- Pycnonotus melanicterus
Includes: Black-capped Bulbul; Flame-throated Bulbul; Bornean Bulbul
Identification
19cm
Long erectile crest, yellow iris and square-cut tail. Upperparts dark olive-yellow, underparts bright yellow. Head (including chin, throat and neck) are black.
Similar Species
Black-headed Bulbul which lacks the crest.
Distribution
India and southern China through South-east Asia and the Greater Sundas.
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
There are 12 subspecies:
- P. m. flaviventris: Himalayas (Punjab) to north-eastern India, northern Burma and south-western China
- P. m. gularis: Hills of south-western India (western Mysore to Kerala and Tamil Nadu) - sometimes split as Flame-throated Bulbul
- P. m. melanicterus: Sri Lanka - sometimes split as Black-capped Bulbul (leading to the scientific name Pycnonotus flaviventris for the rest of the species)
- P. m. vantynei: Southern Burma to northern Thailand, northern Laos, Tonkin and northern Annam
- P. m. xanthops: South-eastern Burma to northern Thailand
- P. m. negatus: Southern Burma and adjacent south-western Thailand
- P. m. auratus: Northern plateau of north-eastern Thailand and adjacent western Laos
- P. m. johnsoni: Southern plateau of Thailand to southern Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
- P. m. elbeli: Islets off coast of south-eastern Thailand
- P. m. caecilii: Northern Malay Peninsula
- P. m. dispar: Sumatra and Java
- P. m. montis: Highlands of northern Borneo
Habitat
Forest and dense scrub. Frequents the lower and middle storey.
Behaviour
Often seen in small parties in fruiting trees and shrubs with other bulbuls. Usually delivers its slurred song from low branches or telephone wires in bamboo groves and at hill stations.
Breeding
It builds its nest in a bush; the clutch consisting of 2-4 eggs.
Diet
The diet includes fruit and insects.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black-crested Bulbul. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-crested_Bulbul
