Pellorneidae – Ground Babblers & Allies

The Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers, Fulvettas, Illadopsis, Wren-babblers etc.) are a family of mostly Old-World passerines. They are often referred to collectively as Jungle Babblers.

Originally placed within Timaliidae as a subfamily, Pellorneidae was elevated into family status following a closer analysis of the superfamily Sylvioidea. Sylvioidea was initially considered too complex to differentiate using morphology due to multiple instances of convergent evolution, and it wasn’t until molecular analysis was conducted that the superfamily was recognised to be non-monophyletic – hence Pellorneidae being recognised as a family.

Ferruginous Babbler Pellorneum bicolor

Unless otherwise attributed, all photos on this page courtesy of ©Nick Ludovic Green Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Horsfield’s Babbler Malacocincla sepiaria

They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The entire family was previously included in the Timaliidae. Morphological diversity is rather high; most species resemble ‘warblers’, jays or thrushes. Pellorneidae are found throughout the tropics of Asia and Africa. Preferring sheltered places, these birds tend to stick to the undergrowth or forest edge.

They are small to medium sized birds, which are, on average, 14 cm long and weigh around 30g, but they range from 10 cm to 26 cm, and 12g to 36g. They have strong legs, and many are quite terrestrial while others are very arboreal. They typically have generalised bills, similar to those of thrushes, jays or warblers. Most have predominantly brown plumage, with minimal difference between the sexes, but many more brightly coloured species also exist. Many jungle babblers have distinctive ‘eyebrows’ and ‘caps’ which may help to differentiate them from similarly-sized and coloured species.

Bornean Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratoides – ©Dubi Shapiro

This group is not strongly migratory, and most species have short rounded wings, and a weak flight. They live in lightly wooded or scrubland environments, ranging from swamp to near-desert. They are primarily insectivorous, although many will also take berries, and the larger species will even eat small lizards and other vertebrates.

Marbled Wren-Babbler Turdinus marmoratus

Jungle babblers are generally non-migratory, social birds, defined by their lack of seasonal plumage and unspotted juvenile plumage. These birds tend to be shy, but a few species are highly territorial and respond to playbacks of their vocalisations.

Breeding behaviour is not well known for all species of jungle babbler, but some birds, such as the Streaked Wren-babbler Napothera brevicaudata, have adapted to their habitat by nesting in holes or shallow cavities in the limestone cliffs and boulders of their region. Others nest on the ground or in trees or shrubs. Care of nestlings by both parents is common, and cooperative breeding is prevalent among babblers.

Black-throated Wren-Babbler Turdinus atrigularis – ©Dubi Shapiro

This family of Asian forest birds is another subset of the once enormous timaliid babbler family. The ground, or jungle babblers are long-legged, short-tailed birds with a simple repertoire of high whistled songs.

Spending most of their time on the ground or in lower vegetation, they are very often heard long before they are seen, in part due to their earthtoned plumage, generally light beneath and with a crown or mask to break up their outlines.

Bornean Wren-Babbler Ptilocichla leucogrammica – ©Dubi Shapiro

The fulvettas in this family are generic passerine birds mostly clad in plain browns, the Golden-fronted Fulvetta being the exception to this rule. Generally common in forest and woodland mid-story, pellorneids repeat their simple songs most of the day, often still singing when most other forest inhabitants have gone silent.