Garrulax cachinnans - BirdBase

Threatened birds of Asia
RUFOUS-BREASTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH
Garrulax cachinnans
Critical —
Endangered B1+2a,b,c,d,e
Vulnerable C1
This laughingthrush has a very small, declining, severely fragmented range because of loss of its
forest habitat, primarily through conversion to plantations, agriculture and settlements. It
therefore qualifies as Endangered.
DISTRIBUTION The Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush (see Remarks 1) is one of 16 bird
species endemic to the Western Ghats (Stattersfield et al. 1998) but the only one truly endemic
to the Nilgiris, where its range is “curiously restricted” to montane forests (Ali and Ripley
1968–1998). Reports from further afield, for example the Western Ghats of Karnataka (see,
e.g., Uttangi 1994b), are in error. Confirmed records are from:
■ INDIA ■ Kerala Wynaad district, a rare resident, 1985–1988 (Zacharias and Gaston 1993);
Silent Valley National Park, uncommon, 1973–1997 (Zacharias and Gaston 1999), in the
upper regions, 1994 (Vijayan et al. 1999); Thodukky range, Palghat district, 1994–1997
(Vijayan et al. 1999); Munnar, one, January 1996 (P. Holt in litt. 1999); unspecified location
in “Malabar”, pre-1888 (specimen in BMNH), and “hills east of Cannanore” (Kannur),
undated (specimen in BMNH);
INDIA
B A Y
O F
B E N G A L
KARNATAKA
5 9
1 6
7
8
13
11
2 12
10
3 14 TAMIL NADU
4
KERALA
SRI LANKA
The distribution of Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax cachinnans: (1) Wynaad district; (2) Silent
Valley National Park; (3) Palghat district; (4) Munnar; (5) Naduvattam; (6) Kalhatti; (7) Kotagiri; (8) Doddabetta;
(9) Udagamandalam; (10) Mukurti National Park; (11) Wellington; (12) Coonoor; (13) Avalanche; (14) upper
Bhavani.
Historical (pre-1950) Recent (1980–present) Undated
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Garrulax cachinnans
■ Tamil Nadu Naduvattam (Neddivittum), 1977 (specimens in BNHS), two, 1986 (Harrap
1986b), November 1994 (Gee 1995), 2–4 on each of six visits, January 1994–January 1998 (P.
Holt in litt. 1999); Kalhatti (Kallatti) February and March 1947 (two specimens in USNM),
undated (specimen in USNM); Kotagiri, c.1,200 m, undated (Davison 1883, Hume and Oates
1889–1890), 1923–1925 (specimen in YPM, Whistler ms), 1965, 1977 (specimens in BNHS
and BMNH), and specifically at Longwood shola and Kil Kotagiri, 1997 (A. Bhupathy in
litt. 1997, Gokula and Vijayan 1999); Doddabetta, March 1947 (four specimens in USNM,
YPM); Udagamandalam (Ootacamund, Ooty), 1,800–2,500 m, fairly common in forests and
botanic gardens, etc., recorded from the early nineteenth century down to the present (Jerdon
1839–1840, Betham 1902, Koelz 1947, Khan 1977, 1979, Islam 1987, 1990), and still common
in 1990s, e.g. July 1995 (S. H. M. Butchart in litt. 2000), 1–8 on nine dates, January 1994–
December 1997 (P. Holt in litt. 1999), also nearby at Cairnhill Reserve Forest, in a degraded
shola, 1984 (Robson 1984), four, December 1997 (P. Holt in litt. 1999); Mukurti National
Park, c.1982 (Islam 1985), 1988–1990 (Robertson and Jackson 1992), 1994 (Vijayan et al.
1999), October 1997 (L. Vijayan in litt. 1999); Wellington, 1901 (specimen in BMNH); Coonoor,
undated (at “Chinnaconoor”) (Morgan 1874), 1873 (specimen in AMNH), 1882 (specimen
in BMNH), “very common”, May 1904 (Dewar 1905), not found in 1982 (Islam1985) but
four, January 1996 (P. Holt in litt. 1999); Avalanche, 1943, 1971 (two specimens in BNHS);
upper Bhavani, 1977 (specimen in BNHS), 1994–1997 (Vijayan et al. 1999).
