Name of the bird:
Hwamei
Latin name:
Garrulax conorus
State:
Least concern
Scientific classification:
Animal Kingdom
Edge: Chordata
Class: Birds
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Timaliidae
Gender: Garrulax
Species: G. canorus
General information:
Common names include Hwamei Laughing Thrush, Melodious Laughing Thrush, and Chinese Thrush. The name “hwamei” comes from Chinese and means “painted eyebrow” in reference to the distinctive mark around the bird’s eyes. There are three subspecies: G. canorus owstoni, G. canorus taewanus, and G. canorus canorus. Due to the elaborate songs of the males, the Hwamei is the most popular caged bird in the global Chinese community. Hwamei’s song is a loud, clear and varied hiss with regular repetition and imitations of other birds.
Physical description:
The Hwamei is 21 to 25 cm long with broad, rounded wings and a fan-shaped tail. The plumage is reddish brown with dark fillets on the crown, back and throat. There is a white ring around the eye that extends back to the nape of the neck in a white streak. The beak is yellow as are the feet and short legs. G. c. Owstoni it is paler and olive in color. G. c. taewanus it is grayer and the stripes are more evident. This subspecies also lacks the trademark white markings around the eyes. The sexes are similar. Tea
Diet:
The diet is mainly made up of insects, but the Hwame also eat fruits and seeds. They drill for food on the ground in the litter.
Habitat:
The Hwamei inhabit scrublands, secondary forests, parks, and gardens up to 6000 feet above sea level.
G. c. canorus it occurs in southeastern and central China and in northern and central Vietnam and Laos. It has been introduced in Hawaii, Singapore, and Taiwan. G. c. Owstoni is in Hainan while G. c. taewanus is located in Taiwan.
Reproduction:
The breeding season lasts from May to July. One pair is monogamous. A cup-shaped nest is built up to two meters above the ground in a tree, bush, or in undergrowth. Two to five blue or greenish blue eggs are laid. The female will incubate the eggs for 15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents. The young fledge after about 13 days.
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