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Bulbul
(Pycnonotus barbatus) Bulbul Bird
18.9387, 72.8354
Field Notes
Description:
The bulbuls are a widespread family of songbirds, found much over Africa and Asia.
The Common Bulbul has a number of subspecies; some authorities consider P. b. dodsoni (Dodson’s Bulbul), P. b. somaliensis (Somali Bulbul) and P. b. tricolor (Dark-capped Bulbul) as separate species from the nominate P. b. barbatus.
The bill is fairly short and straight. The bill, legs and feet are black and the eye is dark brown with a dark eye-ring, which is not readily visible.
The Dark-capped Bulbul is mostly greyish-brown above and whitish-brown below, with a distinctive dark head and pointy crest on top of the head. The back of the head merges into the brown of the back, and the chin is also blackish. The underparts are grey-brown apart from white around the vent (yellow in P. b. tricolor). It is about 18 cm in length, with a long tail. It has a dark brown head and upperparts. Sexes are similar in plumage.
Habitat:
It is a common resident breeder in much of Africa. It is found in woodland, coastal bush, forest edges, riverine bush, montane scrub and in mixed farming habitats. It is also found in exotic thickets, gardens and parks.
This species nests throughout the year in the most tropics, elsewhere it is a more seasonal breeder with a peak in breeding co-inciding with the onset of the rainy season. The nest is fairly rigid, thick walled and cup-shaped. It is situated inside the leafy foliage of a small tree or shrub.
Two or three eggs is a typical clutch. It, like other bulbuls, is parasitised by the Jacobin Cuckoo.
Notes:
The photograph is taken of the bulbul babies which have nested in my garden.. I have taken photographs from the stage the mother and father bulbul started building the nest to laying of eggs and the babies being born. Now the babies have grown and have started sitting on the top of the nest waiting for their mother to bring them food.
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