The chestnut-hooded laughingthrush (Pterorhinus treacheri) measures around 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in) in length and displays sexual dimorphism, with distinctive features in both males and females. The head and chin are chestnut brown, while the upper parts and the side of the neck exhibit a slaty-gray color. A long white wing patch adorns the primaries. The throat, breast, and upper belly are dull yellowish-brown, contrasting with the pure gray flanks. The lower belly, thighs, and vent are reddish-brown, while the tail is darker gray with a blackish tip. A yellow half eye-ring is positioned behind and below the eye. The bill is a dull orange to yellowish-brown, and the legs are yellowish.
Subspecies of this bird exhibit slight variations in plumage coloration, such as P. t. damnatus and P. t. griswoldi.
Endemic to Borneo, this bird was initially described as a distinct species in 1879 by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe.
The chestnut-hooded laughingthrush primarily inhabits montane and hill forests, forest edges, disturbed vegetation, and cultivated areas within the mountainous regions of Borneo. It can be found at elevations ranging from 200 m (660 ft) to 3,350 m (10,990 ft).
Omnivorous in nature, chestnut-hooded laughingthrushes feed on arthropods, fruits, and flowers. They forage in small groups and often join mixed-species foraging flocks.
Breeding typically occurs from February to April and in October. The nest is cup-shaped and made of grass, tendrils, leaves, and roots. It is often suspended from a small tree amidst a mass of creepers or ferns. Clutches consist of two glossy, bright blue to greenish-blue eggs.
Despite habitat destruction and fragmentation, the chestnut-hooded laughingthrush is currently classified as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its extensive range and relatively stable population. However, ongoing monitoring is essential to assess any changes in its conservation status.
