Ashy-headed laughingthrush

The ashy-headed laughingthrush, an enchanting bird from the Leiothrichidae family, is one of the many species of laughingthrushes known for their soft plumage and preference for the tropical climates of Southeast Asia. Previously classified under the genus Garrulax, a 2018 molecular study prompted its reclassification to the genus Argya.

Measuring approximately 23 centimeters in length, this bird displays rufous-brown upperparts, deep buff underparts, a grey head, and a white throat. True to their name, ashy-headed laughingthrushes are vociferous birds with distinctive laughing calls. Spotting them, however, can be challenging as they often hide in rainforests or dense bamboo thickets in Sri Lanka.

These birds are rather sedentary, remaining in the wet zone forests of Sri Lanka. With their short, rounded wings, they are not strong fliers. Despite threats to their habitat, they are commonly found in prominent forest locations like Kitulgala and Sinharaja. They construct their nests in dense foliage and typically lay three to four eggs.