''Pycnonotus'' is a genus of frugivorous passerine birds in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae.

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus ''Pycnonotus'' was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1826 with the

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 t ...

as the type species. The name of the genus combines the Ancient Greek words ''puknos'' "thick" or "compact" and ''-nōtos'' "-backed". The genus contains the following 32 species: *

Cream-vented bulbul The cream-vented bulbul (''Pycnonotus simplex'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Asia from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Its ...

(''Pycnonotus simplex'') *

Olive-winged bulbul The olive-winged bulbul (''Pycnonotus plumosus'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Asia and the Greater Sunda Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Taxon ...

(''Pycnonotus plumosus'') *

Asian red-eyed bulbul The Asian red-eyed bulbul (''Pycnonotus brunneus'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Taxonomy and ...

(''Pycnonotus brunneus'') *

Straw-headed bulbul The straw-headed bulbul (''Pycnonotus zeylanicus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or ...

(''Pycnonotus zeylanicus'') *

Cream-eyed bulbul The cream-eyed bulbul (''Pycnonotus pseudosimplex'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is Endemism, endemic to the island of Borneo. It was formerly considered a white-eyed Polymorphism (biology), color morph of the red-eye ...

(''Pycnonotus pseudosimplex'') *

Ashy-fronted bulbul The ashy-fronted bulbul (''Pycnonotus cinereifrons'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Palawan in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Until 2010, the a ...

(''Pycnonotus cinereifrons'') *

White-browed bulbul The white-browed bulbul (''Pycnonotus luteolus'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in Sri Lanka and peninsular India. Largely olive coloured above with whitish underparts, it has a pale supercilium and ...

(''Pycnonotus luteolus'') *

Ayeyarwady bulbul The Ayeyarwady bulbul (''Pycnonotus blanfordi'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Myanmar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest A forest is an area of land dominated by ...

(''Pycnonotus blanfordi'') *

Streak-eared bulbul The streak-eared bulbul (''Pycnonotus conradi'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found from Thailand and northern and central Malay Peninsula to southern Indochina. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist ...

(''Pycnonotus conradi'') *

Stripe-throated bulbul The stripe-throated bulbul (''Pycnonotus finlaysoni''), or streak-throated bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family (biology), family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Asia where its natural habitats are Tropical and s ...

(''Pycnonotus finlaysoni'') *

Flavescent bulbul The flavescent bulbul (''Pycnonotus flavescens'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. Its name comes from flavescent, a yellowish colour. It is found in south-eastern Asia. Taxonomy and systematics Alternate names ...

(''Pycnonotus flavescens'') *

Aceh bulbul The Aceh bulbul (''Pycnonotus snouckaerti'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in the mountains of north-western Sumatra and is endemic to the island. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland fore ...

(''Pycnonotus snouckaerti'') *

Orange-spotted bulbul The orange-spotted bulbul (''Pycnonotus bimaculatus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Java, Bali and Sumatra. It favors forest edges and open meadows in montane forests. Taxonomy and systemati ...

(''Pycnonotus bimaculatus'') *

Pale-faced bulbul The pale-faced bulbul (''Pycnonotus leucops'') is a songbird in the bulbul family. It is endemic to the island of Borneo. Description At 17.5–19 cm long the pale-faced bulbul is smaller than the flavescent bulbul, with which it was once l ...

(''Pycnonotus leucops'') * Yellow-throated bulbul (''Pycnonotus xantholaemus'') *

Yellow-eared bulbul The yellow-eared bulbul (''Pycnonotus penicillatus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in the highlands of Sri Lanka. The common name is also used as an alternate name for the ye ...

(''Pycnonotus penicillatus'') *

Brown-breasted bulbul The brown-breasted bulbul (''Pycnonotus xanthorrhous'') is a songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. The species was first described by John Anderson in 1869.It is found in south-eastern Asia from central and southern China to Myanmar and northern ...

(''Pycnonotus xanthorrhous'') *

Light-vented bulbul The light-vented bulbul (''Pycnonotus sinensis''), also called the Chinese bulbul, is a species of bird in the bulbul family found in central and southern China, Hong Kong, Macao, northern Vietnam, southern Japan and Taiwan, with occasional re ...

