Seram Golden Bulbul

Hypsipetes affinis

Hypsipetes affinis, the Seram Golden Bulbul, is a striking medium-sized passerine bird endemic to the Indonesian island of Seram. Measuring approximately 23-25 cm in length, it is characterized by its vivid plumage: a yellowish-olive head and upperparts that contrast sharply with brilliant golden-yellow underparts. Its stout, slightly hooked black bill and dark legs are distinctive, while its eyes are also dark, blending with its facial features. A key identification feature is this bright go...

Habitat

Thrives in primary lowland and montane tropical moist broadleaf forests, extending into forest edges and mature secondary growth from sea level up to approximately 1500 meters.

Diet

Primarily frugivorous, consuming various berries and small fruits, supplemented with an insectivorous diet, gleaning invertebrates from foliage and branches.

Behavior

The Seram Golden Bulbul is a highly active and vocal diurnal species, typically observed singly, in pairs, or small family groups, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks in the forest canopy and sub-canopy. It employs an agile foraging strategy, gleaning insects from foliage and branches, an...

Range

The Seram Golden Bulbul is strictly endemic to Seram Island, a large island within the Maluku (Moluccas) archipelago of Indonesia. Its distribution spans across the entire island, where it is a resident species, with no known migratory patterns or vagrant records outside its native range. It occu...

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Fun Facts

- The Seram Golden Bulbul is entirely endemic to Seram Island in Indonesia, making it a unique component of the island's biodiversity. - Its scientific name, Hypsipetes affinis, refers to its former classification as a close relative or 'affinis' to other Hypsipetes species. - Despite its "golden...

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