Arrow-marked Babbler
Arrow-marked BabblerArrow-marked BabblerArrow-marked BabblerArrow-marked Babbler

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Masai Mara National Reserve
513 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
10,469 Verified sightings across all 35 parks From 2019 to 2026
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Arrow-marked Babbler

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. 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... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Black-lored Babbler
LC

Black-lored Babbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdoides sharpei

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
LC

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Yellow-throated Longclaw
LC

Yellow-throated Longclaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Macronyx croceus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Grey-backed Fiscal
LC

Grey-backed Fiscal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius excubitoroides

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Sooty Chat
LC

Sooty Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myrmecocichla nigra

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Yellow-billed Oxpecker
LC

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buphagus africanus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Yellow-fronted Canary
LC

Yellow-fronted Canary

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Crithagra mozambica

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Purple Grenadier

Purple Grenadier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Uraeginthus ianthinogaster

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Red-billed Oxpecker

Red-billed Oxpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~60%
2 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
3 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
4 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~40%
5 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
6 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
7 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~30%
8 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
9 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~30%
10 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
11 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
12 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~20%
13 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
14 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
15 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
16 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~20%
17 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~20%
18 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
19 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
20 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
21 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
22 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
23 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
24 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
25 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
26 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
27 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
28 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
29 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
30 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
31 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
32 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
33 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
34 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
35 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Arrow-marked Babbler in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Arrow-marked Babbler sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 513 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Arrow-marked Babbler in Masai Mara National Reserve?

October has the highest sighting rate for Arrow-marked Babbler in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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