Habitat use by the globally endangered Hinde's Babbler Turdoides hindei and its sympatric relative, the Northern Pied Babbler T. hypoleucus

Abstract

We examined and compared territoriality and habitat use of two congeneric babbler species in Kirinyaga district, central Kenya, with the aim of explaining their differences in global conservation status. Hinde's Babbler Turdoides hindei is a scarce, globally Endangered species whereas Northern Pied Babbler T. hypoleucus is much more abundant and widespread, and occurs throughout the range of Hinde's Babbler. Our findings suggested a lack of flexibility in the choice of habitat by Hinde's Babbler, whose territories were centred on a scarce habitat type: Lantana thickets in river valleys or near swamps. The two species showed similar daily foraging ranges but Hinde's Babbler occupied smaller group territories, whose size was not related to group size. Aggressive encounters between the two species occurred over shared feeding grounds, all of which were initiated and won by Hinde's Babbler. Its dependence on Lantana thickets makes Hinde's Babbler highly susceptible to further habitat loss within its range.