>Pycnonotus barbatus (Common Bulbul)

Common Bulbul

Common Bulbul
P. b. tricolor, Lake Manyara National Park,Tanzania
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pycnonotidae
Genus:	Pycnonotus
Species:	P. barbatus
Binomial name
Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfontaines, 1789)

The Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a ubiquitous resident breeder throughout Africa. Other names include Black-eyed Bulbul and Common Garden Bulbul.

Taxonomy

Pycnonotus barbatus tricolor,Johannesburg, South Africa

The bulbuls are a widespread family of songbirds, found much over Africa and Asia.

The Common Bulbul has a number of subspecies; some authorities consider P. b. dodsoni Dodson’s Bulbul), P. b. somaliensis (Somali Bulbul) and P. b. tricolor  (Dark-capped Bulbul) as separate species from the nominate P. b. barbatus.

Identification

The bill is fairly short and straight. The bill, legs and feet are black and the eye is dark brown with a dark eye-ring, which is not readily visible.

The Dark-capped Bulbul is mostly greyish-brown above and whitish-brown below, with a distinctive dark head and pointy crest on top of the head. The back of the head merges into the brown of the back, and the chin is also blackish. The underparts are grey-brown apart from white around the vent (yellow in P. b. tricolor). It is about 18 cm in length, with a long tail. It has a dark brown head and upperparts. Sexes are similar in plumage.

Habitat and breeding

It is a common resident breeder in much of Africa. It is found in woodland, coastal bush, forest edges, riverine bush, montane scrub and in mixed farming habitats. It is also found in exotic thickets, gardens and parks.

This species nests throughout the year in the most tropics, elsewhere it is a more seasonal breeder with a peak in breeding co-inciding with the onset of the rainy season. The nest is fairly rigid, thick walled and cup-shaped. It is situated inside the leafy foliage of a small tree or shrub.

Two or three eggs is a typical clutch. It, like other bulbuls, is parasitised by the Jacobin Cuckoo.

Behaviour

The Black-eyed Bulbul is usually seen in pairs or small groups. It is a conspicuous bird, which tends to sit at the top of a bush. As with other bulbuls they are active and noisy birds. The flight is bouncing and woodpecker-like. The call is a loud doctor-quick doctor-quick be-quick be-quick.

Diet

This species eats fruit, nectar and insects.