Sooty-headed bulbul

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Sooty-headed bulbul
Pycnonotus aurigaster pair.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
Species:
P. aurigaster
Binomial name
Pycnonotus aurigaster
(Vieillot, 1818)
Synonyms
  • Turdus aurigaster

The sooty-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster) 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.

Contents

Description

A medium-sized songbird measuring between 18 and 21 centimetres in length with a short crest, the sooty-headed bulbul can be distinguished from the similar red-vented bulbul by its tan front, less extensive area of black on its head and gold-colored vent in certain subspecies. Its call is a series of whistled notes similar in tone to that of the red-whiskered bulbul, but delivered in a more hurried manner.

Taxonomy and systematics

The sooty-headed bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus . Alternate names for the sooty-headed bulbul include the golden-vented bulbul and several names used for other species (black-capped, red-vented, white-eared and yellow-vented bulbul).

Subspecies

Nine subspecies are recognized: [2]

Behavior and ecology

In Hong Kong, the sooty-headed bulbul, whilst not a rarity, is markedly less common than the red-whiskered and light-vented bulbuls. Unlike these two species, it appears to prefer dryland agricultural areas above other habitats, but can also be found in fire-damaged and degraded hill shrubland. [3] [4]

Distribution and habitat

The sooty-headed bulbul can be found in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, southern China, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. In China, the species is mainly limited to the south of the country, corresponding to the extent of the palaeotropical ecoregion, but the species has been recorded as far north as Shanghai in the east and Chengdu in the west. The bird has a disjunct distribution broken into two subpopulations by the Malay Peninsula, where it does not seem to occur between Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand in the north, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in the south. [5]

Related Research Articles

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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">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">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">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.

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

The yellow-vented bulbul, or eastern yellow-vented bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in southeastern Asia from Indochina to the Philippines. It is found in a wide variety of open habitats but not the deep forest. It is one of the most common birds in cultivated areas. They appear to be nomadic and roam from place to place regularly.

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

The white-throated bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-eastern Asia from the eastern Himalayas to Myanmar and western Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

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

The ochraceous bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from Southeast Asia to Sumatra. It is usually found in the mid-storey of broad-leaved evergreen and rainforests up to 1500 metres elevation.

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

The puff-throated bulbul is a songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1870. It is found in Southeast Asia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

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

The ashy bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found on the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

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

The mountain bulbul is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is often placed in Hypsipetes, but seems to be closer to the type species of the genus Ixos, the Sunda bulbul. It is found in Southeast Asia and is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN. It is named after British East India Company Surgeon John McClelland.

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

The grey-eyed bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in Southeast Asia in its natural habitat of subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

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

The olive bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from southern Myanmar to south-western Thailand and the Malay Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane 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">Stripe-throated bulbul</span> Species of songbird

The stripe-throated bulbul, or streak-throated bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Asia where its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is a common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being of "least concern".

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

The flavescent bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. Its name comes from flavescent, a yellowish colour. It is found in south-eastern Asia.

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

The olive-winged bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Asia and the Greater Sunda Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

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

The striated bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Alcurus .

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

The brown-breasted bulbul is a songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. The species was first described by John Anderson in 1869.

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

The dark-capped bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in central, eastern and south-eastern Africa.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Pycnonotus aurigaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22712699A94343785. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712699A94343785.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. "Bulbuls « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  3. Leven, Michael. "Special Feature: FOCUS ON FARMLANDS" . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. Chan, Eric. "Space partitioning by two common Bulbuls in Hong Kong" . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  5. "Sooty-headed bulbul" . Retrieved 17 November 2021.