Alternative name: Hinde's Pied-Babbler
- Turdoides hindei
Identification
With 20 - 23cm (7¾-9 in) a smallish piebald Turdoides-babbler. No two individuals quite alike:
- Dark brown with extensive white scaling
- Buff flanks
- White belly
- Partial albinism occurs frequently with white tips on wings and tail (asymmetrically), rufous markings may appear anywhere on head and body
- Red eyes
- Black legs
Distribution
Kenya, near Mt Kenya.
A scarce and very local restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1]..
May form a superspecies with Scaly Babbler, Northern Pied-Babbler and Sharpe's Babbler.
Habitat
Thickets and woodland within semi-arid areas and moist, fertile land largely cleared for agriculture.
Behaviour
Diet
No information about diet, feeds probably on invertebrates, berries and seeds.
Usually seen in groups of 4 - 8 birds.
Breeding
Breeding season in February, April and from August to October. Co-operative breeder. Clutches of 2-3 eggs are laid in nests built at 1-3 m, usually in thickets. The nest is an open cup made of grass.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Photo © by Valéry Schollaert
Thika, Kenya, May 2010
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Hinde's Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Hinde%27s_Babbler
