The Arrowmarked Babbler

Arrow-marked babblers (Turdoides jardineii) are noisy birds that are a feature of gardens in our village. In Afrikaans they are known as Pylvlekkatlagters.

The Arrow-marked Babbler is a medium sized babbler. 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 iris is bright red and the inner ring of the eye bright yellow or orange. The males and females are identical in appearance.

The Arrowmarked Babbler

The Arrow-marked Babbler lives in social groups of between 3 to 15 birds that defend large territories, with the size of the territory being dependent upon the number of individuals in the group.

The Arrow-marked Babbler lives in social groups of between 3 to 15 birds

They keep in contact with each other by using their ratchet-like calls, which build up to a peak and then die away. Our Boer ancestors nicknamed the Maxim machine gun used by British forces in the Anglo-Boer War, the "Katlagter", due to the machine gun like cackling sounds made by the birds.

The Maxim machine gun used by British forces in the Anglo-Boer War was nicknamed "Katlagter" by the Boers

They feed on insects, spiders and sometimes snails and lizards, as well as fruit. Foraging occurs near the ground, sometimes in association with other babblers.

Nesting in Limpopo Province takes place throughout the year. The nest of the arrow-marked babbler consists of a bulky bowl of grass and twigs that is lined with softer materials, and it is placed quite low down, but in dense cover. The female lays three unmarked blue-green eggs that are incubated but both parents as well as some adult helpers, who also help to feed the chicks.

The female Arrowmarked Babbler lays three unmarked blue-green eggs

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