Bare-cheeked Babbler (Turdoides gymnogenys)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Bare-cheeked Babbler

Turdoides gymnogenys (Hartlaub, 1865)

23–25 cmLength77 gWeight

The bare-cheeked babbler (Turdoides gymnogenys) is a passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae and is native to arid savannas of southwestern Africa, specifically northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola.

Busiest months: November · Most records: Namibia, Angola

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Bare-cheeked Babbler has been recorded at 9 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Etosha NP – Halali CampNamibia486 records
  2. Hobatere – LodgeNamibia143 records
  3. Kunene River LodgeNamibia110 records
More places
  1. Etosha NP – Okaukuejo CampNamibia12 records
  2. Etosha NP – Namutoni CampNamibia6 records
  3. TundavalaAngola1 record
  4. Okonjima Nature ReserveNamibia1 record
  5. Spitzkoppe Nature ReserveNamibia1 record
  6. Ondudu LodgeNamibia1 record

Countries and regions with the most records

NamibiaAngola

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The bare-cheeked babbler (Turdoides gymnogenys) is a passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae and is native to arid savannas of southwestern Africa, specifically northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola. It is known for its brown feathers and the bare skin on its cheeks. The species is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is a commonly found local bird.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Bare-cheeked Babbler?

The Bare-cheeked Babbler is about 23–25 cm long and weighs around 77 g.

Where does the Bare-cheeked Babbler live?

Its breeding range: Africa: Angola and Namibia. It is most often recorded in Namibia and Angola.

When is the best time to see the Bare-cheeked Babbler?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Bare-cheeked Babbler endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Bare-cheeked Babbler as Least Concern.

What does the Bare-cheeked Babbler eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Bare-cheeked Babbler in?

It belongs to the family Laughingthrushes & Allies (Leiothrichidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
23–25 cm
Weight
77 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Varied
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
109 mm
Tail
101 mm
Bill
25 mm
Tarsus
32 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: Angola and Namibia

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Laughingthrushes & Allies Leiothrichidae
Genus
Turdoides

Other birds in the genus Turdoides

Spiny BabblerSpiny BabblerTurdoides nipalensisCapuchin BabblerCapuchin BabblerTurdoides atripennisWhite-throated Mountain BabblerWhite-throated Mountain BabblerTurdoides gilbertiChapin's BabblerChapin's BabblerTurdoides chapiniRed-collared BabblerRed-collared BabblerTurdoides rufocinctusBrown BabblerBrown BabblerTurdoides plebejusWhite-rumped BabblerWhite-rumped BabblerTurdoides leucopygiaHinde's BabblerHinde's BabblerTurdoides hindeiScaly BabblerScaly BabblerTurdoides squamulataArrow-marked BabblerArrow-marked BabblerTurdoides jardineiiWhite-headed BabblerWhite-headed BabblerTurdoides leucocephalaBlackcap BabblerBlackcap BabblerTurdoides reinwardtii
Bare-cheeked Babbler

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Joseph Morlan. ↗

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