White-eared bulbul

White-eared bulbul
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) File:White-eared bulbul.jpg White eared bulbul, captured from Vasai, Maharashtra, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pycnonotidae
Genus:	Pycnonotus
Species:	P. leucotis
Binomial name
Pycnonotus leucotis (Gould, 1836)
File:Pycnonotus leucotis leucogenys map editation 1.png
Distribution of P. leucotis (light green) and P. leucogenys (dark green) in the South Asian region

The white-eared bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) is a member of the bulbul family. It is found in Kuwait, Bahrain, mid and southern Iraq, southern Iran,tehran iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-western India, in parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and on the Arabian peninsula. The species was earlier considered a conspecific of Pycnonotus leucogenys.

Description

This species is very similar in appearance to the Himalayan white-cheeked bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys but smaller and uncrested and with a larger white cheek patch. It has a pale bare eye-ring. The vent is orange yellow. Sexes are alike.

It is found in scrub forest and gardenland. Also found in flocks or pairs in the mangroves, gorging on the fruits of the Meswak bush. Usually seen in pairs or small groups. It feeds on fruits and insects, and breeds in March–June.

In Iran, the natural habitat of the species is Khouzestan Province, in the southwest of the country where it feeds on dates and is generally considered a pest. Some also call it "the bulbul of Tehran".

Gallery

• White eared Bulbul I2-Bharatpur IMG 8495.jpg

  At Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India

• White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) on a Khabbar tree (Salvadora oleoides) at Hodal Iws IMG 1181.jpg

  On a khabbar tree (Salvadora oleoides) at Hodal in Faridabad district of Haryana, India

• White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) looking for scraps of Chapatis at Hodal Iws IMG 1182.jpg

  Looking for scraps of chapatis at Hodal

• White eared Bulbul at Bharatpur I IMG 8493.jpg

  At Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India

• White eared bulbul.jpg
• White eared bulbul pair.jpg

  Fighting their rival images

• White-eared bulbul (pycnonotus leucotis).jpg

  In Musandam Peninsula, Oman

• White-eared Bulbul 1.JPG

  White-eared bulbul at Birdworld, Farnham

• White-eared Bulbul 2.JPG

  White-eared bulbul (left) and red-vented bulbul (right) at Birdworld, Farnham

References

• Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (1999) and multiple reprints. Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp, Oxford University Press, New Delhi

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet