“White-whiskered Laughingthrush (Garrulax morrisonianus) are endemic to Taiwan and I was looking forwards to meeting them again. They are extremely friendly birds, often in a pair or small flock, sociable and will approach at close distances. They are bird you could watch all day long.
“Located at high altitudes above 2,000 meters ASL but will move lower in winter to 1,500 meters (Avifauna of Taiwan, 2nd edition; Brazil 2009). Pair are monogamous and stay together even in non-breeding periods.
“Locally they are called the Taiwan Laughingthrush or ‘Four eye-browed thrush’ due to the striking double white stripes, one sub-moustachial the other a supercilium. The head and neck appear ‘scaly’ and there is a lovely olive-gold wing panel, mirrored by a blue-grey and a similar colour scheme to the tail.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
17th January 2019
Location: Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area, Taichung City County, Taiwan
Habitat: 2,000-2,500 meter ASL, forested region