Large grey babbler

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Large grey babbler
File:Large Grey Babbler (Turdoides malcolmi) at Hodal Iws IMG 1034.jpg
Adult showing the characteristic pale outer tail feathers, yellow iris, grey rump and dark blotches on mantle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Leiothrichidae
Genus:
Turdoides
Species:
T. malcolmi
Binomial name
Turdoides malcolmi
(Sykes, 1832)
File:TurdoidesMalcolmiMap.svg
Synonyms

Argya malcolmi
Malacocircus malcolmi

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The large grey babbler (Turdoides malcolmi) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in India and Nepal. They are locally common in the scrub, open forest and gardenland. They are usually seen in small groups and are easily distinguished from other babblers in the region by their nasal call and the whitish outer feathers to their long tail. It is one of the largest babblers in the region.[2]

Description

File:Large Grey Babbler I IMG 9618.jpg
At Hodal, India

This long-tailed and large babbler has a brown body with creamy white outer tail feathers which are easily visible as they fly with fluttery wing beats low over the ground. The lores are dark and forehead is grey with white shaft streaks on the feathers. The rump and uppertail covers are pale grey. The mantle has dusky blotches and no shaft streaks.[2] The three outer tail feathers are white and the fourth pair has the outer web white. The wings are darker brown. The iris is yellow and the upper mandible is dark brown while the lower mandible is yellowish. The tail is faintly cross barred.[3] Abnormal specimens showing albinism or leucism have been reported.[4]

The species was first described from the Deccan Plateau region. The scientific name was given by Colonel W H Sykes in appreciation of support that he received from Major-General Sir John Malcolm.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Found throughout the Indian subcontinent, south of the Himalayas, east of the Thar desert until Bihar. The species is not found in Kerala and records from the Sind area are not confirmed. It is found mainly in open dry scrub forest and cultivated areas.[3] It is not found in the eastern dry zone of Tamil Nadu, however an exhausted specimen has been observed in Pondicherry.[6]

Behaviour and ecology

File:The Large Grey Babbler (Turboides malcolmi).jpg
Large grey babbler pecking at its own reflection on a mirror of a bike (Koppal, Karnataka, India)
File:Large Grey Babbler (Turdoides malcolmi)- allopreening in AP W IMG 8050.jpg
Allopreening (Parli, Maharashtra, India)
File:Largegreybabbler.ogg
Calling flock (Recorded in Pune)

The species is found in small flocks which keep in contact with loud nasal calls. Members of the flock may join in defending against predators.[7] Individuals may also mob their own reflections.[8][9][10] They are mostly seen in open scrub country where they forage on or close to the ground. They hop and leap on the ground in search of prey.[11] Individuals in a group may indulge in play behaviour.[12] They feed mainly on insects but also feed on small lizards, molluscs and arachnids. They also feed on seeds, grains and berries.[13] They are found in gardens within some cities such as Pune and Ahmedabad. In other cities such as Bangalore, they are seen only on the outskirts of the expanding urban zone.

They are known to breed through the year but mainly during the rainy season from March to September.[2] The usual clutch is four eggs. The nest is a shallow cup placed in a shrub often of thorny species. Their nests are parasitized by the pied cuckoo[14] and the common hawk-cuckoo.[15] It has been suggested that more than one female may lay eggs in a single nest and help in incubation, however this has not been verified.[3][16][17]

Although secure with a wide distribution, some local populations are threatened by hunting for meat.[18] An endoparasitic cestodes Vogea vestibularis has been described from this species.[19]

References

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Other sources

  • Gupta, R. C. Midha, M. (1997) Breeding Biology of Large Grey Babbler, Turdoides malcolmi. Geobios (Jodhpur, India) 24(4):214-218.
  • Gupta,RC; Midha, Meenu (1995) Drinking and bathing behaviour of Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi (Sykes). Zoos' Print Journal 10(5):23.
  • Gupta,RC; Midha, Meenu (1994) Observations on the behaviour of Large Grey Babbler, Turdoides malcolmi (Sykes). Cheetal 33(2):42-51.

External links

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