Bird Guide

Common Bulbul vs White-browed Bulbul

Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus)

Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus

Small32 gWoodland

The common bulbul is 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in) in length, with a long tail. The sexes are similar in plumage but the male is on average larger. It has a dark brown head and brown upperparts. The underparts are dull grey. The bill is fairly short and thin, with a slightly downwards curving upper mandible. The bill, legs, and feet are black and the eye is dark brown with a dark eye-ring, which is not readily visible. Subspecies P. b. dodsoni, P. b. spurius, P. b. tricolor and P. b. layardi have yellow undertail coverts. The call is a loud doctor-quick doctor-quick be-quick be-quick.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sam Thomas · CC BY 2.0
White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus)

White-browed Bulbul

Pycnonotus luteolus

Small35 gShrubland

The white-browed bulbul is about 20 cm (7.9 in) long, with a moderately long (8 centimetres or 3 inches) tail. It has olive-grey upperparts and whitish underparts. This species is identifiable by the white supercilium, white crescent below the eye, and dark eyestripe and moustachial stripe. The vent is yellowish and there is some yellow on the chin and moustache. The throat is, however, largely whitish unlike in the similar looking and sounding yellow-throated bulbul, which is found in rockier habitats. Three or four hair-like filoplumes are present on the nape. Sexes are similar in plumage.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Vihansith Kulatunga · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rison Thumboor from Thrissur, India · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Common Bulbul and White-browed Bulbul.