Nilgiri Laughingthrush
Montecincla cachinnans
- Family
- Laughingthrushes and Allies (Leiothrichidae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The Nilgiri laughingthrush (Montecincla cachinnans) is a species of laughingthrush endemic to the high elevation areas of the Nilgiris and adjoining hill ranges in Peninsular India. The mostly rufous underparts, olive brown upperparts, a prominent white eyebrow and a black throat make it unmistakable. It is easily detected by its loud series of nasal call notes and can be hard to spot when it is hidden away inside a patch of dense vegetation. The species has a confusing taxonomic history, leading to a range of names.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Southwestern peninsular India (Nilgiri Hills in western Tamil Nadu).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Nilgiri laughingthrush
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
