Brown-breasted Bulbul
Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
A large dull bulbul of scrubby forest edges, farmland, and parks. Brown overall, with a black cap and white throat; a light brown wash on the chest contrasts with the otherwise pale breast and belly, giving it a “vested” appearance. Dull orange undertail feathers are essentially the only bright spot on this species. Can resemble juvenile Sooty-headed Bulbul, but lacks the white cheek and rump of that species. Song consists of short but rich warbled phrases, and is a common background sound in cities and towns. Calls include liquid chirrups and harsher churring calls.
Taxonomy
Alternate names for the brown-breasted bulbul include Anderson's bulbul and yellow-vented bulbul (not to be confused with the species of the same name, Pycnonotus goiavier).<p>Two subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
- Authority
- Anderson, 1869
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Pycnonotus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-crested Warbler
Myiothlypis nigrocristata
Small yellow warbler found in the understory of Andean forest and scrub from around 2,500-3,500m. Olive above and brighter yellow below, with bright yellow eyebrow and black crown. Sexes similar. Compare with Citrine Warbler, which does not show a black crown. Fairly common. Pairs forage low, often among mixed-species flocks, where they can be difficult to spot among the dense scrub and bamboo. Frequently detected by accelerating series of musical chips.
Phoenix Petrel
Pterodroma alba
A long-winged petrel, predominantly dark with a gleaming white belly. Throat patch often shows pale speckling, and birds sometimes appear distinctly pale-throated. Key identification feature is the prominent pale bar at the leading edge of the dark underwing between the elbow and body. Similar in pattern to Tahiti Petrel, but much smaller-billed and sometimes shows a pale throat. Usually flies with wings bent at the elbow, unlike the remarkably straight-winged Tahiti Petrel. Silent at sea.
Arabian Waxbill
Estrilda rufibarba
A mostly gray-and-buff barred waxbill with a crimson ‘bandit’s’ eye-patch and black tail and rump. A predominantly gray waxbill with buff-washed underparts and fine barring all over the body, as well as a crimson “bandit’s” eye-patch and black tail and rump. Bill is black, but has a red base during the breeding season. Female is darker below than the male, with a duller eye-patch. Juvenile is browner, less barred and has a dark eye-patch. A fairly common resident of riverine scrub, thickets on hillsides, waterside vegetation and agricultural cereal fields; typically forages in pairs and flocks. Calls a nasal “dzeet” often in concert with others, and a loud buzzing. Only waxbill with a red eye-patch on the Arabian Peninsula.
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