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. 2023 Jul;26(4):1449-1452.
doi: 10.1007/s10071-023-01778-x. Epub 2023 May 12.

First record of geophagy in Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata) prior to egg-laying: an instinct for calcium supplement

Priyanka Jena  1 , Sakti Prasad Pattnayak  1 , B Anjan Kumar Prusty  2
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First record of geophagy in Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata) prior to egg-laying: an instinct for calcium supplement

Priyanka Jena et al. Anim Cogn. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Geophagy has been documented in different animal taxa including Aves and particularly in Passeriformes. However, no geophagic activity has been reported in the genus Turdoides of the family Leiothrichidae belonging to the passerine order. Studies reveal the behaviour of geophagy to be aiding in nutrient supplementation, toxin neutralisation, cytoprotection, gut pH stabilisation and parasite liberation. Here, we provide a record of geophagy in Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata in a peri-urban area of Berhampur city in India. Although this species, being insectivorous, was thought to be feeding on insects, nevertheless, close observations confirmed the activity to be a case of geophagy, which was followed up by nest-building, egg-laying and hatching. The soil samples from the geophagic sites (Ca = 2415 mg/kg) contained 130% more Ca than that of the non-geophagic sites (Ca = 1050 mg/kg). The biochemical requirement of calcium throughout the reproductive phase of Turdoides sp. may corroborate the soil consumption instinct, which was also extrapolated from the reproductive success observed, because the demand for calcium in birds remains high during the egg-laying time. Although the possible explanations for geophagy, reported for the first time in this species, were oriented specifically towards Ca supplement, the present findings provide impetus for furthering research in this domain.

Keywords: Calcium; Egg-laying; Geophagy; Nutrient supplement; Soil consumption.

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