Let Them Talk By Gargi Mishra
Bird songs have a sequential pattern. This pattern often defines the species of a bird. So, I feel tagging a few species “vociferous” is not appropriate. Because a bird’s talkative quality/character is directly related to it maintaining social bonds and communication, isolating their own kind from others, maintaining territories and also to maintain the reproductive state of a pair of birds.
A study carried upon White-crested Laughing Thrush, based on ornithologist and ethologist (specialist in animal behaviour) Nicolaas Tinbergen's theory, proved that each member of a pair has a distinct vocabulary of syllables (source: Department of Cellular and Comparative Biology, U.S.A.).
Here, I introduce one of the most talkative children of Mother Nature; WHITE-CRESTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax leiothrichidae). The loud cackling/laughing kind of call has earned its name.
"They are known as the seven sisters in the Kumaon regions. They love to talk a lot," said Mr. Naveen Upadhyay, Director Camp Hornbill. I replied, "They would find a great listener in me and I wouldn't judge them."
The community led enterprise Camp Hornbill (Kyari Village, Uttarakhand) gave me ample opportunities to observe the socio-ecological behaviour and mannerism of this elegant bird.
I feel they form the best orchestra band in the world when in a group. Quite skilled in different types of notes (they use many types of vocalisations to communicate with the members of their flock), undoubtedly, they are world class performers. They can be excellent companions. Though little shy but they drop the armour of shyness once you keep calm and remain still. They love to visit Camp Hornbill to nibble on the sweetest mulberries early in the morning and evening. But I feel they also love to break the slumber of the occupants of the camp with an early morning jazz. And the evening visit is meant to say “good night”!
White-crested laughingthrush are residents of India, found in Himalayan foothills and North-eastern regions. Bamboo jungles, plantations and scrub jungles are their preferred habitats.
They belong to the family 'Leiothrichidae' and recently got separated from the Old-World Babbler family. Their scientific name 'Garrulax leiothrichidae' has Latin as well as Greek origin. 'Garrire' in Latin means "to chatter". In Greek 'leukos' means "white" and 'lophos' means "crest".
The most attractive physical feature of this bird is his/her snowy white crest, head, throat and upper breast. The kohl clad eyes are hypnotising with dark brown or red iris. The dull rufous-chestnut mantle and back give me an impression of tying a scarf around the shoulder (which separates the rest of the body from the head and throat). The chestnut brown body fades into darker olive brown plumage towards the upper wings and tail. Strong black bill and legs help them to toss the dry leaves and catch juicy creepy crawlies and pick up berries and fruits from the ground.
It's very difficult to distinguish a girl White-crested laughingthrush from a boy. But a smaller crest, duller mantle and slightly greyer on the nape are the identification clues of a girl. Juveniles too have shorter crest but they have paler masks, brownish nape, brighter mantle and short tail.
Being omnivorous in nature, they have a wide range of items in their food basket starting from berries, fruits, seeds, nectar, beetles, spiders, flies and even small reptiles to amphibians. All of these are there in the store for the birds at Camp Hornbill to thrive along with bamboo habitats to build their nests.
"They never settle for a single location. I have never seen them perching so calmly for a photo shoot," said Balwantbhai, the ornithologist to us as we got plenty of time to click them in one place. Does that mean they also observe us as much as we do? I wonder!
Photos By: Gargi Mishra
Place: Camp Hornbill, Kyari Village, Uttarakhand
