From Opus

Photo by Rakesh
Location: Diwe Ghat, Pune India

Turdoides caudata

Includes Afghan Babbler

[edit] Identification

23cm.

• Very long-tailed Babbler
• Slender, slightly downcurved bill
• Dark eyes
• Strong dark streaks on pale buff to grey upperparts
• Unmarked pale underparts

Huttoni and salvadori are larger and have a heavier, longer bill and a longer tail. They are paler and greyer with weaker streaking.

[edit] Confusion species

Spiny Babbler in Nepal is darker above and paler below. Iraq Babbler in Iraq and western Iran is less streaked. Striated Babbler in northern India and Pakistan has a dark throat.

[edit] Distribution

Found in South Asia: From southern Iraq, patchily in Iran to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Resident.

[edit] Taxonomy

Four subspecies accepted:

• T. c. caudata in Pakistan, most of India, Nepal and Bangladesh
• T. c. eclipes in northern Pakistan and adjacent India
• T. c. huttoni in southwest Pakistan, Afghanistan and southeast Iran
• T. c. salvadorii in Iran and Iraq

Salvadori and huttoni are sometimes split as Afghan Babbler, Turdoides huttoni.
This species is also sometimes placed in genus Argya.

[edit] Habitat

Dry open scrubland, semi-deserts, thorn-scrub, sandy floodplains and rocky hills.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds mainly on insects but takes also grains, berries and nectar. Forages in noisy groups of 6 - 7 birds (called Seven Sisters in India, a name which is also used for Yellow-billed Babbler) but groups can be bigger. In Iraq and Iran mixed flocks with Iraq Babbler occur.
Breeding season all year. May breed several times a year. Co-operative breeder with complex family structures. The nest is a neat, deep cup, made of grasses and placed in a bush or a small tree. Lays 3 - 5 eggs.

[edit] References

1. 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

1. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

[edit] External Links