Pycnonotus blanfordi
The Ayeyarwady Bulbul (*Pycnonotus blanfordi*) is a rather unassuming yet widespread songbird of mainland Southeast Asia, typically measuring 17-19 cm in length and weighing 22-30 grams. Its plumage is a generally dull greyish-brown overall, with a subtly paler, often indistinct supercilium, dark lores, and a whitish throat. A key and often striking identification feature is its pale iris, which can range from whitish to grey or blue-grey, contrasting with its dark bill. The undertail coverts...
Found primarily in open forests, secondary growth, scrub, forest edges, and cultivated areas like gardens and plantations, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1,000 meters.
Primarily omnivorous, its diet consists mainly of small fruits and berries, supplemented with a variety of insects, such as beetles and larvae, and occasionally nectar. It forages by actively gleaning from foliage and branches.
This diurnal bulbul is an active forager, often observed singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and occasionally joining mixed-species flocks to exploit food sources. Its foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and fruits from foliage within the shrub and canopy layers, though it may desce...
The Ayeyarwady Bulbul is a resident species found widely across mainland Southeast Asia. Its core breeding and year-round range extends from central and southern Myanmar, eastward through Thailand, into Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. It is particularly common along the lowlands and foothil...
Least Concern
- The Ayeyarwady Bulbul was formerly known as Blanford's Bulbul, named after British naturalist William Thomas Blanford. - Its current name, Ayeyarwady, refers to the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar, highlighting a central part of its distribution. - Unlike many colorful tropical birds, its largely pl...