Pycnonotus aurigaster
The Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster) is a sprightly and common passerine bird belonging to the family Pycnonotidae. Averaging 19-21 cm in length and weighing around 20-30 grams, this medium-sized bulbul is characterized by its distinctive sooty-grey to blackish head, contrasting pure white throat, and a brilliant, almost fluorescent yellow vent (crissum), which serves as its most prominent field mark. Its body plumage is generally a dull olive-brown or grey-brown, becoming paler on...
This adaptable species inhabits a wide array of open and semi-open habitats, including forest edges, secondary growth, scrublands, agricultural areas, parks, and urban gardens, primarily at lower to mid-elevations up to 1500-2000 meters.
Primarily omnivorous, their diet consists largely of various fruits and berries, supplemented significantly by insects, larvae, and other invertebrates, obtained through gleaning and snatching.
Sooty-headed Bulbuls are diurnal birds, active from dawn to dusk, often seen foraging alone, in pairs, or small family groups, though larger mixed-species flocks can form at abundant food sources. Their foraging strategy is largely opportunistic, involving agile gleaning of insects from foliage a...
The Sooty-headed Bulbul enjoys a broad distribution across much of Southeast Asia, extending from northeastern India and Bangladesh eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and into southern and southeastern China, including Hainan Island. It is also found throughout the Malay...
Least Concern
- The Sooty-headed Bulbul's most striking feature, its bright yellow vent, is often the first thing birders use to confirm identification, even in poor light. - Despite its name, its head is more sooty-grey than truly black, providing a softer contrast to its white throat. - This species is known...