Photo: Vivek Puliyeri / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Babbler
Argya subrufa
Rufous Babbler (Argya subrufa) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous Babbler (Argya subrufa) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 66.7 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 Argya
- Species subrufa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 66.7 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 Rufous 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 Rufous Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Babbler (Argya subrufa) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 66.7 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 11.3 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 178,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Babbler?
The Rufous Babbler is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 66.7 g.
Where does the Rufous Babbler live?
The Rufous Babbler is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous Babbler belong to?
The Rufous Babbler (Argya subrufa) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous Babbler eat?
The Rufous Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Babbler migrate?
The Rufous Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous 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 Rufous Babbler make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous Babbler — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous Babbler's range?
The Rufous Babbler has a mapped global range of about 178,000 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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