Order Passeriformes Higher classification Turdoides | Phylum Chordata Family Leiothrichidae Scientific name Turdoides jardineii Rank Species | |
Similar Bird, Turdoides, Brown babbler, Hartlaub's babbler, Northern pied babbler | ||
Arrow marked babblers
The arrow-marked babbler (Turdoides jardineii) is a species of bird in the Leiothrichidae family.
Contents
- Arrow marked babblers
- Arrow marked babbler bird babbling away at a hide in south africa
- Distribution and habitat
- Description
- Behaviour
- References
Arrow marked babbler bird babbling away at a hide in south africa
Distribution and habitat
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.
Description
The arrow-marked babbler is a medium-sized babbler, 22 to 25 cm (8.7–9.8 in) in length and weighing 56 to 85 g (2.0–3.0 oz). The common name for the species is derived from its plumage, which is brownish-grey above and lighter below, with white tips to the feathers on the throat, neck and head. The iris is bright red and the inner ring of the eye bright yellow or orange. The males and females are identical in appearance.
Behaviour
The arrow-marked babbler lives in social groups of between 3 and 15 birds (six being the average) that defend large territories, with the size of the territory being dependent upon the number of individuals in the group. They feed on insects, spiders and sometimes snails and lizards, as well as fruits. Foraging occurs near the ground, sometimes in association with other babblers or bulbuls.
