Yellow-billed Babbler

Description:

Endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka, the Yellow-billed babbler is very similar to the Jungle Babbler with which it is often confused. Watch out for its pale spot in front of the eyes and a pale crown that contrast with the dark throat and cheeks giving it a pale capped and blank-faced appearance. It has pale blue eyes and a pale base to its tail. Yellow-billed Babblers prefer drier habitats than the Jungle Babbler, though they can sometimes be seen in the same vicinity as Jungle Babblers. Also gregarious and noisy like the Jungle Babbler.

Habitat:

This species is patchily distributed in southern India and Sri Lanka. The nominate subspecies is found in Andhra Pradesh, south of the Godavari river and Karnataka south of Belgaum into Tamil Nadu. It prefers lower altitudes and drier habitats than the Jungle Babbler but sometimes is found alongside it. The Sri Lankan subspecies is found in the lowlands and hills up to about 1500m avoiding heavy forest.The Yellow-billed Babbler lives in flocks of seven to ten or more. It is a noisy bird, and the presence of a flock may generally be known at some distance by the continual chattering, squeaking and chirping produced by its members. One member often perches high and acts as a sentinel while the remaining members of the flock forage on or close to the ground. They feeds mainly on insects, but also eat fruit, nectar and human food scrap. They have been known to take "Calotes versicolor" lizard and whip-scorpions. They do not fly long distances, the maximum distance flown non-stop was about 180 m and prior to flying, they usually gain height by moving up a tree or tall shrub. Black Drongos, Rufous Treepies and Indian Palm Squirrels are often seen foraging near these babblers. Birds wake up before dawn around 6 AM and begin foraging. They are relatively inactive in the hot hours of the day from 1330 to 1630. They assemble in groups around 1900 hrs and preen themselves before going to roost. Members of a group roost next to each other with some juveniles wedging themselves in the middle of the group. When foraging the sentinel bird calls with wing fluttering and hopping. Allopreening is a common activity, particularly in winter, and members may beg for food from other members. Yellow Billed Babblers particularly like to take baths, and may visit birdbaths in their general territories, usually around late afternoon to evening time. Sometimes these birds have been observed visiting birdbaths at around 18:30hours, after sunset, when darkness is beginning to set in. A study in the Sivakasi plains noted that groups had a home range of 0.4 km2 and the population density was about 55 birds per km2.

Notes:

In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as "demalichcha" in Sinhala Language.