White-eared bulbul

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White-eared bulbul
Pycnonotus leucotis 1.jpg
In Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
Species:
P. leucotis
Binomial name
Pycnonotus leucotis
(Gould, 1836)
Pycnonotus leucotis leucogenys map editation 1.png
Native range of P. leucotis (light green) and P. leucogenys (dark green) in the South Asian region
Synonyms
  • Ixos leucotis
  • Pycnonotus leucogenys leucotis

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

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The white-eared bulbul was originally described in the genus Ixos . The white-eared bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies along with the Himalayan bulbul, white-spectacled bulbul, African red-eyed bulbul, Cape bulbul, and the common bulbul. [2] Formerly, some authorities considered the white-eared bulbul to be a subspecies of the Himalayan Bulbul.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized: [3]

Description and vocalisations

The white-eared bulbul is rotund in appearance, and has a brownish-grey body. The tail of this bird is relatively long, tapering outwards. Starting off black, the tail feathers end in white tips. The head of the white-eared bulbul is black, with the area around its cheeks bearing a large white spot. The eye rings of the bulbul are bare, and the beak short. The vent of the bird is bright yellow.

The white-eared bulbul does not have a uniform song but rather a set of notes, which can be used to chirp different melodies. The song is brief, but is described as being "pleasant and fluid." [4]

Distribution

It is native to the western reaches of India, much of Pakistan, southern Afghanistan, coastal Iran, as well as much of the two-river basin in Iraq, Kuwait, and the island of Bahrain. [5]

It has been introduced to the remaining Persian Gulf countries including Oman, the UAE, and Qatar. [6]

Conservation

The species is listed by the IUCN as "Least Concern" as of 2018 but population sizes are declining. [1]

Related Research Articles

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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">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 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">Graceful prinia</span> Species of bird

The graceful prinia is a small warbler. This prinia is a resident breeder in northeastern Africa and southern Asia, from Egypt and Somalia east to Saudi Arabia, where it is sometimes called streaked wren-warbler.

<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 honeyeater</span> Species of bird

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<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, Israel, Western Jordan, Palestine, 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.

<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">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">Himalayan bulbul</span> Species of songbird

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

<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">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.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V. S. Vijayan</span>

Vadayil Sankaran Vijayan is an Indian environmentalist, wildlife biologist, ornithologist, an admirer of naturopathy and the founding Director of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. He is currently the chairman of the Salim Ali Foundation.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2018). "Pycnonotus leucotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22712687A132101885. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22712687A132101885.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)". www.hbw.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  3. "Bulbuls « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  4. "EBird - Pycnonotus leucotis".
  5. "EBird - Birds of the world".
  6. "EBird - Kuwaitbirds".