Black-headed bulbul


The black-headed bulbul 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 Turdus. Until 2008, the Andaman bulbul was also considered as a subspecies of the black-headed bulbul.

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized:
The black-headed bulbul has a mainly olive-yellow plumage with a glossy bluish-black head. A grey morph where most of the olive-yellow is replaced by grey also exists. It resembles the black-crested bulbul, but has blue eyes, a broad yellow tip to the tail, and never shows a crest.

Behavior and ecology

The black-headed bulbul mainly feeds on small fruit and berries, but will also take insects. It commonly occurs in small flocks, comprising 6-8 individuals.