Arrow-marked babbler
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Turdoides jardineii

The arrow-marked babbler (Turdoides jardineii ) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is native to woodlands in the southern Afrotropics.

Appearance

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. Juveniles have brown eyes, and less arrow-shaped streaking on the breast.

Distribution

Geography

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, DRC, Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

Habits and Lifestyle

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.

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Population

References

1. Arrow-marked babbler Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow-marked_babbler
2. Arrow-marked babbler on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22716501/132112005
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/697674

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