Philippine Bulbul
Hypsipetes philippinus
A medium-sized bird of lowland and montane forest as well as more open wooded areas. Dark brown above with a pale belly, an orange-brown throat and chest with pale streaking, and a dark head with faint gray streaks. Bill fairly long and black. Similar to Streak-breasted Bulbul, but smaller, with a shorter bill, a grayish crown, and a warmer orange-brown throat and chest. Song consists of short, loud whistled phrases with a slightly metallic quality. Also gives downslurred squeals and chattering.
Identification
The Philippine bulbul (Hypsipetes philippinus) is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest.
Taxonomy
The Philippine bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus and later placed in the genus Ixos. In 2010, it was re-classified to the genus Hypsipetes as it is very closely related to the type species of that genus, the black bulbul. Until 2010, the Mindoro bulbul, Visayan bulbul and Zamboanga bulbul were all considered as subspecies of the Philippine bulbul.<p>Three subspecies are currently recognized:
- Scientific name
- Hypsipetes philippinus
- Authority
- (Forster, JR, 1795)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Hypsipetes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
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