Red-whiskered bulbul

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Red-whiskered bulbul
Red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) Reunion.jpg
In Réunion
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
Species:
P. jocosus
Binomial name
Pycnonotus jocosus
Synonyms
  • Lanius jocosusLinnaeus, 1758
exchanging food; in Mauritius Red-whiskered bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus) Mauritius.jpg
exchanging food; in Mauritius

The red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

The red-whiskered bulbul was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Lanius jocosus. [2] The specific epithet is from Latin ioculus meaning "merry" (from iocus meaning "joke"). [3] Linnaeus based his description on the Sitta Chinensis that had been described in 1757 by the Swedish naturalist Pehr Osbeck. [4] [5] Linnaeus specified the location as "China" but this was restricted to Hong Kong and Guangdong by Herbert Girton Deignan in 1948. [6] [7] The red-whiskered bulbul is now placed in the genus Pycnonotus that was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1826. [8] [9]

Hybrids have been noted in captivity with the red-vented, white-eared, white-spectacled, black-capped and Himalayan bulbuls. [10] Leucism has also been recorded. [11]

Subspecies

Nine subspecies are recognized: [9]

Description

The red-whiskered bulbul is about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length. It has brown upper-parts and whitish underparts with buff flanks and a dark spur running onto the breast at shoulder level. It has a tall pointed black crest, red face patch and thin black moustachial line. The tail is long and brown with white terminal feather tips, but the vent area is red. Juveniles lack the red patch behind the eye, and the vent area is rufous-orange.

The loud and evocative call is a sharp kink-a-joo (also transcribed as pettigrew or kick-pettigrew or pleased to meet you [15] ) and the song is a scolding chatter. They are more often heard than seen, but will often perch conspicuously especially in the mornings when they call from the tops of trees. The life span is about 11 years. [16]

Distribution and habitat

This is a bird of lightly wooded areas, more open country with bushes and shrubs, and farmland. Irruptions have been noted from early times with Thomas C. Jerdon noting that they were "periodically visiting Madras and other wooded towns in large flocks." [17]

It has established itself in Australia and in Los Angeles, Hawaii, [18] and Florida [19] in the United States, as well as in Mauritius, on Assumption Island [20] and Mascarene Islands. [21] [22] In Florida, it is only found in a small area, and its population could be extirpated easily. [23] It was eradicated from Assumption Island in 2013–2015 to prevent colonisation of nearby Aldabra, the largest introduced bird-free tropical island. [24]

The red-whiskered bulbul was introduced by the Zoological and Acclimatization Society in 1880 to Sydney, became well established across the suburbs by 1920, and continued to spread slowly to around 100 km away. It is now also found in suburban Melbourne and Adelaide, although it is unclear how they got there. [25]

Behaviour and ecology

Red-whiskered bulbul at nest Red whiskered bulbul 2.jpg
Red-whiskered bulbul at nest

On the island of Réunion, this species established itself and also aided the spread of alien plant species such as Rubus alceifolius. In Florida they feed on fruits and berries of as many as 24 exotic plants including loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica ), Lantana spp., Brazilian pepper ( Schinus terebinthifolius ) and figs ( Ficus ). [26] In Mauritius they aid the dispersal of Ligustrum robustum and Clidemia hirta . Seeds that pass through their gut germinate better. [27] Populations of the red-whiskered bulbul on the island of Réunion have diversified in the course of thirty years and show visible variations in bill morphology according to the food resources that they have adapted to utilize. [28]

Breeding

With chicks in nest Red-Whiskered Bulbul with Chick.jpg
With chicks in nest
Eggs in the nest of a Red-whiskered bulbul RWBulbul Eggs.jpg
Eggs in the nest of a Red-whiskered bulbul

