Arrow-marked babbler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arrow-marked babbler
Two birds calling in Hwange, Zimbabwe
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Turdoides
Species:	jardineii

The arrow-marked babbler (scientific name: Turdoides jardineii) is a type of bird. It belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, which includes many babbler species. You can find this bird living in woodlands across the southern parts of Africa.

Where Do Arrow-Marked Babblers Live?

Arrow-marked babblers live in many countries in southern Africa. These include Angola, Botswana, Burundi, and the DRC. You can also find them in Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, and Mozambique. Other countries where they live are Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

What Kind of Places Do They Like?

These birds prefer certain types of natural homes, called habitats. They like dry forests that are warm all year round. They also live in dry savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees. Sometimes, they can be found in moist shrublands, which are areas with lots of bushes and shrubs.

What Does an Arrow-Marked Babbler Look Like?

The arrow-marked babbler is a medium-sized bird. It is about 22 to 25 cm (8.7–9.8 in) long. This is roughly the length of a ruler. It weighs between 56 to 85 g (2.0–3.0 oz). This is about the weight of a small apple.

Feathers and Colors

The bird's common name comes from its feathers, called its plumage. Its back and wings are brownish-grey. Its belly is a lighter color. The feathers on its throat, neck, and head have white tips. These white tips look a bit like arrows or streaks.

Eye Color

The outer part of its eye, called the iris, is a bright red color. The inner part of the iris is bright yellow or orange. Both male and female babblers look exactly the same. Young babblers, called juveniles, have brown eyes. Their chest feathers have less of the arrow-shaped streaking.

How Do Arrow-Marked Babblers Behave?

Arrow-marked babblers are very social birds. They live in groups that can have 3 to 15 birds. On average, a group has about six birds. These groups work together to protect their home area, called a territory. The size of their territory depends on how many birds are in the group.

What Do They Eat?

These birds mostly eat insects and spiders. Sometimes, they also eat snails and small lizards. They enjoy fruits too. They usually look for food close to the ground. Sometimes, they even search for food with other types of babblers or bulbuls.

Gallery

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  Close-up of head, at Ngwenya Resort, near Kruger N. P.

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  At Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya