The square-tailed bulbul (''Hypsipetes ganeesa'') is a species of songbird 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, Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-western India and Sri Lanka. Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

is subtropical or tropical moist

montane forest Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...

s. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the black bulbul.

Taxonomy and systematics

Alternative names for the square-tailed bulbul include the south Indian black bulbul and the square-tailed black bulbul.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are currently recognized: * Sri Lanka bulbul (''H. g. humii'') - ( Whistler & Kinnear, 1932): The Sri Lankan race has a heavier bill than the Indian bulbul. Found in Sri Lanka * Indian bulbul (''H. g. ganeesa'') -

Sykes Sykes may refer to: People * Sir Alan Sykes, 1st Baronet, businessman and British politician * Annette Sykes, New Zealand human rights lawyer and Māori activist * Bob Sykes (American football), American football player * Bob Sykes (baseball), Ame ...

, 1832: Found in south-western India

Description

The square-tailed bulbul lacks the black streak behind the eye and on the ear-coverts that is present in the black bulbul.

Behaviour and ecology

In southern India, nesting activity begins in February and rises to a peak in May. The eggs hatch after an incubation period of 12 to 13 days and the chicks fledge after about 11 or 12 days. Populations make movements in response to the monsoon. Nest predators include birds of prey and snakes such as the black-winged kite and oriental ratsnake. Adult square-tailed bulbuls have been known to be preyed upon by the crested goshawk.

References

*Rasmussen, P.C., and J.C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley guide. Volume 2: attributes and status. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions, Washington D.C. and Barcelona. Hypsipetes Birds described in 1832 Taxa named by William Henry Sykes {{Pycnonotidae-stub