The breeding season is spread out and peaks from December to May in southern India and March to October in northern India. [29] Breeding may occur once or twice a year. [30] The courtship display of the male involves head bowing, spreading the tail and drooping wings. [30] The nest is cup-shaped, and is built on bushes, thatched walls or small trees. It is woven of fine twigs, roots, and grasses, and embellished with large objects such as bark strips, paper, or plastic bags. [23] Clutches typically contain two or three eggs. [30] Adults (possibly the female [15] ) may feign injury to distract potential predators away from the nest. [30] [31] The eggs have a pale mauve ground colour with speckles becoming blotches towards the broad end. Eggs measure 21 mm and are 16 mm wide. [32] Eggs take 12 days to hatch. Both parents take part in raising the young. Young birds are fed on caterpillars and insects which are replaced by fruits and berries as they mature. [15] The chicks are psilopaedic (having down only in the pterylae). [14] Eggs and chicks may be preyed on by the greater coucal and crows. [15]

They defend territories of about 3,000 square metres (32,000 sq ft) during the breeding season. [33] They roost communally in loose groups of a hundred or more birds. [34] [35]

Food and feeding

The red-whiskered bulbul feeds on fruits (including those of the yellow oleander that are toxic to mammals), nectar and insects. [36]

Health

Several avian malaria parasites have been described from the species. [37] Plasmodium jiangi was first discovered by He and Huang (1993) in this host, in southeast China. [38]

In culture

This species was once a popular cage bird in parts of India. C. W. Smith noted [39] that

These birds are in great request among the natives, being of a fearless disposition, and easily reclaimed. They are taught to sit on the hand, and numbers may thus be seen in any Indian bazaar.

The species continues to be a popular cagebird in parts of Southeast Asia. [21]

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">Long-tailed shrike</span> Species of bird

The long-tailed shrike or rufous-backed shrike is a member of the bird family Laniidae, the shrikes. They are found widely distributed across Asia and there are variations in plumage across the range. The species ranges across much of Asia, both on the mainland and the eastern archipelagos. The eastern or Himalayan subspecies, L. s. tricolor, is sometimes called the black-headed shrike. Although there are considerable differences in plumage among the subspecies, they all have a long and narrow black tail, have a black mask and forehead, rufous rump and flanks and a small white patch on the shoulder. It is considered to form a superspecies with the grey-backed shrike which breeds on the Tibetan Plateau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wagtail</span> Genus of birds

Wagtails are a group of passerine birds that form the genus Motacilla in the family Motacillidae. The common name and genus name are derived from their characteristic tail pumping behaviour. Together with the pipits and longclaws they form the family Motacillidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True thrush</span> Genus of birds

True thrushes are medium-sized mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds in the genus Turdus of the wider thrush family, Turdidae. The genus name Turdus is Latin for "thrush". The term "thrush" is used for many other birds of the family Turdidae as well as for a number of species belonging to several other families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian koel</span> Species of bird

The Asian koel is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related black-billed koels, and Pacific koels which are sometimes treated as subspecies. The Asian koel like many of its related cuckoo kin is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other hosts, who raise its young. They are unusual among the cuckoos in being largely frugivorous as adults. The name koel is echoic in origin with several language variants. The bird is a widely used symbol in Indian and Nepali poetry.

<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 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">Black-headed bulbul</span> Species of bird

The black-headed bulbul is a member of the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in forests in south-eastern Asia.

<i>Lanius</i> Genus of birds

Lanius, the typical shrikes, are a genus of passerine birds in the shrike family Laniidae. The majority of the family's species are placed in this genus. The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.

<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">Light-vented bulbul</span> Species of bird

The light-vented bulbul, also called the Chinese bulbul, is a species of bird in the bulbul family found in central and southern China, Hong Kong, Macao, northern Vietnam, southern Japan and Taiwan, with occasional records from South Korea. A common species of songbird that favors lightly wooded habitats, it can frequently be seen in towns, suburbs and urban parks within its range.

