- Turdoides caudata
Identification
23cm.
- Very long-tailed Babbler
- Slender, slightly downcurved bill
- Dark eyes
- Strong dark streaks on pale buff to grey upperparts
- Unmarked pale underparts
Confusion species
Spiny Babbler in Nepal is darker above and paler below. Striated Babbler in northern India and Pakistan has a dark throat.
Distribution
Found in South Asia: From southern Pakistan to India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Resident.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies accepted:
- T. c. caudata in Pakistan, most of India, Nepal and Bangladesh
- T. c. eclipes in northern Pakistan and adjacent India
Afghan Babbler was formerly considered conspecific.
This species is also sometimes placed in genus Argya.
Habitat
Dry open scrubland, semi-deserts, thorn-scrub, sandy floodplains and rocky hills.
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.
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.
References
- 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
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Common Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Babbler
