31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

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

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.

31-5-2019 THORNTREE CAMP, ZAMBIA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

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 outer iris is bright red and the inner bright yellow or orange. Males and females are identical in appearance. Juveniles have brown eyes and less arrow-shaped streaking on the breast.

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.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/15052-Turdoides-jardineii

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

17-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

The arrow-marked babbler, scientifically known as Turdoides jardineii, is a medium-sized bird belonging to the family Leiothrichidae. It measures between 22 to 25 cm in length and tips the scales at a modest 56 to 85 grams. Its plumage is a study in understated elegance, with brownish-grey tones adorning the upper parts and a paler hue below. The feathers on the throat, neck, and head are tipped with white, creating a distinctive pattern from which its name is derived. A striking feature of this bird is its eyes, which boast an outer ring of bright red and an inner circle of either bright yellow or orange. Males and females are visually indistinguishable, while the juveniles can be identified by their brown eyes and less pronounced arrow-shaped markings on the breast.

When attempting to identify the arrow-marked babbler, look for the characteristic white-tipped feathers on the head and neck, as well as the unique coloration of the eyes. The bird's size and the arrow-shaped streaks on the breast are also key identification features.

The arrow-marked babbler is a denizen of the southern Afrotropics, where it favors the subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savannas, and moist shrublands.

This species has a wide range across the African continent, being found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Arrow-marked babblers are social creatures, living in groups that typically number between three and fifteen individuals, with six being the average. These groups are territorial, with the size of their domain varying according to the number of birds in the group. They are known to forage near the ground, often in the company of other babblers or bulbuls, in search of their varied diet.

The diet of the arrow-marked babbler is quite diverse, including insects, spiders, and occasionally snails and lizards. They also partake in fruits, which they forage for close to the ground.

The arrow-marked babbler is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that, for now, this species does not face any immediate threat of extinction.