Jerdon's babbler is a passerine bird native to wetlands and grasslands of the Indian sub-continent. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1994. It is a member of the genus Chrysomma of the family Paradoxornithidae.
Region
Indian subcontinent
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily in lowland floodplains and marshes of northern and eastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and parts of Nepal. It favors extensive stands of reeds (Phragmites) and tall grasses such as Saccharum along river channels, oxbow lakes, and seasonally inundated wetlands. Birds keep to dense cover, moving through stems and sedges a meter or so above ground. Local presence is highly tied to intact reedbeds and stable water regimes; it disappears when wetlands are drained or heavily cut.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Jerdon's babbler is a skulking wetland passerine that keeps close to dense reedbeds and tall grass, making it easier to hear than to see. It was rediscovered in Nepal in 2014 after decades without confirmed records, highlighting the importance of remnant floodplain marshes. Habitat loss from drainage, reed-cutting, and river regulation is the principal threat. It belongs to the parrotbill family Paradoxornithidae, despite not resembling parrots.
1876 illustration of Jerdon's babbler
Jerdon's babbler in its habitat
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over reeds
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, keeping tight to cover and rarely venturing into open areas. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low among reeds or tall grasses. Likely monogamous, with breeding linked to the monsoon when fresh growth provides cover and insects are abundant.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a sweet, repetitive series of tinkling notes delivered from within dense vegetation or a low perch. Calls include sharp tiks and soft trrrr contact notes, often betraying the bird’s presence as it moves through reeds.
