Bird Guide

Himalayan Bulbul vs Styan's Bulbul

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
Styan's Bulbul (Pycnonotus taivanus)

Styan's Bulbul

Pycnonotus taivanus

Small26 gForest

Styan's bulbul has a very similar appearance to the light-vented bulbul, but they differ in the patterns on the head. Styan's bulbul has a completely black crown with white feathers around its eye, except for a black moustachial stripe below the beak. Hybrids are intermediate between the two species, with the moustachial stripe and white feathers around the eye, but the white feathers extend behind the crown.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: LiCheng Shih · CC BY 2.0

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