Observation on the Behaviouf of the Southern Common Babbler Turdoides Affinis Taprobanus in the Campus of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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Date
2001-11-16
Authors
Hapukotuwa, N. K.
Santiapillai, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
The Southern Common Babbler Turdoides affinis taprobanus is a very common bird in
Sri Lanka. It lives in flocks ranging in size from 4 to 20 (seldom exceeding 20) birds. Each
flock maintains a home range that varies from 1 - 11 ha. They show various types of behaviour
not only within the flock (intra-specific behaviour) but also with other bird species (inter-
specific behaviour). Intra-specific behaviour includes, spatial behaviour (such as movements in
space range, hopping, resting, perching), maintenance behaviour (manipulation of body
including preening, stretching, bathing, sun-bathing, scratching, sleeping, shaking), nutritional
behaviour (foraging and feeding), agonistic behaviour (physical interactions such as fighting,
playing and communicative interactions such as vocalization), sexual behaviour (songs, mating,
courtship, copulation, territorial defense), nesting behaviour (nest-building, egg-laying,
incubation) and parental behaviour (brooding, nourishing, feeding the young by bringing food
such as larval and adult insects). Most of these behaviour types are common among other
species of birds as well as in the common babbler. But certain behaviour patterns, such as
preening and feeding for instance, are different from other birds and are very interesting.
Preening includes nibbling with the tip of the bill that may remove foreign matter and
ectoparasites. The birds sit on tree branches and preen especially in between feeding. There are
two types of preening, allopreening and autopreening ..When several individuals are clumped
together they often perch facing the same or opposite directions and preen each other. This type
of preening is called allopreening. But some individuals move a little away from the group and
do self-preening. This is called autopreening. The southern common babbler is an omnivore
and it forages in groups of varying size. They feed mainly on insects, vegetable matter and
some fruits. They also feed on wild figs, waste rice and curry, and bread thrown out of the
houses, canteens.
Mainly their two types of inter-specific behaviour types: with the competitors and with
the predators. Mainly they forage with squirrels and common mynahs. They share the same
feeding ground and do not show any serious fights because of the high abundance of food and
wide food habits of babblers. The predator-babbler relationship is different: the babblers
become aggressive towards their predators such as rat snakes, cats, and dogs that enter their
territory.
The behaviour patterns and the activities of the Southern Common Babbler vary
according to the changes in the weather. On sunny days: they are very active and forage through
the entire day (0630 to 1700 h) while on rainy days, they are less active and hence, their
foraging time is much less. They are not aggressive. These birds spend most of their time
foraging on the ground. The habitats of the Southern Common Babbler in the University
Campus include home gardens, grasslands, pine forests, and woodlands. Of these, home
gardens are the most preferred type of habitat. This is due to the high abundance of food such
as waste rice, curry and bread.
Description
Keywords
Science , Turdoides , Taprobanus , Campus
Citation
Proceedings & abstracts of the Annual Research Sessions 2001,University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka,pp.126