(''Pycnonotus sinensis'') *

Styan's bulbul Styan's bulbul (''Pycnonotus taivanus'', ) is an endemic species of bulbul found in eastern and southern Taiwan. Though common in some areas, it has been listed as a species vulnerable to extinction. Its decline has been caused by habitat destruc ...

(''Pycnonotus taivanus'') * Red-whiskered bulbul (''Pycnonotus jocosus'') *

Yellow-vented bulbul The yellow-vented bulbul (''Pycnonotus goiavier''), or eastern yellow-vented bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in southeastern Asia from Indochina to the Philippines. It is found in a wide vari ...

(''Pycnonotus goiavier'') * Red-vented bulbul (''Pycnonotus cafer'') *

Sooty-headed bulbul The sooty-headed bulbul (''Pycnonotus aurigaster'') 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. Description A medium-sized s ...

(''Pycnonotus aurigaster'') * White-eared bulbul (''Pycnonotus leucotis'') *

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 ...

(''Pycnonotus leucogenys'') *

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 ...

(''Pycnonotus xanthopygos'') *

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, ...

(''Pycnonotus nigricans'') * Common bulbul (''Pycnonotus barbatus'') * Dodson's bulbul (''Pycnonotus dodsoni'') *

Somali bulbul The Somali bulbul (''Pycnonotus somaliensis'') is a member of the bulbul The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristlebills. The famil ...

(''Pycnonotus somaliensis'') *

Dark-capped bulbul The dark-capped bulbul (''Pycnonotus tricolor'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in central, eastern and south-eastern Africa. Taxonomy and systematics The dark-capped bulbul was originally described in the gen ...

(''Pycnonotus tricolor'') *

(''Pycnonotus capensis'')

Former species

In previous circumscriptions the genus ''Pycnonotus'' was considerably larger. Recent taxonomic revisions have seen many species transferred to other genera. In 2010, eighteen former ''Pycnonotus'' species were reclassified into different genera, either directly from ''Pycnonotus'' or from the genus '' Andropadus'', to which they had already been transferred by some authorities. These changes were as follows: * one species was transferred to genus Stelgidillas. ** Slender-billed greenbul ( former ''Pycnonotus gracilirostri'' or ''Pycnonotus gracilirostris'') * twelve species were transferred to genus

Arizelocichla ''Arizelocichla'' is a genus of greenbuls, songbirds in the bulbul family (Pycnonotidae). The genus was revived in 2010 when twelve species of bulbuls from the genus '' Andropadus'' were separated and re-classified in the genus ''Arizelocichla'' ...

: ** Shelley's greenbul (former ''Pycnonotus masukuensis'') ** Kakamega greenbul (nominate) (former ''Pycnonotus kakamegae'') **

Cameroon greenbul The Cameroon greenbul (''Arizelocichla montana'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in the Cameroonian Highlands forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss. Taxonomy and systematics The Cameroon greenbul was ...

(former ''Pycnonotus montanus'', as ''Arizelocichla montana'') **

Western greenbul The western greenbul (''Arizelocichla tephrolaema'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in the Cameroonian Highlands forests. Taxonomy and systematics The western greenbul was originally described in the genus ''Tr ...

(former ''Pycnonotus tephrolaemus'') **

Olive-breasted greenbul The olive-breasted greenbul (''Arizelocichla kikuyuensis'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, south-western and south-eastern Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and central Kenya. Ta ...

(former ''Pycnonotus tephrolaema'') **

Mountain greenbul The mountain greenbul (''Arizelocichla nigriceps''), or eastern mountain greenbul, is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in eastern Africa. Taxonomy and systematics The mountain greenbul was originally described in th ...

(former ''Pycnonotus nigriceps'') **

Uluguru greenbul The Uluguru greenbul (''Arizelocichla neumanni'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in eastern Tanzania. Taxonomy and systematics The Uluguru greenbul was originally described in the genus ''Arizelocichla'' in 19 ...

