The babbler is a family of birds (Timaliidae), of about 233 species which occur throughout the warmer areas of Asia, some of the species extending to Africa and Australia. Ranging from sparrow-sized to jay-sized, they are a very diverse family. Most species are brown, but some have brightly coloured patches. The Pekinrobin, Leiothrix lutea, is greyish above and red and yellow underneath and on the wings. The white-crested laughing thrush, Garrulax leucolophus, one of about forty-five laughing thrushes, is mainly brown but with a striking white head and chest, a black eye-stripe, and bright red eyes. Other groups within the family include parrotbills and the African rockfowl. Most are insectivorous, catching their food with a long, thin beak. Some of the tree-babblers have strongly curved beaks which they use for probing into soft wood and leaves. Many species live in groups of six to twelve and defend a joint territory. The name also applies to the five species of Australo-Papuan babblers, Poma tostomidae. Research Babbler
Abbreviations
Research Babbler
