- Argya huttoni
Turdoides huttoni
Identification
20–26 cm (7¾-10¼ in)
- Very long-tailed Babbler
- Slender, slightly downcurved bill
- Dark eyes
- Dark streaks on pale grey upperparts
- Unmarked pale underparts
Confusion species
Iraq Babbler in Iraq and western Iran is less streaked. Striated Babbler in northern India and Pakistan has a dark throat.
Distribution
Found in southwest Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.
Resident.
Taxonomy
Formerly considered conspecific with Common Babbler.
This species is also sometimes placed in genus Turdoides.
Subspecies
Two subspecies accepted[3]:
- T. h. huttoni in southwest Pakistan, southern Afghanistan and southeast Iran
- T. h. salvadorii in southwest Iran and southeast Iraq
Habitat
Dry open scrubland, semi-deserts, thorn-scrub, sandy floodplains and rocky hills.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects but takes also grains, berries and nectar. Forages in noisy groups of 6 - 7 birds but groups can be bigger. In Iraq and Iran mixed flocks with Iraq Babbler occur.
Breeding
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
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Afghan Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Afghan_Babbler
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