(former ''Pycnonotus neumanni'') **

Black-browed greenbul The black-browed greenbul (''Arizelocichla fusciceps'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Africa from south-western Tanzania to north-eastern Zambia, Malawi and west-central Mozambique. Taxonomy ...

(former ''Pycnonotus fusciceps'') ** Yellow-throated greenbul (former ''Pycnonotus chlorigula'') **

Stripe-cheeked greenbul The stripe-cheeked greenbul (''Arizelocichla milanjensis'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Taxonomy and systematics ...

(former ''Pycnonotus milanjensis'') **

Olive-headed greenbul The olive-headed greenbul (''Arizelocichla olivaceiceps'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in south-eastern Africa. Taxonomy and systematics The olive-headed greenbul was originally described in the genus ''Crin ...

(former ''Pycnonotus olivaceiceps'') **

Stripe-faced greenbul The stripe-faced greenbul (''Arizelocichla striifacies'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in Africa from south-eastern Kenya to south-western Tanzania. Taxonomy and systematics The stripe-faced greenbul was orig ...

(former ''Pycnonotus strifacies'') * five species were transferred to genus

Eurillas ''Eurillas'' is a genus of greenbuls, passerine birds in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae. Taxonomy The genus ''Eurillas'' was introduced in 1899 by the American ornithologist Harry C. Oberholser with the little greenbul as the type species. The g ...

: **

Little greenbul The little greenbul (''Eurillas virens'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Taxonomy and systematics The little greenbul was originally described in the genus '' Andropadus'' ...

(former ''Pycnonotus virens'') **

Little grey greenbul The little grey greenbul (''Eurillas gracilis'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is widely distributed across the African tropical rainforest. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and ...

(former ''Pycnonotus gracilis'') **

Ansorge's greenbul Ansorge's greenbul (''Eurillas ansorgei'') or Ansorge's bulbul, is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in western and central Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Taxonomy and ...

(former ''Pycnonotus ansorgei'') **

Plain greenbul The plain greenbul (''Eurillas curvirostris'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in western and central Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland ...

(former ''Pycnonotus curvirostris'') **

Yellow-whiskered greenbul The yellow-whiskered greenbul or yellow-whiskered bulbul (''Eurillas latirostris'') is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in western and central Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, ...

(former ''Pycnonotus latirostris'') In 2020, a further 17 species were transferred to other genera: * Black-and-white bulbul (former ''Pycnonotus melanoleucos'', moved to the monotypic genus ''Microtarsus'') *

Puff-backed bulbul The puff-backed bulbul (''Euptilotus eutilotus'') is a species of songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. It is the only species placed in the genus ''Euptilotus''. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra Sumatra is one of the Sunda I ...

(former ''Pycnonotus eutilotus'', moved to the monotypic genus ''Eutilotus'') *

Yellow-wattled bulbul The yellow-wattled bulbul (''Poliolophus urostictus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Taxonomy and syst ...

(former ''Pycnonotus urostictus'', moved to monotypic genus ''Poliolophus'') * Two species to genus ''

Alcurus The genus ''Alcurus'' is a small genus of songbirds in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristl ...

'': ** Striated bulbul (former ''Pycnonotus striatus'') **

Spot-necked bulbul The spot-necked bulbul (''Alcurus tympanistrigus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in Sumatra. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist mo ...

(former ''Pycnonotus tympanistrigus'') * Four species to genus ''

Brachypodius The genus ''Brachypodius'' is a small genus of songbirds in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. Taxonomy The genus ''Brachypodius'' was introduced in 1845 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth to accommodate the black-headed bulbul. The word ''Bra ...

'': ** Grey-headed bulbul (former ''Pycnonotus priocephalus'') **

Black-headed bulbul The black-headed bulbul (''Brachypodius melanocephalos'') is a member of the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in forests in south-eastern Asia. Taxonomy and systematics The black-headed bulbul was originally described in the genus ''T ...

