Common Babbler (Turdoides caudata)

Common Babbler

The Common Babbler (Turdoides caudata) occurs from Iraq and Iran in the east until India in the west. Throughout its range it favours dry open scrub areas where it feeds on insects, berries, and seeds. Usually moving aroung in groups of six to twenty individuals, I found this bird all alone, sitting in a bush near the archaeological excavations of Dholavira on Khadir Island in Kachchh, India, in January 2014. Characteristic is it’s brown colour, the slim long tail, and the just so slightly curved bill. The birds are really quite social and breed in small groups. Not rarely, a breeding pair even receives help by individuals (possibly from the previous brood?) which bring food for the young or brooding females.