Pale-faced Bulbul

Pycnonotus leucops

Endemic to Borneo’s montane highlands, this brownish-olive bulbul, with its white face and large, dark eyes, is distinctive. Forages in fruiting trees, as well as low, scrubby growth lining the rocky peaks of the highest mountains. Listen for low, churred calls, given repeatedly or strung into slightly up-and-down song. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Flavescent Bulbul, which has a darker face and does not occur on Borneo.

Identification

At 17.5–19 cm long the pale-faced bulbul is smaller than the flavescent bulbul, with which it was once lumped, which reach 21.5–22 cm in length. Its colouring is mainly brown or grey-brown, darker above than below, with a white or whitish face and throat, and bright yellow undertail-coverts.

Taxonomy

Genus: Pycnonotus; Family: Pycnonotidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Pycnonotus leucops
Authority
(Sharpe, 1888)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Pycnonotidae
Genus
Pycnonotus

Range and habitat

The bulbul is found in the mountains of Borneo in montane primary forest, ranging in altitude from about 900 m to 3500 m above sea level.

Migration
Vertical migration

Behavior

Migration pattern: Vertical migration.

Conservation

Population trend: stable.

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

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Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk

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Pale-faced Bulbul | BirdLens