Jungle Babbler

The jungle babbler ( Turdoides striata ) is a widespread Indian resident. They mostly hunt or forage in groups and create such a racket that you really have to work hard not to spot them. The bird very closely resembles the slightly paler Yellow billed babbler, found in south India. The birds are Omnivorous and on this particular day I spotted them hunting caterpillars. Later in the evening, I also spotted a babbler chasing away a pied crested cuckoo, apparently the cuckoo has a history of parasatising the babblers nest !  

Puff Throated Babbler

Another Babbler today and another bird that enjoys long baths. The Puff Throated Babbler ( Pellorneum ruficeps) is found around the foothills of India's mountain ranges. The bird had a very pleasant whistling sound ( atleast to me) unlike other noisy babblers that I have encountered.
This delightful little bird was spotted at Ganeshgudi in Karnataka. 

Dark Fronted Babbler

This bird is a Western Ghats speciality and another example of how unique India's western Ghats are.  The Dark Fronted Babbler ( Rhopocichla atriceps ) may have a very dull brown plumage, but it has strikingly yellow eyes. Being noisy birds, they are quite easy to locate, but their brisk movements make them a challenge to photograph. I had quietly perched myself near the Babblers favourite bath spot. It was fun to watch them take bath,  followed by a drying routine and then dunking back into the water for a second session of spa. The bird used such force to shake itself dry, that water sprayed on me, nearly ten meters away !!  Photographed at Ganeshgudi, Karnataka. 

Jungle Babblers

These noisy pair of Jungle Babblers, seem to be forever quarreling with each other. But sometimes sounds too can be deceptive. Despite how it sounds, I always see this pair, quite in 'Love'.  

I mostly spot them foraging in groups of 5-7 birds. Its only after their foraging did they decide to spend some personal moments.

Jungle Babbler

This earthy brown untidy looking bird has a tail that seems to be loosely stuck into its body. These birds hunt in groups; generally forage on ground for moths and insects or even feed on figs and berries. They form the nucleus of the mixed hunting parties of birds in a jungle. When attacked by predators like hawks or cats, they group together and chase the predator away.
Hence as a bird watcher, if you see a babbler its good news, because there will be invariably other species of birds around it. Cuckoos also use the nest of the babbler to lay their eggs.
The bird is found all over the subcontinent.
Photographed at Narahari Hill
Sony H-7 camera with 1.7x telephoto