Aspects of the breeding biology of the Arrowmarked Babbler Turdoides jardineii in South Africa

Abstract

The breeding success of 18 groups of Arrowmarked Babblers Turdoides jardineii was followed in the 1992–1993 breeding season. The first eggs were laid in late October 1992 and the last eggs in February 1993. Group size was positively correlated with territory size. However, neither group size nor territory size was correlated with the number of offspring raised by a group. Extra adults in a group may not have enhanced the reproductive output of the breeding pair, but they helped in the defence and enlargement of a territory in a saturated habitat.

Importance of woody vegetation for foraging site selection in the Southern Pied Babbler (Turdoides bicolor) under two different land use regimes

“…In contrast, group size is not related to reproductive success in other babbler species (Arrow-marked Babbler, Turdoides jardineii, Monadjem et al, 1995; Bare-cheeked Babbler, Turdoides gymnogenys, Shaw and Shewry, 2000). Nevertheless, although additional group members in the Arrow-marked Babbler did not increase the reproductive success, they helped to defend and to enlarge the territories (Monadjem et al, 1995).…”

“…Nevertheless, although additional group members in the Arrow-marked Babbler did not increase the reproductive success, they helped to defend and to enlarge the territories (Monadjem et al, 1995).…”

The range, abundance and habitat of Hinde’s Babbler Turdoides hindei: fine-scale changes in abundance during 2000–2011 reflect temporal variation in scrub cover

“…Despite this, observer coverage throughout most of the species’ range remains poor, as indicated by the disparity between its EOO and AOO, which differ by a factor of 4.3. Also, since Turdoides species tend to show limited dispersal (Gaston 1978a,b, Zahavi 1990, Monadjem et al 1995, Raihani et al 2010), Hinde’s Babblers are unlikely to rapidly colonise new areas far from established populations. There is, therefore, a strong likelihood that sites newly discovered during 1991–2011, which include the largest known population (at Mukurweini), had been occupied hitherto, but overlooked.…”