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ECOLOGY OF THE COMMON BABBLER TURDOIDES CAUDATUS
Author(s) -
GASTON A. J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1978.tb06809.x
Subject(s) - biology , polygyny , cooperative breeding , brood , breed , seasonal breeder , population , ecology , breeding pair , zoology , reproduction , demography , sociology
SUMMARY Some aspects of the ecology and behaviour of the Common Babbler are described. The species resembles most other members of the genus Turdoides in being group territorial and exhibiting cooperative breeding. Females remain with their natal group until 6–9 months old and then disperse. Males, in most cases, remain indefinitely in their natal group so that these essentially constitute male clans. In half of the groups observed only a single pair bred per season, but in some large groups two pairs attempted to breed, one always being unsuccessful, and in other cases one male bred successively with two different females. Overall breeding success was highest for groups in which successive polygyny occurred. Male non‐breeders fed the nestlings more often than female non‐breeders which were sometimes driven off by the breeding female. A positive correlation was found between the number of non‐breeders feeding the nestlings at day 9–11 and the size of the brood. This probably did not indicate a causal relationship. Breeders in large groups continued to moult while breeding, while those in small groups arrested their primary moult. This difference suggests that assistance from non‐breeders may have had some effect in reducing the physical strain on the breeding pair. Observed overall survival of adult birds was 63% per annum, but that of the breeding males was 88% per annum. The population declined by 19% during the period of the study, suggesting that observed rates of survival may have been lower than normal.