Newsletter / Blog
2012-05-13 Southern Pied Babblers seen at Mopane Bush Lodge
Five Southern
Pied Babblers seen at Mopane Bush Lodge on Aves North West Birding
Tour/Safari/Adventure on the 30th April 2012
Southern
Pied Babbler
The Southern
Pied Babbler - Turdoides bicolor - is endemic to Southern
Africa. It is locally common in arid and semi-arid savanna
woodland across northern Namibia,
Botswana, Zimbabwe and northern South Africa.
Description
Overall white
with a black bill, tail and wings.
Call
Has a distinctive
harsh, chattering call.
Food
Food consists of
a variety of insects supplemented with small reptiles and amphibians, foraging
in groups on the ground, flicking away leaves and twigs in search of prey.
Breeding
They are cooperative
breeders which live in year-round groups of 3-15 birds. The nest is built by
all group members and is typically placed in a fork in the center of a thorny
tree. Eggs are laid from August-April and 2 to 5 eggs are laid which are
incubated for about 16 days. The chicks are fed by all group members. They leave
the nest after 16 days and remain dependent on the group for about 10 more
weeks.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
This species has
a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not
been quantified, the species is described as locally common to very common. The
population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction
and fragmentation, but it is not considered threatened at present.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures
to create an Aves custom tour for you or book on one of the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves North West Birding Tour
/ Safari / Adventure.
References
Roberts - Birds
of southern Africa.
The Bird Guide of
Southern Africa
Wikipedia |