Black-headed Bulbul
Microtarsus melanocephalos
Olive-yellow bulbul with a black head and unsettling sapphire eyes. Broad black band across the tail is especially noticeable when seen from below. No other bulbul in its range sports a crestless dark head, but look out for the slenderer and longer-billed leafbirds, whose dark throats may cause confusion when seen from below. Extremely rare gray morph replaces all yellow with gray, and intermediate birds have both yellow and gray patches. Inhabits broadleaf and mixed forests as well as edges, often in areas close to water. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks in the upper layers of lowland and foothill forest. Unlike many other bulbuls, not particularly vocal; gives occasional “chew” or “chep” notes, often while flying.
Identification
The black-headed bulbul is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) in overall length and weighs 20–30 g (0.71–1.06 oz). It has a mainly olive-yellow plumage with a glossy bluish-black head. A rare grey morph where most of the olive-yellow is replaced by grey also exists. It resembles the black-crested bulbul, but has blue eyes (though not reliable in juveniles), a broad yellow tip to the tail, and never shows a crest (however, some subspecies of the black-crested are also essentially crestless, but they have red or yellow throats).
Taxonomy
The black-headed bulbul was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the shrikes in the genus Lanius and coined the binomial name Lanius melanocephalos. The specific epithet combines the Ancient Greek melas meaning "black" with -kephalos meaning "-headed". Gmelin based his account on the "black-headed shrike" that had been described and illustrated in 1781 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his multi-volume work A General Synopsis of Birds. Latham did not specify the origin of his specimen but Gmelin gave the locality as the Sandwich Islands. This was an error and the type locality was designated as Sumatra by the Harry Oberholser in 1912.<p>Earlier in his book Gmelin used the name Lanius melanocephalus for a variety of the red-backed shrike Lanius collurio. This has led to difficulties with the taxonomy. In 1917 Oberholser argued that under the code of nomenclature then adopted by the American Ornithologists' Union, Lanius melanocephalos was pre-occupied by Lanius melanocephalus and the correct name under the rules would be Turdus atriceps Temminck 1822. Oberholser's proposal was generally adopted and atriceps was used as the specific epithet. In 2018 it was pointed out that under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature published in 1999 the two names are not homonyms (and if they were Lanius melanocephalos would have priority as it was applied to a species rather than a variety). Gmelin is again now recognised as the authority for this species. The black-headed bulbul was formerly placed in the genus Pycnonotus but when this genus was found to be polyphyletic it was moved to the genus Brachypodius that had been introduced in 1845 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth.<p>Until 2008, the Andaman bulbul was considered as a subspecies of the black-headed bulbul.<p>Four subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Microtarsus melanocephalos
- Authority
- (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Microtarsus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Behavior
The black-headed bulbul feeds mainly on small fruit and berries, but will also take insects. It commonly occurs in small flocks of 6-8 individuals.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Little-known swift found mostly in mountainous areas, though flocks occasionally venture into lowlands. All dark with short square tail and angular wings. Namesake white spots on forehead and behind eyes are distinctive, but these can be extremely difficult to see. Many swifts are best left unidentified. Sex and age variation not well known; some birds, maybe juveniles, can show whitish scaling on belly. Occasionally seen singly or mixed with flocks of other swifts, but most often in monotypic flocks of up to several dozen individuals. Voice can be helpful with practice; typically a staccato chatter followed by “pew pew pew” notes like a laser gun.
Fiji Parrotfinch
Erythrura pealii
A gorgeous small finch with a bright crimson face, rump, and tail. Body is green with a blue chest and a black throat. Common in forest edge, gardens, and scrubby park habitats. Uncommon in forest. Pink-billed Parrotfinch is similar, but pale pink bill and black face are diagnostic. Fiji’s voice is a thin high-pitched “cheee cheee cheee.”
Coppersmith Barbet
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A small, widespread, and cute little barbet with streaked underparts and a well-patterned face. Most populations have a red forehead, yellow around the eye and throat, and a black eyestripe all bordered at the rear of the crown by a black band. Also note red “badge” on upper chest. Female averages duller than the male, with some yellow on a narrower red “badge”. Immature lacks all red and has faint streaking on the throat. Subspecies in Sumatra, Nusa Tenggara, and the central Philippines have bright red-and-black faces. While common, can be hard to see; listen instead for its call, a prolonged and unmistakable “kuk-kuk-kuk.” Favors open woodlands, forest edge, and gardens in lowland and foothill areas; ranges up into higher elevations in the Philippines and Indonesia.
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