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Arrow-marked Babbler
Afrikaans name: Pylvlekkatlagter
Above - Arrow-marked Babbler
Photo © Steven Herbert
Turdoides jardineii
Arrow-marked Babblers are noisy creatures that go around in small flocks of up to 10 birds. They are mainly found in the north-eastern regions of South Africa.
They prefer thickets interspersed with tall grass. They spend most of their time low down in bushes or on the ground in search of food.
Favourite foods include grasshoppers, caterpillars, termites and ants, but they will pretty much eat any insect or spider that is not too big to swallow.
Nesting time is a team effort with the breeding pair being assisted by a number of helpers. The nest is made in a dense thicket close to the ground. Normally 3 greenish-blue eggs are laid and the female is assisted by the helpers in incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks.
References and further reading
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 73Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 73
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 54
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 156
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 492
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 486
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 310