Morphometric measurements, diet and breeding of the Common Babbler in southestern Iran. - T. Arbabi, M. Barahuei-Avval, A. Shahriari, A. Khaleghizadeh, M. Seifzadeh. - Berkut. 17 (1-2). 2008. - P. 61-66.
Field observation on ecology and breeding biology of Common Babbler were made around Zabol region from January to July 2008. In total 26 morphometric characteristics of 10 birds were measured with a 0.05 mm precision caliper and were compared based on univariate and multivariate analyses using SPSS and Past programs. Tail length, lacrymal breadth (LB) and height of ramus mandible (HRM) were significantly different between two sexes (p < 0.05). Of 9 gizzards Orthoptera, Coleoptera and Formicidae were present among 88%, 77% and 22% respectively. In Zabol area egg-laying period was between mid-March to late June. Nests were built on tamarisk, pomegranate and date trees. Nests were located at 152.2 cm (n = 6) above the ground. Average of outer and inner diameter of nests (n = 6) was 14.5 and 8.3 cm respectively, and height and depth of cup of nests (n = 2) were 8.5 and 7.6 cm respectively. The eggs were weighed as 2.81 g (n = 20) and egg diameter was determined as 22.53×16.77 mm (n = 20). Clutch size was 5.0 (n = 6) and hatching from early May to early June. [English].
Key words: Common Babbler, Turdoides caudatus, Iran, morphology, breeding, nest, egg, feeding.
Address: A. Khaleghizadeh, Ornithology Lab., Agric. Zool. Res. Dep., Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran, Iran; e-mail: akhaleghizadeh@yahoo.com.