About Garrulax leucolophus (Hardwicke, 1816)
The white-crested laughingthrush, with the scientific name Garrulax leucolophus (Hardwicke, 1816), is a member of the family Leiothrichidae. It is a highly social, vocal bird that inhabits forests and scrub from the Himalayan foothills to Southeast Asia. G. leucolophus has one of the widest native ranges of all laughingthrushes, which means it is at minimal risk of extinction. It is native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, China, Vietnam, and Thailand. The species has four recognized subspecies, each with a slightly different distribution. G. l. leucolophus occurs in northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and southern Tibet (China). G. l. patkaicus occurs in northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Yunnan (southern China). G. l. belangeri occurs in Myanmar and Thailand. G. l. diardi occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Yunnan (southern China). This species is most commonly found in foothill forests, at elevations up to 1600 meters. It prefers dense, moist, shady thickets and scrubs, as well as the edge and understory of broadleaved secondary forests. These habitats let it hide from predators and take shelter from the subtropical sun. It typically only leaves cover to feed on the ground. Bamboos are also part of this species' ideal habitat, as they provide high-quality nesting material and camouflage. White-crested laughingthrushes begin reproducing when they are one year old (in their second year of life). They breed multiple times between February and September each year. Their nests are shallow, cup-shaped structures built in shrubs and trees at heights of 2 to 6 meters above ground. Nests are constructed from bamboo leaves and grass, bound together with twigs and stems. Females lay 2 to 6 pure white eggs per nest, each estimated to weigh around 6.5 grams. Both parents incubate the eggs for 13 to 17 days. Males and females also share brooding and feeding duties after hatching. Chicks hatch completely naked and develop into miniature adults over a 14 to 16 day period after hatching. White-crested laughingthrushes are cooperative breeders, so breeding tasks are not limited to the two parents. One female may share a nest with another female, and three or more adults may take turns incubating eggs and feeding chicks. These helper individuals are not always full adults: young birds from an earlier clutch in the same breeding year will sometimes help build the nest or feed their younger siblings.
