Chestnut-tailed Minla

A flock of about thirty Chestnut-tailed Minla also known as Bar-throated Minla Minla strigula were seen in light woodland near the edge of the main road at the top of the Doi Inthanon National Park. They were mostly vertically above us in bright sunlight but one or two birds came closer which provided me with an opportunity to take this photograph. Despite the bird being partially hidden in the foliage, some of the unusual colours and patterns of this species can be seen in the photo: dull orange crown; white eye ring; grey ear coverts and black moustachial stripe; black and white barring on the throat; yellow undertail and black and white pattern in the wing.

Chestnut-tailed Minla is a species of bird in the laughingthrush family Leiothrichidae. Traditionally, it has been placed in the genus Minla but is also sometimes placed in Actinodura or Chrysominla. The species is found in montane forest from India to Malaysia.

Eight subspecies have been described, of which six are widely accepted. The nominate subspecies, C. s. strigula, is found from central Nepal through India, southern China and Bhutan. C. s. simlaensis is found in northern India and western Nepal, C. s. yunnanensis is found in north-eastern India, southern China, northern Burma, Laos and Vietnam, C. s. castanicauda is found in southern Burma and western and northern Thailand, C. s. malayana is found in Peninsular Malaysia and C. s. traii is restricted to central Vietnam. On this basis, the birds seen are in the subspecies C. s. castanicauda.

Chestnut-tailed Minla occupies a range of montane forest habitats from 1,800–3,750 m (5,910–12,300 ft). The species is mainly resident but may move to lower altitudes during harsh winters, coming as low as 1,300 m (4,300 ft). Among the forest types it may occur in are evergreen broadleaf forest, mixed broadleaf and evergreen forest, pine forest, pine or oak and rhododendron forest, rhododendron or bamboo stands.

Reference: Wikipedia