Pycnonotus xanthopygos
The White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) is a vibrant and adaptable passerine, easily identified by its striking white eye-ring, which creates a 'spectacled' appearance against its otherwise subdued plumage. Typically measuring between 19-21 cm in length with a wingspan of 25-30 cm and weighing 30-40 grams, its upperparts are a muted brownish-grey, transitioning to paler underparts, punctuated by a bright yellow vent – a hallmark of many species within its genus. This bulbul belon...
This species primarily inhabits semi-arid shrublands, open woodlands, wadis, orchards, and urban gardens, typically found from sea level up to elevations of around 1,500 meters, occasionally higher.
Primarily omnivorous, their diet consists mainly of fruits, berries, and nectar, supplemented with a significant proportion of insects and other invertebrates, which they glean from foliage or catch in flight.
White-spectacled Bulbuls are diurnal and highly active birds, frequently observed hopping among branches or flitting between shrubs with quick, jerky movements. They are primarily frugivorous and insectivorous, foraging by gleaning insects from foliage, hawking them in mid-air, or plucking ripe f...
The White-spectacled Bulbul is resident across a broad swathe of the Middle East and parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, with its core breeding range extending from southern Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon, through Israel and Palestine, Jordan, and into the Arabian Peninsula, including Saudi Arabia, Y...
Least Concern
- The "spectacles" are not just white feathers; the distinct white patch extends around the eye, making it particularly conspicuous and a key identifier. - Despite its preference for warmer climates, this bulbul can be surprisingly resilient, occasionally seen foraging in light snow in the northe...