(former ''Pycnonotus atriceps'', as ''Brachypodius melanocephalos''; the species epithet ''melanocephalos'' has priority over ''atriceps'') **

Andaman bulbul The Andaman bulbul (''Brachypodius fuscoflavescens'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to the Andaman Islands. It has a mainly olive-yellow plumage and has most of the head olive. It feeds on small fruit and ber ...

(former ''Pycnonotus fuscoflavescens'') **

Blue-wattled bulbul The blue-wattled bulbul (''Brachypodius nieuwenhuisii'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds. The specific epithet commemorates Dutch explorer Anton Willem Nieuwenhuis. The bird is endemic to the islands of Borneo a ...

(former ''Pycnonotus nieuwenhuisii'') * Three species to genus '' Ixodia'': **

Spectacled bulbul The spectacled bulbul (''Ixodia erythropthalmos''), also known as the lesser brown bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. The spectacled bulbul was originally describe ...

(former ''Pycnonotus erythropthalmos'') **

Grey-bellied bulbul The grey-bellied bulbul (''Ixodia cyaniventris'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by ha ...

(former ''Pycnonotus cyaniventris'') **

Scaly-breasted bulbul The scaly-breasted bulbul (''Ixodia squamata'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family. It is found from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss ...

(former ''Pycnonotus squamatus'') * Five species to genus ''

Rubigula ''Rubigula'' is a genus of Asian passerine birds in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. Taxonomy The genus ''Rubigula'' was introduced in 1845 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth. The type species was designated as the ruby-throated bulbul by Geo ...

'': **

Black-crested bulbul The black-crested bulbul (''Rubigula flaviventris'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found from the Indian subcontinent to southeast Asia. Taxonomy and systematics The black-crested bulbul was originally described in ...

(former ''Pycnonotus flaviventris'') ** Flame-throated bulbul (former ''Pycnonotus gularis'') **

Black-capped bulbul The black-capped bulbul (''Rubigula melanictera''), or black-headed yellow bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. Taxonomy The black-capped bulbul was formally described in 1789 by the German n ...

(former ''Pycnonotus melanicterus'') **

Ruby-throated bulbul The ruby-throated bulbul (''Rubigula dispar''), or yellow bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found on Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Taxonomy and systematics The ruby-throated bulbul was originally described in the ge ...

(former ''Pycnonotus dispar'') **

Bornean bulbul The Bornean bulbul (''Rubigula montis'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to the island of Borneo. Taxonomy and systematics The Bornean bulbul was previously placed in genus ''Pycnonotus''. This genus was foun ...

(former ''Pycnonotus montis'') Other former ''Pycnonotus'' species include: *

Sombre greenbul The sombre greenbul (''Andropadus importunus'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in coastal bush, evergreen forest and dry shrub land in eastern and southern Africa. It is the only member of the genu ...

(former ''Pycnonotus importunus'', now ''Andropadus importunus'') *

Yellow-throated leaflove The yellow-throated leaflove (''Atimastillas flavicollis'') is a species of leaflove in the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is the only species of the monotypic genus ''Atimastillas''. The yellow-throated leaflove is found in western and ce ...

(former ''Haematornis flavicollis'' or ''Pycnonotus flavicollis'', now ''Atimastillas flavicollis'') *

Hairy-backed bulbul The hairy-backed bulbul (''Tricholestes criniger'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is the sole species contained within the monotypic genus ''Tricholestes''. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. I ...

(former ''Brachypodius criniger'', now ''Tricholestes criniger'') *

Bare-faced bulbul The bare-faced bulbul (''Nok hualon'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It was newly described from central Laos in 2009. It is one of the very few Asian songbirds with a bald (featherless) face and is the first new species o ...

(former ''Pycnonotus hualon'', now ''Nok hualon'') *

Cream-striped bulbul The cream-striped bulbul (''Hemixos leucogrammicus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to western Sumatra (Indonesia). The cream-striped bulbul was originally described in the genus ''Ixos'' and later mo ...

(former ''Pycnonotus leucogrammicus'', now ''Hemixos leucogrammicus'')

References

External links

* Bulbuls Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Pycnonotidae-stub