Vol. 9 No. (2): 120 – 132 (2018): Some aspects of the breeding biology of the African Thrush Turdus pelios Linnaeus 1884 in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

The African Thrush Turdus pelios is a typical Thrush in appearance and habits. It is a
melodious song bird that is native to Africa and is easily recognized by its song. It has a
conspicuously yellow bill and forages mostly in parks and gardens. The sexes are similar and are dull
grey-brown in colour. A study was carried out in order to provide information on the nest, eggs and
nestlings of the African Thrush Turdus pelios in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. The study was conducted
between June and July, 2016. A nest of the African Thrush was discovered by visual observation on
the 12th of June 2016. The nest was located on a Terminalia superba tree in a fork within two
branches. The height above ground of the nest was 5.2 m, measured using a surveyor’s tape. The nest
and its content were accessed with the aid of a ladder. The nest was the “statant cupped” type and
had one egg in it when discovered. The second and third eggs were laid subsequently on the 13th and
14th June, 2016 respectively. The clutch size was three and the eggs were bluish in colour, dotted
with reddish spots. Incubation of the eggs started immediately the last egg was laid and lasted for a
period of two weeks. One of the eggs was hatched on the 28th of June, 2016 and the other two
remaining eggs were not hatched. The breeding success was calculated to be 33.3%. The newly
hatched nestling was naked and blind. Photographs of the nestling were taken on the 4th day after
hatching and at one week after hatching, using a Fujifilm digital camera Fine Pix A700. The nestling
fledged at ten days after hatching and the nest was dismantled for the identification of the nest
materials. The study is evidence of the breeding of the African Thrush in Lokoja and it is likely that
the breeding season of the species in Lokoja falls between June and July. Further study is hereby
recommended in order to provide detailed information on the breeding biology of the species in the
area.