<i>Nesocodon</i> Genus of flowering plants

Nesocodon is a monotypic genus of flowering plants within the family Campanulaceae. The sole species is Nesocodon mauritianus, formerly known as Wahlenbergia mauritiana, which is endemic to the island of Mauritius.

<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.

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<i>Ixos</i> Genus of birds

Ixos is a genus of passerine birds in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae.

<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">Straw-headed bulbul</span> Species of songbird

The straw-headed bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, arable land, plantations, and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss and poaching.

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

The flame-throated bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds and the state bird of Goa. It is found only in the forests of the Western Ghats in southern India. Formerly included as a subspecies of Pycnonotus flaviventris it has since been elevated to the status of a full species. They are olive-backed with yellow undersides, a triangular orange-red throat and a white iris that stands out against the contrasting black head. They are usually seen foraging in groups in the forest canopy for berries and small insects. They have a call often with two or three tinkling notes that can sound similar to those produced by the red-whiskered bulbul. The species has been referred to in the past by names such as ruby-throated bulbul and black-headed bulbul, but these are ambiguous and could apply to other species such as Rubigula flaviventris and R. dispar.

In the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, published in 1758, the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus described 554 species of bird and gave each a binomial name.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2017). "Pycnonotus jocosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T22712634A119273079. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22712634A119273079.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 95.
  3. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 211. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ↑ Osbeck, Pehr (1757). Dagbok öfwer en Ostindisk resa åren 1750, 1751, 1752 : Med anmårkningar uti naturkunnigheten, fråmmande folkslags språk (in Swedish). Stockholm: Ludv. Grefing. p. 250.
  5. ↑ Osbeck, Pehr (1771). A voyage to China and the East Indies. Vol. 2. London: B. White. pp. 12–13. A translation into English of Dagbok öfwer en Ostindisk resa åren 1750, 1751, 1752 : Med anmårkningar uti naturkunnigheten, fråmmande folkslags språk.
  6. ↑ Deignan, H.G. (1948). "The races of the red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnontus joculus (Linnaeus)". Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 38: 279–281 [281].
  7. ↑ Mayr, Ernst; Greenway, James C. Jr, eds. (1960). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 9. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 233.
  8. ↑ Boie, Friedrich (1826). "Generalübersicht". Isis von Oken (in German). 19. Col 973.
  9. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2021). "Bulbuls". IOC World Bird List Version 11.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ↑ McCarthy, Eugene M. (2006). Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World. Oxford University Press. pp. 257–258. ISBN   0-19-518323-1.
  11. ↑ Law, S. C. (1921). "An albinoid Otocompsa emeria". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 28 (1): 281–282.
  12. ↑ Whistler, Hugh (1931). "Description of new subspecies of the red-whiskered bulbuls from India". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 52: 40–41.
  13. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 187.
  14. 1 2 Carleton, A. R. & Owre, O. T. (1975). "The Red-whiskered Bulbul in Florida:1960–71" (PDF). Auk. 92 (1): 40–57. doi:10.2307/4084416. JSTOR   4084416.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. (1996). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Vol. 6 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 75–80.
  16. ↑ Brown, C. Emerson (1928). "Longevity of birds in captivity" (PDF). The Auk. 45 (3): 345–348. doi: 10.2307/4076026 . JSTOR   4076026.
  17. ↑ Jerdon, TC (1863). The Birds of India. Volume 2, part 1. Military Orphan Press, Calcutta. pp.  92–93.
