First record of Red-tailed Laughingthrush in Danang
© Craig Brelsford Of all the laughingthrush species seen in Danang, none is as eye-catching as the brilliant Red-tailed Laughingthrush. A rare and illusive bird typically found in the Central Vietnamese highlands. By Maurizio Saroli Laughingthrushes are among the most recognisable bird groups in Asia. Their heavy bodies, strong bills and loud social calls make them conspicuous wherever they occur. Vietnam is especially important for this family: several species are endemic or near‑endemic, and others reach their distribution limits here. For birders, they are both a challenge and a reward—often skulking in dense cover, yet unforgettable once seen. The country’s mountains host a suite of laughingthrushes that are either restricted to the Annamites or have their core populations here. Ngoc Linh, Bach Ma and Kon Tum are names that resonate with birders precisely because of these species. The White‑cheeked Laughingthrush, for example, is largely confined to Vietnam and Laos, while the Blac...