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Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Garrulax konkakinhensis

Justification
This laughingthrush qualifies as Vulnerable because it is known from a single site, and is likely to have a very small range which may be susceptible to a variety of threats.

Taxonomic note
Described as new to science by Eames and Eames (2001).

Identification
22 cm. Shy laughingthrush with black-streaked grey forehead, chestnut ear-coverts, boldly and irregularly barred upperparts and white-tipped tail with a broad black sub-terminal band. Similar spp. None within its known range. Voice Song a sweet Turdus-like rambling series of fairly well-spaced and stressed notes, with some mimicry, lasting c. 4-6 seconds.

Distribution and population
Garrulax konkakinhensis was first discovered at Mount Kon Ka Kinh, one of the highest peaks in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Three specimens were collected there in April 1999, including one from a group of at least three individuals. There have subsequently been unpublished records from four locations within Kom Tum Province, including the Mang Canh Plateau in Kon Prong State Forest Enterprise (Mahood et al. in press). It has also recently been recorded in Xe Sap in Laos, where it could be abundant (T. Gray in litt. 2012).

Population justification
The population size is preliminarily estimated to fall into the band 1,000-2,499 mature individuals. This equates to 1,500-3,749 individuals in total, rounded here to 1,500-4,000 individuals.

Trend justification
Little is known of the status of this species, although threats to its habitat appear to be minimal at present, suggesting that its population may be relatively stable.

Ecology
The three specimens were collected between 1,600 and 1,700 m, in the undergrowth of primary upper montane evergreen forest, dominated by tree species from the families Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Theaceae, Ericaceae, Myrtaceae and Araliaceae. On Mount Kon Ka Kinh, from c.1,600 m to the summit (at 1,748 m), the forest canopy height was c.10-15 m, with 20-m trees in flatter areas of the summit plateau. The species has subsequently been recorded down to 1,200 m (Mahood et al. in press, T. Gray in litt. 2012).

Threats
The forests within Kon Ka Kinh Nature Reserve comprise a mosaic of primary and seral forest formations, and, on the evidence of shifting cultivation, indicate a long history of human utilisation. The forest around the type locality was being logged for large, emergent Fokienia hodginsii and in many places the canopy was broken and there were many clearings. Its presence in logged forest indicates some tolerance of disturbed habitat. Hydroelectric power dams and road construction may also be threats (S. Mahood in litt. 2012).

Conservation actions underway
The type locality, Mount Kon Ka Kinh, was recently gazetted as a 41,710-ha nature reserve. If successfully established, it is believed that the future of this population of the species will be secure.

Conservation actions proposed
Conduct further surveys in central Vietnam and Laos to determine its distribution and population size. Study habitat requirements and determine its full altitudinal range. Initiate and expand management, monitoring, training and education in Kon Ka Kinh Nature Reserve.

References
Eames, J. C.; Eames, C. 2001. A new species of Laughingthrush (Passeriformes: Garrulacinae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 121: 10-23.

Mahood, S. P.; Edwards, D. P.; Ansell, F. A.; Craik R. in press. An accessible site for Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Garrulax konkakinhensis. BirdingASIA.

Further web sources of information
Detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001).

Hear sounds for this species from xeno-canto, the community database of shared bird sounds from around the world.

View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
Allinson, T, Benstead, P., Gilroy, J., Taylor, J.

Contributors
Craik, R., Gray, T., Mahood, S.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Garrulax konkakinhensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Additional resources for this species

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Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category	Vulnerable
Family	Timaliidae (Babblers and parrotbills)
Species name author	Eames & Eames, 2001
Population size	1000-2499 mature individuals
Population trend	Stable
Distribution size (breeding/resident)	23 km²
Country endemic?	Yes
Links to further information
- Additional Information on this species