Rufous-fronted laughingthrush

Rufous-fronted laughingthrush
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Leiothrichidae
Genus: Garrulax
Species: G. rufifrons
Binomial name
Garrulax rufifrons
Lesson, 1831

The rufous-fronted laughingthrush (Garrulax rufifrons) is a species of bird in the Leiothrichidae family, endemic to Java, where it occurs in moist tropical montane forests, feeding on insects and fruit.[2] There are two subspecies: rufifrons in West Java and slamatensis on Mount Selamat in Central Java.

It is 27 centimetres (10.63 in) in length, and has a striking and very deep rufous-red patch on an otherwise grey plumage above its bill. Its large eyes are a striking light yellow colour. Like other laughingthrushes, it typically occurs in small family groups of five or six birds, but little is known about its breeding since only very recently has there been any success breeding in captivity and its natural habitat is extremely rugged mountains. It has previously been regarded as Near Threatened due to exploitation for the cagebird trade and some habitat loss, but an increase in the intensity of this trapping[3] has led BirdLife International in 2013 to uplist it two categories to Endangered.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2013). "Garrulax rufifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. Becking, J. H.; Henri Jacob Victor Sody (1892-1959): His Life and Work: a Biographical and Bibliographical Study; p. 205. ISBN 9004086870
  3. Chephered, Chris R.; “Observations on trade in laughingthrushes (Garrulax spp.) in North Sumatra, Indonesia”; in Bird Conservation International; BirdLife International, 2010 doi:10.1017/S0959270910000274
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