Context : A rare and globally endangered bird species ‘Jerdon’s Babbler’ was recently spotted in the buffer zone of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR).
About Jerdon’s Babbler:
- Jerdon’s babbler is a passerine bird native to wetlands and grasslands of the Indian subcontinent.
- Scientific Name: Chrysomma altirostre
- It is a member of the genus Chrysomma of the family Paradoxornithidae.
- Geographic Distribution: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.
- Habitat: It lives all-year-round near river courses, where it inhabits dense reedbeds and tall grasslands.
- Features:
- It has rich brown upperparts and a long brownish-red tail.
- The Jerson’s Babbler has dark legs and feet, and its bill is greyish-horn colored above and pale below.
- The eyes’ irides are yellowish-brown and a thin nude ring of greenish-yellow skin surrounds the eye.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List : Vulnerable
What is a passerine bird?
- Passerine birds, also known as perching birds, belong to the order Passeriformes, which is the largest order of birds, comprising over half of all known bird species.
- Passerines possess the characteristic arrangement of their toes, with three toes facing forward and one toe facing backward, enabling them to firmly grip branches and perch on various surfaces.
- They have a diverse range of sizes, colors, and habitats, ranging from small songbirds to larger birds such as crows and jays.
- Passerines are renowned for their melodious songs and complex vocalizations, which actively play a crucial role in communication, territorial defense, and mate attraction.
- These birds exhibit a wide variety of diets, including insectivorous, frugivorous, nectarivorous, and omnivorous, and can be found in various ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and urban areas.
Key Facts about Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR):
- Location: Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur-Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, including Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur, and Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuaries.
- Rivers: Sharda, Geruwa, Suheli, and Mohana, tributaries of the mighty Ghagra River.
- Habitat: Tarai-Bhabar in the upper Gangetic plains’ Biogeographic province.
- Flora: North Indian Moist Deciduous type with notable Sal forests (Shorea robusta).
- Fauna: Tiger, Langu, Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Mugger, Gharial, Python, and various snake species.
Features
- Typically measures 15 cm in length.
- Long brownish-red tail aids in balance while navigating vegetation.
- Greyish short bill and distinctive round head are key identifying features.
Habitat
- Small flocks, often in pairs.
- Inhabit high/long grasslands, reedbeds, and areas with dense growth near water.
- Floodplains and oxbow lakes are favored habitats.
Distribution
- Predominantly found in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
- In India, mainly in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam (Brahmaputra and Barak valleys), and also in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Nagaland, Punjab.
Threats
- Natural swamp destruction, land reclamation for cultivation.
- Wet grassland degradation from drainage.
- Agriculture, unchecked grazing near habitat.
- Dam construction in Arunachal Pradesh foothills will severely impact the bird.
- Excessive burning, cutting, commercial forestry plantations, and unnecessary human disturbance.
Conservation Status
- It is a threatened bird globally.
- IUCN status – Listed Vulnerable in 1994.
FAQs Related with Jerdon’s Babbler:
Ques 1: What is Jerdon’s Babbler?
Answer: Jerdon’s Babbler (Malacocincla jerdoni) is a species of bird belonging to the family Timaliidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in India.
Ques 2: What are the distinguishing features of Jerdon’s Babbler?
Answer: Jerdon’s Babbler is a small bird, measuring about 15-16 cm in length. It has a dark brown plumage with a pale supercilium, and its underparts are buffy-white. It has a distinct, loud and repetitive call.
Ques 3: What is the habitat and distribution of Jerdon’s Babbler?
Answer: Jerdon’s Babbler inhabits the dense undergrowth and thickets of evergreen forests in the Western Ghats of India, specifically in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This vulnerable species has a limited distribution due to human-induced habitat loss and fragmentation.
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