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Black-headed Bulbul - BirdForum Opus

Photo by ljs
Singapore, October 2006
Brachypodius melanocephalos

Pycnonotus atriceps
Brachypodius atriceps

Identification

Size: 18 cm. Wedge-shaped tail with dull black subterminal band dignostic.

Common Morph: Mantle and breast olive-yellow; uppertail coverts and rest of the underparts bright yellow; head (including chin,throat and neck) glossy blue-black; primaries and primary coverts blackish-brown; iris blue.

Grey Morph: Breast, upper belly and collar pale grey.

Juvenile: Lacks the black head.

Distribution

Ranges from north-east India through S.E.Asia and the Greater Sundas to Palawan (Philippines.).

Taxonomy

Andaman Bulbul was formerly included in this species.

Subspecies

There are 4 subspecies[1]:

  • B. m. melanocephalos:
  • B. m. hyperemnus:
  • Sumatra, Simeulue, Nias, Mentawai, Bangka and Belitung islands
  • B. m. baweanus:
  • Bawean Island (Java Sea)
  • B. m. hodiernus:
  • Maratua Islands (Celebes Sea)

Habitat

Broadleaved and riverine forests, forest edges and mangroves. Also in open country.

Behaviour

Frequents the lower and middle storey. Nomadic, with flocks dispersing over a wide area. Gathers in small noisy parties to feed in fruiting trees and shrubs.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Birdforum thread discussing why the scientific name of this species needed to change.
  4. Birdforum Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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