- Turdoides caudata
Includes Afghan Babbler
Identification
23cm.
- Very long-tailed Babbler
- Slender, slightly downcurved bill
- Dark eyes
- Strong dark streaks on pale buff to grey upperparts
- Unmarked pale underparts
Huttoni and salvadori are larger and have a heavier, longer bill and a longer tail. They are paler and greyer with weaker streaking.
Confusion species
Spiny Babbler in Nepal is darker above and paler below. Iraq Babbler in Iraq and western Iran is less streaked. Striated Babbler in northern India and Pakistan has a dark throat.
Distribution
Found in South Asia: From southern Iraq, patchily in Iran to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Resident.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies accepted:
- T. c. caudata in Pakistan, most of India, Nepal and Bangladesh
- T. c. eclipes in northern Pakistan and adjacent India
- T. c. huttoni in southwest Pakistan, Afghanistan and southeast Iran
- T. c. salvadorii in Iran and Iraq
Salvadori and huttoni are sometimes split as Afghan Babbler, Turdoides huttoni.
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. In Iraq and Iran mixed flocks with Iraq Babbler occur.
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
