with a clutch of two or three eggs.

Habitat:

 It is a sedentary resident, inhabiting dense undergrowth and moist, shady lower storey vegetation of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, especially densely wooded ravines and hollows (“sholas”) and forest edge, always above 1,200 m, but generally higher than 1,600 m. It also occurs in gardens, patches of natural scrub, and hill guava trees Rhodomyrtus tomentosa in Kerala, and is absent or uncommon in Eucalyptus, tea and Acacia plantations. Population densities are high in intact forest, but are roughly halved in disturbed forest.

Diet:

It feeds on invertebrates, nectar, flowers, fruits and berries.

Threats

Large-scale conversion of forest into plantations, reservoirs, crops and human settlements are the main threats. Commercial plantations of tea, Eucalyptus and Acacia have been increasing in area across its range. Between 1961 and 1988, 47% of evergreen/semi-evergreen forest was lost in the Kerala portion of the Western Ghats, whilst there were increases in plantation and deciduous forest cover of 6% and 7.5% respectively. The indiscriminate use of inorganic pesticides may also be a problem. Having a mountain distribution that is close to the maximum altitude within its range, this species is potentially susceptible to climate change (Bird Life International unpublished data).

Conservation Actions Underway

It occurs in Mukurti National Park in Tamil Nadu and a rather small part of its range is encompassed by the upper reaches of the Silent Valley National Park, Kerala. Some sholas in the Upper Nilgiris are afforded partial protection as reserve forests and are included in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, although these receive considerably less protection than national parks. There have been some moves to stop further conversion of natural forests and grasslands into plantations in Tamil Nadu. A new protected area in the Muthikulam-Elival-Palamala Range, Muthikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary, has been proposed.

Conservation Actions Proposed

Regularly monitor populations at selected sites and develop a database of information for formulating conservation management strategies for different areas. Support extension of the boundaries of Mukurti National Park. Campaign for a moratorium on conversion of remaining natural forests to plantations in the Nilgiris. Promote community-based conservation initiatives focusing on restoration of natural habitats in the Nilgiris, including protection of undergrowth and shrubs in existing old plantations. Initiate conservation awareness programmes in the Nilgiris. Designate suitable parts of the Muthikulam-Elival-Palamala Range as protected areas.