In addition, a few untraced localities fall within a small area in Nilgiri district of Tamil
Nadu. These include Bison swamp, 1994–1997 (Vijayan et al. 1999); Governor’s shola, c.1982
(Islam 1985); Kurtukuli, c.1982 (Islam 1985); and Thalakundah, c.1982 (Islam 1985). In all
probability, the few other untraced localities—Kilmelford, 1935, 1938 (three specimens in
YPM), Parson’s valley, c.1982 (Islam 1985), Portimund, c.1982 (Islam 1985)—are also in
this district.
POPULATION In the nineteenth century, Davison (1883) judged the Rufous-breasted
Laughingthrush to be “exceedingly numerous” on the plateau and upper slopes of the Nilgiris,
being “one of the most characteristic birds” of these hills, occurring “wherever there are a
few bushes or a little scrub”. In early twentieth-century accounts it continued to be called
“extremely common” (Baker 1922–1930) or “exceedingly common” (Whistler and Kinnear
1931–1937) wherever sufficient cover remained; around 1900 it was “very common” around
Coonoor (Dewar 1905), and very common at Udagamandalam, although noted as possibly
declining (Betham 1903).
Although it remains locally abundant, the species occupies a highly restricted range where
suitable habitat is diminishing rapidly, and thus its overall numbers might well now be low
and declining. Its population centre is the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu; it is generally a rare and
local bird in Kerala. In this latter state it is “uncommon” at Silent Valley National Park
(Gaston and Zacharias 1996, Vijayan and Gokula 1999, Zacharias and Gaston 1999), rare in
Wynaad (Zacharias and Gaston 1993, 1999) and absent almost everywhere else. In Tamil
Nadu, however, it is common in the high ground of the Nilgiris. During a study in these hills
between 1994 and 1997 population density in undisturbed shola forests was calculated to lie
at 160–210 individuals per km 2 , while in disturbed shola forests it was 90–130 per km 2 , while
in completely altered habitat (wattle or Acacia plantation) numbers were much lower, with
only 20–40 per km 2 (Vijayan and Gokula 1999, Vijayan et al. 1999). According to Khan
(1979) it is absent from Acacia plantations, uncommon (seen on 25–50% of visits) in Eucalyptus
plantations, and irregular (seen on fewer than 25% of visits) in tea plantations. In 1994–1996
seven pairs bred in a disturbed forest of about 4 ha while only one pair bred in a 20 ha wattle
plantation near a stream with rhododendron bushes (Vijayan and Gokula 1999). Population
densities are clearly much higher in natural vegetation types, despite Davison’s (1883) claim
to have found them in any patch of bush or scrub.
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Threatened birds of Asia
ECOLOGY Habitat The species is very similar in its habits and ecological requirements to
its geographically isolated congener the Grey-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax jerdoni (Ali
and Ripley 1968–1998, Islam 1985). It inhabits dense evergreen forest, wooded gardens and
thick scrub (Davison 1883, Betham 1902, Baker 1922–1930), especially shola (ravine or upland
depression) forests with dense undergrowth and shrubs at the edges, at all elevations above
1,200 m but especially above 1,900 m (Baker 1922–1930, Whistler and Kinnear 1931–1937,
Khan 1977, 1978, Islam 1985). It is uncommon in eucalypt, rare in tea and absent in acacia
plantations (Khan 1977, 1978, Vijayan and Gokula 1999). The highest populations occupy
undisturbed natural forests, with lower densities in disturbed natural forests and low
population densities in exotic plantations (Vijayan and Gokula 1999, Vijayan et al. 1999).
The species is evidently group-territorial, each group “consisting of a dozen or more birds”
including a monogamous pair; both sexes defend the territory (Islam 1994; also Baker 1922–
1930). Birds roost mainly on peripheral branches of trees or shrubs (Islam 1985).
