Arabian Babbler - BirdForum Opus

Sexes similar
Photo © by ammadoux
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, January 2016

Argya squamiceps

Turdoides squamiceps

Identification

Subspecies yemensis
Photo © by WorldInFocus
Taif, Saudi Arabia, February 2018

26-29 cm (10¼-11½ in)

• Grey-brown upperparts, 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

This species is sometimes placed in genus Turdoides.

Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies^[1]:

• A. s. squamiceps:

• Arabian Peninsula (Dead Sea depression to south-western Saudi Arabia)

• A. s. yemensis:

• Yemen and Aden

• A. s. muscatensis:

• Arabian coast of Gulf of Oman

Habitat

Acacia Desert, scrubland and savanna.

Behaviour

Diet

Their diet consists of insects, small vertebrates, leaves, berries and seeds.

Breeding

They construct a large cup shaped nest from grass, twigs and other plant material. The clutch contains three to five turquoise eggs which are incubated for 13 to 14 days; the young birds fledge after about 14 days.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Avibase
3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2018)
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Arabian Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Arabian_Babbler

External Links

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