The Himalayan bulbul (''Pycnonotus leucogenys''), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of
songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 500 ...
in the
bulbul
The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristlebills. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical As ...
family found in Central and South Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Himalayan bulbul is considered to belong to a
superspecies along with the
white-eared bulbul
The white-eared bulbul (''Pycnonotus leucotis'') is a member of the bulbul family. It is found in south-western Asia from India to the Arabian peninsula.
Taxonomy and systematics
The white-eared bulbul was originally described in the genus ''Ix ...
,
white-spectacled bulbul
The white-spectacled bulbul (''Pycnonotus xanthopygos'') is a member of the bulbul family. It is in length with a wingspan of . These birds live in fruit plantations, gardens, and cities. It is the most common member of the bulbul family in Isr ...
,
African red-eyed bulbul
The African red-eyed bulbul or black-fronted bulbul (''Pycnonotus nigricans'') is a species of songbird in the family Pycnonotidae.
It is found in south-western Africa.
Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland ...
,
Cape bulbul
The Cape bulbul (''Pycnonotus capensis'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in coastal bush, open forest, gardens and fynbos in western and southern South Africa. This species nests mainly in ...
, and
common bulbul
The common bulbul (''Pycnonotus barbatus'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in north-eastern, northern, western and central Africa.
Taxonomy and systematics
The common bulbul was originally described in the genus ...
. The alternate name, white-cheeked bulbul, is also used by the white-eared bulbul.
Description
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-piece whistle, which resembles an accelerated
oriole whistle.
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in the northern regions of the
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
and some adjoining areas. It is found in and near the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
.
The Himalayan bulbul frequents forests and shrubland and also comes into gardens and parks.
Behaviour and ecology
The Himalayan bulbul feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, as well as berries, fruits, seeds, buds and nectar.
Nests are usually built in bushes or low branches, are cup-shaped, and made of stems, roots and twigs. The female usually lays three eggs, which are incubated for 12 days. The chicks leave the nest when they are 9–11 days old. There may be up to three broods raised per year. During breeding, adults become very territorial.
Gallery
Image:Himalayan Bulbuls - Himachal- I IMG 3118.jpg
Image:Himalayan Bulbul I IMG 6480.jpg
Image:Himalayan Bulbul I IMG 3004.jpg
Image:HimalayanBulbul.JPG, In the Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
, India
Image:The Himalayan Bulbul.jpg, At the Shimla Water catchment, Himachal Pradesh
Image:Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys at sattal DSCN0452 1.jpg, Himalayan Bulbul at Sattal
Sattal or Sat Tal (Hindi for "seven lakes") is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes situated in the Lower Himalayan Range near Bhimtal, a town of the Nainital district in Uttarakhand, India. During the British Raj, the area had a ...
Image:Himalayan Bulbul scientific name Pycnonotus leucogenys at Sattal Kumaon India DSCN1231 1.jpg, Himalayan Bulbul at Sattal Kumaon India
Image:Himalayan Bulbul Courting D72 14780.jpg, Himalayan bulbuls courting, IIT Mandi
Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) is a public technical and research university located in Kamand Valley, Mandi city in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
Established in February 2009, first batch of 97 students were admitted ...
, Himachal Pradesh, India, 22 April 2020
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q921954
Himalayan bulbul
The Himalayan bulbul (''Pycnonotus leucogenys''), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in Central and South Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Himalayan bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies ...
Birds of the Himalayas
Birds of North India
Himalayan bulbul
The Himalayan bulbul (''Pycnonotus leucogenys''), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in Central and South Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Himalayan bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies ...
Himalayan bulbul
The Himalayan bulbul (''Pycnonotus leucogenys''), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in Central and South Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Himalayan bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies ...
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot