Pycnonotus leucogenys
The Himalayan Bulbul (*Pycnonotus leucogenys*) is a strikingly handsome passerine, a medium-sized songbird typically measuring 19-22 cm (7.5-8.7 in) in length and weighing around 30-40 grams. Its most distinctive features include a prominent black, often spiky crest, pristine white cheek patches (giving it its scientific name 'leucogenys' meaning 'white-cheeked'), and a vibrant yellowish-orange vent contrasting with its olive-brown upperparts and paler, grayish-white underparts. A faint white...
Found in subtropical and temperate broadleaf forests, scrublands, open woodlands, cultivated areas, and gardens across montane regions, typically at elevations between 600 and 3,000 meters.
Primarily omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of fruits, berries, and nectar, supplemented with insects such as beetles, caterpillars, and flies, often gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Himalayan Bulbuls are diurnal and highly active, foraging from dawn to dusk and roosting in dense foliage at night. They employ a versatile foraging strategy, gleaning insects and fruits from leaves and branches, often descending to lower shrubs or the ground, and occasionally performing aerial s...
The Himalayan Bulbul is widely distributed across the Himalayan mountain range and its foothills. Its breeding range extends from eastern Afghanistan, through northern Pakistan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Nepal, continuing eastward into Bhutan and parts of western China (Tibet). ...
Least Concern
- Its scientific name 'leucogenys' is derived from Greek, meaning 'white-cheeked', perfectly describing its most prominent field mark. - Known for its exceptionally beautiful and varied song, it has been a popular cage bird in parts of its native range for centuries. - This species is an importan...