From Opus

Photo by Jugal Tiwari
Bandh baretha Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, May 2008

Alternative name: Earle's Babbler

Turdoides earlei

[edit] Identification

With 24 - 25 cm a fairly large Turdoides-babbler:

• Pale brown below with rufous-mottled throat
• Yellow bill with dark tip
• Pale yellow eyes
• Heavy black streaks on crown, also streaked on mantle
• Fine streaked on thraot and breast

[edit] Similar species

May be confused with Common Babbler or Striated Grassbird.

[edit] Distribution

Found from Pakistan (Indus river system) over northwest and north India (Ganges and Brahmaputra river valleys) and south Nepal to Bangladesh and Burma. Resident and locally common species.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies recognized:

• T. e. earlei from northern India east over south Nepal to Bangladesh and Burma
• T. e. sonivia in Pakistan and northwest India

This species is sometimes placed in genus Argya.

[edit] Habitat

Marsh grassland, reedbeds, sometimes in sugarcane and bushes around rice paddies.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects, snails and vegetable matter. Forages mainly above the ground in grass and reeds.
Usually found in flocks of seven to ten birds, sometimes more.
Breeding season all year with a peak between March and October. A co-operative breeder with several broods a year. The nest is a massive cup made of grasses, leaves and roots. It's placed in the reed, in a small bush or in a small tree, usually close to the ground. Lays 2 - 4 eggs.
Brood parasitism by Pied Cuckoo is reported.

[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