Afghan babbler

Afghan babbler
In Kuwait
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Leiothrichidae
Genus: Argya
Species:
A. huttoni
Binomial name
Argya huttoni
(Blyth, 1847)
Synonyms
  • Turdoides huttoni

The Afghan babbler (Argya huttoni) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is found from southeastern Iraq to south western Pakistan. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the common babbler.

When compared to the common babbler, the Afghan babbler has a heavier bill and dark streaks on the breast and sides. The vocalizations are also different.[1][2] The variation is sometimes considered to be clinal but two subspecies have been recognized.[3][4][5] The Afghan babbler group includes salvadorii (De Filippi, 1865) found in Iraq and western Iran and huttoni (Blyth, 1847) from eastern Iran through Afghanistan east to southwestern Pakistan.

The Afghan babbler was formerly placed in the genus Turdoides but following the publication of a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study in 2018, it was moved to the resurrected genus Argya.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Rasmussen, P.C. "Biogeographic and conservation implications of revised species limits and distributions of South Asian birds". Zool. Med. Leiden. 79 (13): 137–146.
  2. ^ Collar, NJ (2006). "A partial revision of the Asian babblers (Timaliidae)" (PDF). Forktail. 22: 85–112. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-15.
  3. ^ Deignan, H; RA Paynter Jr.; S D Ripley (1964). Mayr, E; Paynter RA Jr. (eds.). Check-list of Birds of the World. Volume 10. Museum of Comparative Zoology. pp. 332–333.
  4. ^ Abdulali, Humayun; D'Cunha, Eric (1982). "On the validity of Turdoides caudatus eclipes (Hume)". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 79 (1): 199–200.
  5. ^ Vaurie, C (1953). "Systematic notes on Palearctic birds no. 3. Turdoides caudatus and Turdoides altirostris". Am. Mus. Novit. 1642: 1–8. hdl:2246/4963.
  6. ^ Cibois, A.; Gelang, M.; Alström, P.; Pasquet, E.; Fjeldså, J.; Ericson, P.G.P.; Olsson, U. (2018). "Comprehensive phylogeny of the laughingthrushes and allies (Aves, Leiothrichidae) and a proposal for a revised taxonomy". Zoologica Scripta. 47 (4): 428–440. doi:10.1111/zsc.12296.
  7. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Laughingthrushes and allies". World Bird List Version 9.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  • Collar, N. J. & Robson, C. 2007. Family Timaliidae (Babblers) pp. 70 – 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.