Bar-throated Minla
Actinodura strigula
Overview
The bar-throated minla, also known as the chestnut-tailed minla or bar-throated siva, is a species of bird in the laughingthrush and babbler family Leiothrichidae. Although traditionally placed in the genus Minla, it is now classified under Actinodura strigula. Eight subspecies have been described, with six widely accepted across its range.
Habitat
Found in montane forests from India to Malaysia, this species occupies habitats between 1,800–3,750 m, occasionally descending to 1,300 m during harsh winters. It inhabits diverse forest types, including evergreen broadleaf, mixed broadleaf and evergreen, pine, oak and rhododendron forests, as well as rhododendron or bamboo stands.
Diet
The diet is seasonal; during summer, the bird is almost exclusively insectivorous, feeding on beetles, caterpillars, and other insects. In winter, it also consumes berries, seeds, and nectar. Foraging occurs from the canopy down to near the forest floor, and the species may join mixed flocks of other babblers and yuhinas in the non-breeding season.
Did you know?
The species has three common names, bar-throated minla, chestnut-tailed minla, and bar-throated siva, reflecting different regional or historical classifications.