The rufous-chinned laughingthrush was described by the English ornithologist and bird artist John Gould in 1835 from a specimen obtained in the Himalayas.

[2] The type locality was restricted to the state of Sikkim in northeast India by Stuart Baker in 1920.

[5][6] Six subspecies are recognised:[6] This mid-sized laughingthrush is found along the Himalayas and can be identified by the combination of the black cap and band on the brown tail.

A distinctive pale loreal patch of buff colour and a broad dark moustachial stripe which borders the rufous chin and ear coverts are identifying features.

[7] It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam.