Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scaly Babbler
Turdoides squamulata
Scaly Babbler (Turdoides squamulata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
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The Scaly Babbler (Turdoides squamulata) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 69.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes & Allies
- Genus Turdoides
- Species squamulata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 69.4 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scaly Babbler is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Scaly Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scaly Babbler (Turdoides squamulata) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 69.4 g, with a wing length of about 10.2 cm and a tail of around 10.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 64,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scaly Babbler?
The Scaly Babbler is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 69.4 g.
Where does the Scaly Babbler live?
The Scaly Babbler is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Scaly Babbler belong to?
The Scaly Babbler (Turdoides squamulata) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Scaly Babbler eat?
The Scaly Babbler is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Scaly Babbler migrate?
The Scaly Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scaly Babbler endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Scaly Babbler make?
1 real field recording of the Scaly Babbler — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Scaly Babbler's range?
The Scaly Babbler has a mapped global range of about 64,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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