Pycnonotus tympanistrigus
The Spot-necked Bulbul (Pycnonotus tympanistrigus) is a captivating member of the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae, known for its distinctive facial markings. Measuring approximately 15-16 cm in length and weighing around 18-24 grams, this small bulbul boasts a striking black head, often with a white or pale grey throat, contrasting sharply with its olive-green upperparts and yellow-washed underparts. Its most defining feature, and the origin of its common name, is a prominent white, silver-white,...
This bulbul primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, favoring lower to upper montane elevations, typically between 800 and 2,000 meters.
The diet of the Spot-necked Bulbul is omnivorous, consisting primarily of small fruits, berries, and insects, which it forages for by gleaning and sallying within the forest canopy and understory.
Spot-necked Bulbuls are generally diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, often found foraging individually or in pairs, though small, loose flocks can form around fruiting trees. They exhibit a rather furtive foraging style, gleaning insects from foliage and branches, or plucking fruits with agile mo...
The Spot-necked Bulbul is strictly endemic to the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra (Indonesia) and Borneo (shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei). Within Sumatra, it is found throughout the mountain ranges from the Aceh province south to Lampung. On Borneo, its distribution includes montane a...
Least Concern
- The 'spot' on its neck can vary from a distinct white crescent to a more diffuse silvery-grey patch, sometimes appearing almost as a broken ring, making individual identification slightly variable. - Unlike many widespread bulbul species, the Spot-necked Bulbul has a remarkably restricted natur...