Bird Guide

Arabian Babbler vs Rufous Babbler

Arabian Babbler (Argya squamiceps)

Arabian Babbler

Argya squamiceps

Medium73 gShrubland

It is 26 to 29 cm (10 to 11 in) long with a wingspan of 31 to 33.5 cm (12.2 to 13.2 in) and a weight of 64 to 87.9 g (2.26 to 3.10 oz). It has a fairly long curved bill, a long tail, rounded wings and strong legs and feet. The plumage is grey-brown above, paler below. There are dark streaks on the back and the throat is whitish. It has a variety of calls including whistles, trills and chattering.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová · cc-by
Rufous Babbler (Argya subrufa)

Rufous Babbler

Argya subrufa

Medium67 gShrubland

This babbler is large and dark olive brown above with a grey forehead. The wing feathers have a rufous tinge. The feathers of the forehead have black shafts. The iris is pale white to yellow and the lores are dark. The underside is bright rufous, and paler on the center of the throat and belly. The nominate form (type location: Mananthawadi) is found in the Western Ghats north of the Palghat Gap while hyperythra found to the south is said to be more richly coloured. They are 25–26 cm long with a wing of 8.7-9.0 cm. The tail is about 11–11.5 cm long.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rufous Babbler
Recorded by Jairam Vijayan · Song · Payyavoor, Kannur, Kerala, India · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rison Thumboor from Thrissur, India · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Arabian Babbler and Rufous Babbler.