General

Hwamei: Medium sized olive-brown laughingthrush with gray on the belly, faint black streaks on head and upper breast, fringes of wing feathers are tinged with brown; faint black barring on dark brown tail. Crown is brown with pale dark brown streaks. Blue-white eye ring and line behind the eye. Lores, cheek, side of neck and chin are brown. Iris is brown to pale yellow-green; bill dull yellow; legs dull yellow to dark flesh. Sexes are similar. Juveniles have faint streaking on upperparts.

Breeding and Nesting

Hwamei: These monogamous birds breed from April to July. They build a large cup-shaped nest out of bamboo leaves and roots, located in a scrub or bamboo clump about 2 meters above ground. The female lays three to five blue or blue-green eggs which she incubates for 15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13 days after hatching. Each pair may raise up to two broods per year.

Foraging and Feeding

Hwamei: These birds are omnivorous and are also considered facultative insectivores, as they feed mainly on insects during the crop season when these are in abundance. After the crop season, they switch to feeding on plant seeds. They are not shy, but are hard to observe in the undergrowth. They forage on the ground in leaf litter and in the understory vegetation for small arthropods and fruit.

Vocalization

Hwamei: Song is sung by the by male is a rich, high-pitched, clear series of melodic whistles and warbling that often includes imitations of other birds. Female has series of monotone calls that are given near the male to prompt a song from him.

Similar Species

Hwamei: Separated from all other similar species by its pale, prominent eyering and line behind the eye.