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.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	533	Turdoides jardineii jardineii
2nd	533	Turdoides jardineii
3rd	533	Turdoides jardineii
4th	533	Turdoides jardineii
5th	560	Turdoides jardineii
6th	560	Turdoides jardineii
7th	661	Turdoides jardineii

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	533	Jardine's Babbler
2nd	533	Arrow-marked Babbler
3rd	533	Arrow-marked Babbler
4th	533	Arrow-marked Babbler
5th	560	Arrowmarked Babbler
6th	560	Arrowmarked Babbler
7th	661	Arrow-marked Babbler

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	533	Gewone-katlagter
2nd	533	Gewone Katlagter
3rd	533	Pylvlek Katlagter
4th	533	Pylvlek Katlagter
5th	560	Pylvlekkatlagter
6th	560	Pylvlekkatlagter
7th	661	Pylvlekkatlagter

References and further reading

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 222

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 162

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 181

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 147

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 310

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 296

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 486

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 492

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 364

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 378

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 258

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 284

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 310

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 310

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 81

More Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 43

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 218

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 156

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 110

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 64

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 183

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 54

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 73

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 198

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 164

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 73

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 217

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 73

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List of South African Birds