Hairy-backed bulbul

Hairy-backed bulbul
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pycnonotidae
Genus:	Tricholestes Salvadori, 1874
Species:	T. criniger
Binomial name
Tricholestes criniger (Blyth, 1845)
Synonyms [2]
(Genus) MyiosobusReichenow, 1891 (Species) Brachypodius crinigerBlyth, 1845 Hypsipetes criniger Myiosobus fulvicaudaReichenow, 1891 Trichophorus minutusHartlaub, 1853

The hairy-backed bulbul (Tricholestes criniger) is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is the sole species contained within the monotypic genus Tricholestes. ^[2] It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. ^[1]

Taxonomy and systematics

The hairy-backed bulbul was originally described in the genus Brachypodius (a synonym for Pycnonotus). Alternatively, some authorities have classified the hairy-backed bulbul in the genera Trichophorus (a synonym for Criniger) and Hypsipetes .

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognized: ^[3]

• T. c. criniger - (Blyth, 1845): Found on the Malay Peninsula and eastern Sumatra
• T. c. sericeus - (Blyth, 1865): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Criniger. Found on western Sumatra
• T. c. viridis - (Bonaparte, 1854): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Trichophoropsis (a synonym for Setornis ). Found on Borneo

Description

The hairy-backed bulbul is a small (16–17 cm long, weigh 12–21 g), relatively quiet bulbul with a slightly rounded tail and strong rictal bristles. It is olive above and yellowish below, with key features including pale yellowish lores and a broad eye ring, a dark rufescent olive-brown cap and neck, olive-rufous uppertail-coverts and upperwings, a bright rufous-brown tail with creamy white tips, a creamy white chin and throat merging into a yellow breast, and hair-like filoplumes on the back (often concealed). It has small, weak legs and feet, a dark brown iris, a light blue-grey bill, and pale greenish-brown legs. Sexes are similar, with females slightly smaller. Juveniles have a grey-brown iris and pale fleshy pink legs. The subspecies sericeus is larger than the nominate form, with duller yellow undertail-coverts; and viridis is similar, but brighter on the upperparts. ^[4]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Tricholestes criniger". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22713161A94362438. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22713161A94362438.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
2. Steven M. Gregory (2000). "Nomenclature of the Hypsipetes bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)" (PDF). Forktail . 16: 164–166. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-08-28.
3. "Bulbuls « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
4. Fishpool, Lincoln; Tobias, Joseph A. (2020). "Hairy-backed Bulbul (Tricholestes criniger), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.habbul1.01. ISSN   2771-3105.