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Sooty-headed Bulbul

Pycnonotus aurigaster

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernOmnivoreShrublandCup nestSmall · 44 g
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), photo 1
Photo: belvedere04 · CC BY 4.0
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), photo 2
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), photo 3
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), photo 4
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), photo 5
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), photo 6
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), photo 7
Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark · CC BY 2.0

ID tip

A medium-sized songbird measuring between 18 and 21 centimetres in length with a short crest, the sooty-headed bulbul can be distinguished from the similar red-vented bulbul by its tan front, less extensive area of black on its head and gold-colored vent in certain subspecies. Its call is a series of whistled notes similar in tone to that of the red-whiskered bulbul, but delivered in a more hurried manner.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Sooty-headed Bulbul

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is February, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Sooty-headed Bulbul

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 13 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Thailand China Cambodia Vietnam Hong Kong SAR China Singapore Laos Timor-Leste Taiwan Myanmar (Burma) Macao SAR China Indonesia Malaysia

Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain.

About the Sooty-headed Bulbul

The sooty-headed bulbul is a species of songbird in the Bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-eastern Asia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Styan's Bulbul (Pycnonotus taivanus) Styan's BulbulPycnonotus taivanusStyan's bulbul has a very similar appearance to the light-vented bulbul, but they differ in the patterns on the head. Stripe-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus finlaysoni) Stripe-throated BulbulPycnonotus finlaysoniThe stripe-throated bulbul grows to a length of about 20 cm (8 in). Ayeyarwady Bulbul (Pycnonotus blanfordi) Ayeyarwady BulbulPycnonotus blanfordiThe Ayeyarwady bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds.

Side by side: Sooty-headed Bulbul vs Styan's Bulbul · Sooty-headed Bulbul vs Stripe-throated Bulbul

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