White-eared bulbul

The white-eared bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) is a member of the bulbul family. It is found in south-western Asia from India to the Arabian peninsula.

For the alternate name used by a different species of bird, see Dodson's bulbul.

White-eared bulbul
In Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
Species:
P. leucotis
Binomial name
Pycnonotus leucotis
(Gould, 1836)
Native range of P. leucotis (light green) and P. leucogenys (dark green) in the South Asian region
Synonyms
  • Ixos leucotis
  • Pycnonotus leucogenys leucotis

Taxonomy and systematics

The white-eared bulbul was originally described in the genus Ixos. The white-eared bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies along with the Himalayan bulbul, white-spectacled bulbul, African red-eyed bulbul, Cape bulbul, and the common bulbul.[2] Formerly, some authorities considered the white-eared bulbul to be a subspecies of the Himalayan Bulbul.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:[3]

  • Arabian white-cheeked bulbul (P. l. mesopotamia) - Ticehurst, 1918: Found in north-eastern Arabia, southern Iraq and south-western Iran
  • P. l. leucotis - (Gould, 1836): Found in southern Iran, southern Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western India

Description and vocalisations

The white-eared bulbul is rotund in appearance, and has a brownish-grey body. The tail of this bird is relatively long, tapering outwards. Starting off black, the tail feathers end in white tips. The head of the white-eared bulbul is black, with the area around its cheeks bearing a large white spot. The eye rings of the bulbul are bare, and the beak short. The vent of the bird is bright yellow.

The white-eared bulbul does not have a uniform song but rather a set of notes, which can be used to chirp different melodies. The song is brief, but is described as being "pleasant and fluid."[4]

Distribution

It is native to the western reaches of India, much of Pakistan, southern Afghanistan, coastal Iran, as well as much of the two-river basin in Iraq, Kuwait, and the island of Bahrain.[5]

It has been introduced to the remaining Persian Gulf countries including Oman, the UAE, and Qatar. [6]

Conservation

The species is listed by the IUCN as "Least Concern" as of 2018 but population sizes are declining.[1]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2018). "Pycnonotus leucotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22712687A132101885. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22712687A132101885.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)". www.hbw.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  3. "Bulbuls « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  4. "EBird - Pycnonotus leucotis".
  5. "EBird - Birds of the world".
  6. "EBird - Kuwaitbirds".
  • 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
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