  18. ↑ Van Riper, Charles III; Van Riper, Sandra G.; Berger, Andrew J. (1979). "The Red-Whiskered Bulbul in Hawaii" (PDF). The Wilson Bulletin . 91 (2): 323–328.
  19. ↑ Rand, Alison C. (1980). Factors responsible for the successful establishment of exotic avian species in southeastern Florida in Proceedings of the 9th Vertebrate Pest Conference. University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
  20. ↑ Prys-Jones, RP; MS Prys-Jones & JC Lawley (1981). "The birds of Assumption Island, Indian Ocean: Past and future" (PDF). Atoll Research Bulletin. 248: 1–16. doi:10.5479/si.00775630.248.1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2006.
  21. 1 2 Philippe, Clergeau; Mandon-Dalger, Isabella (2001). "Fast Colonization of an Introduced Bird: the Case of Pycnonotus jocosus on the Mascarene Islands". Biotropica. 33 (3): 542–546. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2001.tb00210.x. S2CID   247663530.
  22. ↑ Rand, Alison C. (1980). Factors responsible for the successful establishment of exotic avian species in southeastern Florida in Proceedings of the 9th Vertebrate Pest Conference (1980). University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
  23. 1 2 Rising, James D. (2001). "Bulbuls". In Elphick, C.; Dunning, J. B. Jr.; Sibley, D. A. (eds.). The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 448–449. ISBN   978-1-4000-4386-6.
  24. ↑ "Eradication success – Seychelles wins war against invasive red-whiskered bulbul".
  25. ↑ Long, John L. (1981). Introduced Birds of the World: The worldwide history, distribution and influence of birds introduced to new environments. Terrey Hills, Sydney: Reed. p. 298. ISBN   0-589-50260-3.
  26. ↑ Daniel Simberloff & Betsy Von Holle (1999). "Positive interactions of nonindigenous species: invasional meltdown?" (PDF). Biological Invasions. 1: 21–32. doi:10.1023/A:1010086329619. S2CID   3336839.
  27. ↑ Linnebjerg, JF; DM Hansen; JM Olesen (2009). "Gut passage effect of the introduced red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) on germination of invasive plant species in Mauritius". Austral Ecology. 34 (3): 272–277. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2008.01928.x.
  28. ↑ Amiot, Christophe; Lorvelec, Olivier; Mandon-Dalger, Isabelle; Sardella, Antonia; Lequilliec, Patricia; Clergeau, Philippe (2007). "Rapid morphological divergence of introduced Red-whiskered Bulbuls Pycnonotus jocosus in contrasting environments". Ibis. 149 (3): 482–489. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2007.00671.x.
  29. ↑ Rasmussen, P.C. & Anderton, J.C. (2005). Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Begbie, A. (1908). "Note on the habits of the Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul Otocompsa emeria". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 18 (3): 680.
  31. ↑ Aitken, E.H. (1901). "Artifices practised by bulbuls". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 14: 162–163.
  32. ↑ Herklots, G.A.C. (1934). "The Birds of Hong Kong. Part XIV. The Bulbuls" (PDF). Hong Kong Naturalist. 5 (1): 1–5.
  33. ↑ Sotthibandhu, S. (2003). "Territorial defense of the red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus (Pycnonotidae), in a semi-wild habitat of the bird farm" (PDF). Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology. 25 (5): 553–563.
  34. ↑ De, G. (1976). "Communal roosting of Red-whiskered Bulbuls". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 16 (4): 11–12.
  35. ↑ Neelakantan, K. K. (1976). "Communal roosting in the Red-whiskered Bulbul". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 16 (2): 4–5.
  36. ↑ Raj, PJ Sanjeeva (1963). "Additions to the list of birds eating the fruit of Yellow Oleander (Thevetia neriifolia )". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 60 (2): 457–458.
  37. ↑ Peirce, M. A. (1984). "Haematozoa of Zambian birds IX. Redescription of Haemoproteus otocompsae, a parasite of Pycnonotidae". Journal of Natural History. 18 (6): 965–967. doi:10.1080/00222938400770841.
  38. ↑ Downs, Colleen T.; Hart, Lorinda A., eds. (2020). Invasive birds global trends and impacts. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK Boston: Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). p. 57. ISBN   978-1-78924-206-5. OCLC   1114281215. ISBN   978-1-78924-207-2. ISBN   978-1-78924-208-9.
  39. ↑ Pearson, J. T. (1841). "Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 10 (116): 628–660.

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