Styan's bulbul

Styan's bulbul (Pycnonotus taivanus, Chinese: 烏頭翁) 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 destruction and hybridisation with the closely related Chinese or light-vented bulbul. The two species' ranges overlap in several areas, partly because birds of the latter species have been released for Buddhist ceremonies. The species has already become extinct in Yilan County (Taiwan).

Styan's bulbul
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
Species:
P. taivanus
Binomial name
Pycnonotus taivanus
Styan, 1893
Distribution of Styan's bulbul on Taiwan

Taxonomy and systematics

Alternate names for Styan's bulbul include the Formosan black-headed bulbul and Taiwan black-headed bulbul (Chinese: 烏頭翁: meaning “black head bird”). The latter name is also used to refer to a subspecies of the light-vented bulbul.

Description
On the east coast of Taiwan

Styan's bulbul has a very similar appearance to the light-vented bulbul, but they differ in the patterns on the head. Styan's bulbul has a completely black crown with white feathers around its eye, except for a black moustachial stripe below the beak. Hybrids are intermediate between the two species, with the moustachial stripe and white feathers around the eye, but the white feathers extend behind the crown.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Pycnonotus taivanus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T22712646A94341716. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712646A94341716.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

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