- Hemixos flavala
Identification
Short dark crest lightly mottled ashy in most races. Dusky lores and malar and white throat contrasting with pale greyish-brown breast dianostic. Belly and undertail coverts white (tinged yellow in race connetens from Borneo). Upperparts brownish-grey. Wings with a yellowish patch, but this lacking in race cinereous from Peninsular Malaysia and S. Thailand. Mantle and auriculars much duller than in the related Chestnut Bulbul.
Distribution
The Himalayas and southern China through SE Asia and the Malay Peninsular to Sumatra and Borneo.
Taxonomy
Sometimes split into two species based on morphology on voice:
- Ashy Bulbul (Hemixos flavala): Found from the E. Himalayas east to S. China and south to SE Vietnam and W. Thailand. Includes subspecies bourdellei, remotus, hildebrandi and davisoni.
- Cinereous Bulbul (Hemixos cinereus): Found from S. Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. Includes subspecies connectens.
Habitat
Forests and forests edges. Mainly in highlands.
Behaviour
Frequents the canopy and middle storeys. Gregarious, gathering in parties of up to six or more. Congregates in fruiting trees with other bulbuls. Noisy and conspicous, raising crest when vocalising. Also puffs out throat feathers like bulbuls of the genus Criniger.
