Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdoides jardineii
Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 78.2 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 jardineii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 78.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Arrow-marked Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Arrow-marked Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, c, se.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 78.2 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 10 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 5.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Arrow-marked Babbler?
The Arrow-marked Babbler is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 78.2 g.
Where does the Arrow-marked Babbler live?
The Arrow-marked Babbler is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, c, se, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Arrow-marked Babbler belong to?
The Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Arrow-marked Babbler eat?
The Arrow-marked Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Arrow-marked Babbler migrate?
The Arrow-marked Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Arrow-marked 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 Arrow-marked Babbler make?
1 real field recording of the Arrow-marked Babbler can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Arrow-marked Babbler's range?
The Arrow-marked Babbler has a mapped global range of about 5.8 million 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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