Analyzing the diurnal activity and foraging behaviour of jungle babbler (Argya striata) at Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Argya striata is the scientific name for the jungle babbler. These jungle babblers are members of the Leiothrichidae family found in the Indian subcontinent. Jungle babbler is a gregarious bird that forages in small groups of six to ten birds, these birds are medium-sized babbler. They have different activities during the day and then a period of inactivity during the night. They are diurnal. Being omnivores, jungle babbler exhibits a diverse array of dietary preferences and feeding techniques. The study was conducted at Isabella Thoburn College from August 30, 2024 until February 28, 2025. To conduct the survey, the Focal sampling approach was used. The findings demonstrate that the jungle babbler exhibited bimodal patterns of diurnal activity, with two separate peaks occurring in the morning and the evening, the jungle babbler’s strong preference for human-provided food over insects and seeds explains their audacity or willingness to take risks. It was common practice to gnaw food as a feeding technique. It was discovered that jungle babbler could adjust to the resources at hand regardless of seasonal variations.