Hemixos cinereus
The Cinereous Bulbul (Hemixos cinereus) is a medium-sized songbird, typically measuring around 20-22 cm (8-8.5 inches) in length. Its plumage is characterized by a striking contrast: an ashy-grey head, throat, and breast, sharply delineating from its olive-green back, wings, and tail. A key field mark for identification is often its yellowish or greenish-yellow undertail-coverts and vent, providing a subtle splash of color against the otherwise muted tones. Taxonomically, it belongs to the Bu...
The Cinereous Bulbul inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests, forest edges, and secondary growth, primarily found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,000 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, its diet consists mainly of various fruits such as berries and figs, supplemented by insects like beetles, caterpillars, and orthopterans, which it gleans from foliage.
Cinereous Bulbuls are highly social, diurnal birds often observed foraging in active, sometimes noisy, flocks of up to 20 or more individuals, frequently joining mixed-species foraging parties in the canopy and sub-canopy. They employ an active foraging strategy, gleaning fruits and insects from ...
The Cinereous Bulbul is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, spanning from southern Myanmar and peninsular Thailand through Peninsular Malaysia, and extending into the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Its breeding range covers these regions, where it is a year-round resident with...
Least Concern
- The Cinereous Bulbul is a renowned "nuclear species" in mixed-species foraging flocks, meaning other bird species often follow its movements to find food. - Despite its relatively plain name, its plumage features a striking contrast between its ashy-grey head and vibrant olive-green back. - It ...