Food The species prefers to forage at the forest edge and feeds on invertebrates, nectar,
flowers and fruits, mostly within 3 m of the ground, and mostly in the early morning and late
afternoon (Islam 1987). Baker (1922–1930) reported T. C. Jerdon finding that it feeds
principally on the imported Peruvian cherry Physalis peruviana as well as invertebrates; Ali
and Ripley (1968–1998) reported the use of berries of wild raspberry Rubus and hill guava
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa.
Breeding Breeding occurs between February and the end of June (Hume and Oates 1889–
1890, Baker 1922–1930), with January to July as extremes (Islam 1994); the peak laying
period has variously been identified as May–June (Ali and Ripley 1968–1998), April to early
May (Betham 1902), or January–April (Islam 1994). In 1995–1996 most egg-laying in Upper
Bhavani was recorded in March–April (Vijayan et al. 1999). The nest, a rather bulky but
compact affair with a very deep cup, is constructed of roots, dead leaves, small twigs, grass,
lichen and moss, lined with fine fibres, rootlets, withered bark, cotton wool, fur or feathers
(Hume and Oates 1889–1890, Baker 1922–1930, Bates 1931, Islam 1994). It is placed in the
upright fork of branches in bushes or small trees in forest at a height of 1–4 m (Hume and
Oates 1889–1890, Baker 1922–1930, Islam 1994). Although the species is “fond of thick
jungle”, it usually nests “on the outskirts or in small trees more or less in the open” (Betham
1902). Both sexes apparently take part in all nesting activities (Islam 1994). The clutch generally
comprises two eggs (Islam 1994), sometimes three, apparently never more (Baker 1922–1930),
although 3–5 eggs have been reported at Coonoor (Hume and Oates 1889–1890). The average
incubation and nestling periods were 16 days each, and nesting success was reported to be
60% by Islam (1994).
THREATS The Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush is one of (now) four threatened members
of the suite of 16 bird species that are entirely restricted to the “Western Ghats Endemic Bird
Area”, threats and conservation measures in which are profiled by Stattersfield et al. (1998).
Large-scale conversion of habitats into plantations, reservoirs, crops and human habitations
poses the major threat to this species (Gaston 1985a, Gaston and Zacharias 1996, Vijayan et
al. 1999, Vijayan and Gokula 1999). Plantations of tea, Eucalyptus, and Acacia have been
expanding, and represent the major threat to shola forests and grasslands in the higheraltitude
regions of the Western Ghats (Pramod et al. 1997, Vijayan et al. 1999). The earlier
practice of retaining streams and bordering patches of sholas while converting the forests
and grasslands into plantations has been abandoned, to the detriment of habitat quality and
biodiversity (Khan 1979).
MEASURES TAKEN Silent Valley National Park in Kerala and Mukurti National Park in
Tamil Nadu are the only two protected areas within the range of the species. There are some
sholas partly protected as reserve forests in the upper Nilgiris included in the Nilgiri Biosphere
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Reserve, which however does not in practice provide any habitat protection (L. Vijayan in
litt. 1999). There have been some moves to stop further conversion of forests and grasslands
into plantations in Tamil Nadu (K. S. Neelakantan verbally 1997).
MEASURES PROPOSED Alteration of forests and grasslands remaining in the Nilgiris
have to be stopped. Restoration of these natural habitats can be done in the Upper Nilgiris
with peoples’ participation (Vijayan et al. 1999, Vijayan and Gokula 1999). In the existing
old plantations, measures should be taken to save the undergrowth and shrubs, and all
perennial sources of water and vegetation on their banks (Khan 1979). Extension of Mukurti
National Park to cover some important forest habitat has been suggested, and steps are
being taken according to the park warden (A. Udayan verbally 1999). Regular monitoring
of shola forest populations is also suggested (Vijayan et al. 1999).
REMARKS (1) This use of the scientific name is sensu stricto, with the exclusion of certain
taxa (G. jerdoni, G. f. fairbanki and G. f. meridionalis) regarded by Peters 1931–1987 as
conspecific.
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