Chinese Hwamei
A species of Laughing Thrushes Scientific name : Garrulax canorus Genus : Laughing Thrushes
Chinese Hwamei, A species of Laughing Thrushes
Botanical name: Garrulax canorus
Genus: Laughing Thrushes
Content
Description General Info
Description
It is 21 to 25 cm long with broad, rounded wings and a fan-shaped tail. The plumage is mostly reddish-brown with dark steaks on the crown, back and throat. There is a white ring around the eye which extends backwards as a white stripe. The bill and feet are yellowish. Birds on Hainan Island (L. c. owstoni) are paler below and more olive-coloured above. The Taiwan hwamei is greyer and more streaked and lacks the white markings on the head. The song is a loud, clear, varied whistling with regular repetition and imitations of other birds. The call is a rasping whistle or rattle.
Size
21-25 cm (8.2-9.8 in)
Colors
Brown
Red
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
Male 17 years, Female 12-15 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Chinese Hwamei forages on the ground, sifting through leaf litter for insects and fruits—embracing a varied diet suited to its habitat.
Habitat
The chinese Hwamei inhabits environments like shrublands, secondary forests, and bamboo thickets. Favoring diverse natural and man-made terrains, they thrive from low to mid-level elevations across broader regions in Southeast and Central China, with populations also in parts of Vietnam and Laos. Their adaptability extends to thriving in parks, gardens, and urban spaces.
Dite type
Omnivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
It is a skulking bird which is often very difficult to see. It typically feeds on the ground among leaf litter, foraging for insects and fruit. It usually occurs in pairs or in small groups. The breeding season lasts from May to July. A large cup-shaped nest is built up to two metres above the ground in a tree or bush or amongst undergrowth. Two to five blue or blue-green eggs are laid.
Distribution Area
The nominate subspecies G. c. canorus occurs across south-eastern and central China and in northern and central Vietnam and Laos. The race G. c. owstoni is found on Hainan. G. c. canorus has been introduced to Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and Hawaii. In the Hawaiian Islands it was introduced in the early 20th century and now occurs in both native forest and man-made habitats. It is common on Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island but less so on Oahu and Molokai. The bird inhabits scrubland, open woodland, secondary forest, parks and gardens up to 1800 metres above sea level. It is common in much of its range and is not considered a threatened species.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Laughingthrushes Genus
Laughing Thrushes Species
Chinese Hwamei