Himalayan bulbul

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Himalayan bulbul
Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys) Cropped.jpg
In Nepal
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
Species:
P. leucogenys
Binomial name
Pycnonotus leucogenys
(Gray, JE, 1835)
Pycnonotus leucotis leucogenys map editation 1.png
Distribution of P. leucotis (light green) and P. leucogenys (dark green) in the South Asian region
Synonyms
  • Brachypus leucogenys
  • Pycnonotus leucogenis

The Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in Central and South Asia.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The Himalayan bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies along with the white-eared bulbul, white-spectacled bulbul, African red-eyed bulbul, Cape bulbul, and common bulbul. [2] The alternate name, white-cheeked bulbul, is also used by the white-eared bulbul.

Description

The Himalayan bulbul is about 18 cm in length, with a wingspan of 25.5–28 cm and an average weight of 30 g. Its head, throat, and crest are black and white. The back, side, and lengthy tail are brown, the underside is pale yellow. Sexes have similar plumage. The song is a beautiful 4-part whistle, which resembles an accelerated oriole whistle.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent and some adjoining areas. It is found in and near the Himalayas. [3]

The Himalayan bulbul frequents forests and shrubland and also comes into gardens and parks.

Behaviour and ecology

The Himalayan bulbul feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, as well as berries, fruits, seeds, buds and nectar.

Nests are usually built in bushes or low branches, are cup-shaped, and made of stems, roots and twigs. The female usually lays three eggs, which are incubated for 12 days. The chicks leave the nest when they are 9–11 days old. There may be up to three broods raised per year. During breeding, adults become very territorial.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulbul</span> Family of birds

The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristlebills. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical Asia to Indonesia, and north as far as Japan. A few insular species occur on the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. There are 166 species in 32 genera. While different species are found in a wide range of habitats, the African species are predominantly found in rainforest, whereas Asian bulbuls are predominantly found in more open areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-whiskered bulbul</span> Species of bird

The red-whiskered bulbul, or crested bulbul, is a passerine bird native to Asia. It is a member of the bulbul family. It is a resident frugivore found mainly in tropical Asia. It has been introduced in many tropical areas of the world where populations have established themselves. It has a loud three or four note call, feeds on fruits and small insects and perches conspicuously on trees. It is common in hill forests and urban gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-eared bulbul</span> Species of bird

The yellow-eared bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in the highlands of Sri Lanka. The common name is also used as an alternate name for the yellow-throated bulbul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-browed bulbul</span> Species of bird

The yellow-browed bulbul, or golden-browed bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in the forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. The yellow-browed bulbul is mainly yellow on the underside and olive above with a distinct yellow brow. They are easily located by their loud calls but tend to skulk within foliage below the forest canopy. While its taxonomic classification has changed over time, it is currently the sole species within the monotypic genus Acritillas which is closely related to Hemixos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-browed bulbul</span> Species of bird

The white-browed bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in Sri Lanka and peninsular India. Largely olive coloured above with whitish underparts, it has a pale supercilium and a yellow vent. They are found in dense scrub habitats, where they skulk within vegetation and can be difficult to see although their loud and distinct burst of calls is distinctive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-crested bulbul</span> Species of bird

The black-crested bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found from the Indian subcontinent to southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-vented bulbul</span> Species of bird

The red-vented bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. It is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka extending east to Burma and parts of Bhutan and Nepal. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world and has established itself in New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Fiji, as well as parts of Samoa, Australia, USA and Cook Islands. It is included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common bulbul</span> Species of bird

The common bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in north-eastern, northern, western and central Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultramarine flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The ultramarine flycatcher or the white-browed blue flycatcher is a small arboreal Old World flycatcher in the Ficedula genus that breeds in the foothills of the Himalayas and winters in southern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-throated bulbul</span> Species of songbird

The yellow-throated bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. The species is endemic to southern peninsular India. They are found on scrub habitats on steep, rocky hills many of which are threatened by granite quarrying. It is confusable only with the white-browed bulbul with which its range overlaps but is distinctively yellow on the head and throat apart from the yellow vent. The calls of this species are very similar to that of the white-browed bulbul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-eared bulbul</span> Species of bird

The white-eared bulbul is a member of the bulbul family. It is found in south-western Asia from India to the Arabian peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-spectacled bulbul</span> Species of bird

The white-spectacled bulbul is a member of the bulbul family. It is 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) in length with a wingspan of 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in). These birds live in fruit plantations, gardens, and cities. It is the most common member of the bulbul family in Israel and Lebanon. In Turkey, it is mainly found in the coastal Mediterranean region, but its range extends from Patara/Gelemiş near Kaş in the west to Türkoğlu in the east. Breeding populations are found from Central and Southern Turkey to Western Syria, Lebanon, Western Jordan, Israel, Sinai and western, central and southern Arabia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape bulbul</span> Species of bird

The Cape bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in coastal bush, open forest, gardens and fynbos in western and southern South Africa. This species nests mainly in the southern spring from September to November. The nest is a thick-walled cup concealed by foliage in a small tree or shrub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sooty-headed bulbul</span> Species of songbird

The sooty-headed bulbul is a species of songbird in the Bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-eastern Asia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<i>Pycnonotus</i> Genus of birds

Pycnonotus is a genus of frugivorous passerine birds in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African red-eyed bulbul</span> Species of songbird

The African red-eyed bulbul or black-fronted bulbul is a species of songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and riverine scrub. It feeds on fruit, flowers, nectar, and insects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Himalayan woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The Himalayan woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, primarily the Himalayas and some adjoining areas, and ranges across Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Its natural habitats are boreal forests and temperate forests. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-capped bulbul</span> Species of bird

The black-capped bulbul, or black-headed yellow bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy-fronted bulbul</span> Species of bird

The ashy-fronted bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Palawan in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. Until 2010, the ashy-fronted bulbul was considered as a subspecies of the olive-winged bulbul.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Pycnonotus leucogenys". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22712690A94343238. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712690A94343238.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Kaushik, Monica (2022). Billerman, Shawn M. (ed.). "Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)". www.hbw.com. doi:10.2173/bow.whcbul2.02 . Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  3. "Bulbuls « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-03-13.