Large grey babbler

The large grey babbler (Turdoides malcolmi) is a member of the family Leiothrichidae found across India and far western Nepal. They are locally common in the scrub, open forest and garden land. They are usually seen in small groups and are easily distinguished from other babblers in the region by their nasal call and the whitish outer feathers to their long tail. It is one of the largest babblers in the region.

Scientific Name : Turdoides malcolmi

Family : Leiothrichidae

Order : Passeriformes

Class : Aves

Type : Laughingthrushes

Conservation Status : Least concern (LC)

Size : 28 cm

Compare Size : Myna +

Wingspan : NA

Weight : 63 - 92 g

Migratory : Resident

Sex Alike : Yes

Nesting Season : Throughout the year

Other Names :

Hindi : गैगई, घुघोई

Marathi : सातभाई, बैरागी, गोसावी, कोयाळी, बामनीन

Habitat:
Dry open scrubbed, Thorn jungle, Cultivation, Village

Breeding:
Eggs - 3 or 4, blue

Feeding:
Small lizards, Molluscs and Arachnids, Seeds, Grains and Berries


Identification Features

Male & Female
Tail long with whitish outer feathers and faintly cross barred
Upperparts except rump ashy-brown but irregular or patchy as the feathers have shade/gradients of ashy-brown colour accross their length
Iris yellow
Lores dark-grey
Forehead grey with white shaft streaks on the feathers
Rump pale grey
Wing darker-brown
Upperparts

Gallery