Square-tailed Bulbul
Hypsipetes ganeesa
Elegant dark bulbul with a bright red bill; very similar in appearance to Black Bulbul, but no range overlap. Dark charcoal-gray with a black crown. Fairly common in lowland and hill forests and forest edges, often gathering in large flocks, particularly outside of the breeding season. Song is a loud, high-pitched “chi-chik-chik!” Frequently gives a loud nasal meow, like a cat with a cold.
Identification
The square-tailed bulbul lacks the black streak behind the eye and on the ear-coverts that is present in the black bulbul.
Taxonomy
Alternative names for the square-tailed bulbul include the south Indian black bulbul and the square-tailed black bulbul.<p>Two subspecies are currently recognized:
- Scientific name
- Hypsipetes ganeesa
- Authority
- Sykes, 1832
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Hypsipetes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
In southern India, nesting activity begins in February and rises to a peak in May. The eggs hatch after an incubation period of 12 to 13 days and the chicks fledge after about 11 or 12 days. Populations make movements in response to the monsoon. Nest predators include birds of prey and snakes such as the black-winged kite and oriental ratsnake. Adult square-tailed bulbuls have been known to be preyed upon by the crested goshawk.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray-throated Barbet
Gymnobucco bonapartei
Dark, chunky barbet with an odd tuft of feathers on its forehead. The eye is pale in the eastern part of the range and dark in the west. Usually in small groups on and around dead trees in humid forest and secondary growth. The vocalizations include nasal “squeaky toy” calls, “peet” notes, and a dry rattle. Similar to Naked-faced and Bristle-nosed Barbets, but has a mostly feathered head and a dark bill. Sladen’s Barbet also has a dark bill, but Gray-throated is separated from that species by its feathered head.
Reunion Stonechat
Saxicola tectes
A small, chunky robin-like bird. Males are black and white and quite variable, sometimes having a white eyebrow and showing a variable amount of rufous on the underparts. Females are dark brown on the back and pale below, with some rufous on the breast. Found in a wide variety of habitats on the island of Reunion, including humid forest, heath, farms, gardens, montane grassland, and scrub. Most common at middle and high elevations. Perches up conspicuously and often flicks the wings. Distinctive within its restricted range. Song is a quick jumbled mix of high-pitched scratchy notes.
Long-tailed Potoo
Nyctibius aethereus
Large potoo with a long graduated tail. Mostly rusty brown with streaked underparts, a conspicuous pale shoulder patch, and a whitish moustache. Occurs from the lower to the upper levels of humid forests. The song is an undulating “waa-OO-uh,” usually sung on moonlit nights.
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