Hypsipetes ganeesa
The Square-tailed Bulbul (Hypsipetes ganeesa) is a striking medium-sized songbird, typically measuring 24-25 cm in length and weighing between 30-50 grams, recognized by its predominantly dark, often sooty-black or dark grey plumage. A key identification feature is its prominent, sometimes shaggy, crest atop a dark head, contrasting sharply with its vibrant, glossy red bill and matching bright red legs. While its name suggests a distinctly square tail, it's more accurately described as less f...
Primarily inhabits broadleaf evergreen and deciduous forests, preferring humid subtropical and temperate zones, typically found at elevations between 600 to 2,500 meters, but sometimes descending lower in winter.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of berries and fruits, supplemented significantly by insects caught on the wing or gleaned from foliage.
Square-tailed Bulbuls are active, diurnal birds often observed foraging in the upper and middle canopies of trees. They employ a 'sallying' technique to catch insects in flight, alongside gleaning methods to pick fruit and invertebrates from foliage. During the non-breeding season, they frequentl...
The Square-tailed Bulbul's primary range spans across the Himalayan foothills and associated mountain ranges of the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Its distribution extends from northern India (Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam) through Nepal, Bhutan, and into Bangladesh. I...
Least Concern
- The 'square tail' is actually less forked than most other bulbuls, giving it a distinctive blunt appearance. - Its bright red bill and legs are crucial field marks, standing out vividly against its dark plumage. - Often found in mixed-species foraging flocks, especially during the non-breeding ...