Ground Babblers

Jungle babblers, belonging to the family Pellorneidae, are a group of small to medium-sized, primarily Old World passerine birds with the greatest variety found in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They have soft, fluffy plumage with body-length tails, and exhibit a range of colors and sizes, although brown tones are common with some species exhibiting distinctive head markings. Jean Théodore Delacour first identified this family in 1946, and by 2011, molecular science promoted them from a subfamily within Timaliidae to their own family. Jungle babblers have strong legs and are either ground-dwelling or tree-climbing, with bills similar to thrushes or warblers, except for a few species with long curved bills. These birds don't migrate much, live in various types of tropical habitats, and have a diet that's mainly insectivorous, with some also eating berries and small vertebrates. They tend to be shy and socially complex, often taking part in cooperative breeding and caring for their young as a community. The taxonomy of the family was clarified with advancements in molecular analysis, which also led to the reclassification of some species into the genus Laticilla. Presently, the family consists of 65 species spread across 13 genera, showcasing a diverse line-up of birds adept at thriving in a variety of tropical ecosystems across Asia and Africa.