Bird Guide

Cape Bulbul vs Himalayan Bulbul

Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis)

Cape Bulbul

Pycnonotus capensis

Small39 gShrubland

The Cape bulbul is 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in) long, mainly dull, blackish brown with a diagnostic white eye-ring, and yellow undertail coverts. The head has a small crest. The short, straight bill, legs and feet are black and the iris is dark brown. The sexes are similar in plumage. This species is much darker than the other South African bulbuls, and differs in the eye ring colour and brown lower belly, whereas the other dark bulbuls have a pale lower belly. The dark belly helps to identify juveniles, which lack the distinctive eye ring of the adult.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Derek Keats, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)

Himalayan Bulbul

Pycnonotus leucogenys

Small36 gShrubland

The Himalayan bulbul is about 18 cm in length, with a wingspan of 25.5–28 cm and an average weight of 30 g. Its head, throat, and crest are black and white. The back, side, and lengthy tail are brown, the underside is pale yellow. Sexes have similar plumage. The song is a beautiful 4-part whistle, which resembles an accelerated oriole whistle.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sagnik Dutta Roy · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cape Bulbul and Himalayan Bulbul.