- Turdoides squamiceps
Identification
26-29 cm
- Grey-brown above, with dark streaks on the back
- Paler below
- Whitish throat
- Long curved bill
- Long tail
- Rounded wings
- Strong legs and feet
Distribution
Africa, Middle East
Northern Africa: Egypt
Middle East: Israel, Jordan, Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
- T. s. squamiceps:
- Arabian Peninsula (Dead Sea depression to south-western Saudi Arabia)
- T. s. yemensis:
- T. s. muscatensis:
- Arabian coast of Gulf of Oman
Habitat
Acacia Desert, scrubland and savanna.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes insects, small vertebrates, leaves, berries and seeds.
Breeding
It builds a large cup shaped nest from grass, twigs and other plant material. Three to five turquoise eggs are laid which are incubated for 13 to 14 days; the young birds fledge after about 14 days.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Arabian Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Arabian_Babbler
