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jungle babbler, Argya-striata, Seven Sisters

Code: Birds Life
Skills: Birds of India

Project Description

The jungle babbler (Argya striata) is a fascinating bird found in the Indian subcontinent. Jungle Babblers are popularly known as Seven Sisters because of their nature to always stay in a flock of more than six. They are noisy birds and are always ready to defend their territory. Eager for indulging in allopreening or grooming each other, jungle babblers love to chase each other and indulge in mock fights.

Taxonomy and Description:
- The jungle babbler belongs to the family Leiothrichidae.
- It is a common resident breeding bird across most parts of the Indian subcontinent.
- These birds are often seen in gardens within large cities as well as in forested areas.
- Their plumage is generally brownish with streaks, and they have an orange bill.
- Jungle babblers are gregarious and forage in small groups of six to ten birds.
- Their habit of moving together has earned them the popular name of “Seven Sisters” in urban Northern India and “Seven Brothers” in Bengali and other regional languages ¹.
Geographical Distribution:
- The jungle babbler has several geographically isolated subspecies.
- Some of the widely accepted subspecies include:
  - A. s. striata: Found over much of northern India south of the Himalayan foothills.
  - A. s. sindiana: A paler desert form found in the Indus River plains of Pakistan and extending into Rajasthan and the Rann of Kutch in India.
  - A. s. somervillei: Found in the northern Western Ghats.
  - A. s. malabarica: Found in the southern Western Ghats.
  - A. s. orientalis: Found in peninsular India east of the Western Ghats.
Behavior and Ecology:
- Jungle babblers are non-migratory and have short, rounded wings.
- They are often seen hopping around in search of insects, seeds, and fruits.
- Their weak flight makes them more terrestrial in their movements.
- These birds are vocal and communicate with a variety of calls.
Conservation Status:
- The jungle babbler is classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN.
- Their adaptability to urban environments has contributed to their stable population.