About Turdoides squamiceps (Cretzschmar, 1827)
This species, commonly called the Arabian babbler, measures 26 to 29 cm (10 to 11 in) in length, with a wingspan of 31 to 33.5 cm (12.2 to 13.2 in) and a body weight of 64 to 87.9 g (2.26 to 3.10 oz). It has a fairly long curved bill, a long tail, rounded wings, and strong legs and feet. Its upper plumage is grey-brown, and its underparts are paler. Dark streaks mark its back, and its throat is whitish. It produces a variety of calls including whistles, trills, and chattering. The Arabian babbler prefers to settle along dry river beds with few trees and bushes. It is found in eastern, southern, and western Arabia, occurring in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, and western Saudi Arabia, but it is absent from the central and north-eastern parts of the Arabian peninsula. Its range extends north to Jordan, Israel, and eastern Sinai. It inhabits arid scrubland and savanna, and can be found at elevations up to 2800 metres above sea level in Yemen.
