It is found in the montane forests of Myanmar, Laos, southern China and central Vietnam The red-tailed laughingthrush was formally described in 1874 by the French Catholic priest and naturalist Armand David under the current binomial name Trochalopteron milnei.

The specific epithet milnei was chosen to honour the French zoologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards.

[4] Four subspecies are recognised:[5] The red-tailed laughingthrush has an overall length of about 26–28 cm (10–11 in) and a weight of about 66–93 g (2.3–3.3 oz).

It is dull ochrous-grey, with a bright rufous-chestnut crown and a blackish face, with whitish ear-coverts.

[7] These birds mainly inhabit the understorey of broadleaf evergreen forests,[6] They are strictly montane, usually living at an elevation of 1,800–2,500 metres (5,900–8,200 ft) above sea level.