Himalayan bulbul: Pycnonotus leucogenys

Himalayan bulbul
Pycnonotus leucogenys

Himalayan bulbul: Pycnonotus leucogenys

IUCN Status: LC – Least Concern.

Place: Pangot. Also spotted at Sattal, a day earlier.

Date: 4^th April, 2015.

Perhaps it is their crest or forward ruff that appears to convey an aura of confidence; perhaps it is the comfort with which they treat humans; whatever it is, these songbirds aren’t going to fly away from their roost just because you happen to be passing by with a camera and semi-fancy lens. They’re not as anthropophobic – hope it’s the correct word in the context - as other birds. They don’t seem to have suffered for it. In fact, bulbuls per se have established a relationship with humans who, by their activity, are a source of easy food. They are frequently found near human habitation.

In the wild, they prefer wooded valleys and bush-brushy hillsides. The Himalayan bulbuls reside across the Himalayas from Afghanistan, through Tajikistan and to Bhutan in the east, all along the ridge raised by the Indian subcontinent crashing into the Eurasian landmass all those years ago. In fact, they nest in the bushes, not too far above the ground.

Usually found in pairs. These two were perched on the bushy-scrubby slope of the mountainside below the path we were walking on. A little bit of leaning over was necessary and I couldn’t avoid the twigs across the frame. Of course I had other shots....but they are of rain-soaked bulbuls or of those perched between bright skies and I.

The crest, white cheeks and the yellow vents along with brownish-grey upperparts are distinctive of the mountain bulbuls. If you live in the plains in the subcontinent, you may be familiar with their red-vented cousin who also lacks the punky hairstyle.

But they beat a Morse code like tattoo like their plain cousins. If the plainsspeak goes tik tek, the Himalayan bulbuls may go chik chek and more. Just the dialect I guess. They have a wide vocabulary and can have variable songs and sequences.

They enjoy a rich varied diet – insects, berries, seeds, flower buds, nectar from flowers and fruits. They pounce on insects in the air as well from their perches. Around human habitation, they forage boldly and maintain well-fed appearances.

Both genders look similar...sometimes we must thank god we are humans instead of cursing ourselves...juveniles look duller brown in the head.

They hybridize with red-vented cousins also.

In a nutshell – brown forward-pointing crest and brownish nape; white patch on cheek with a black crescent at the back end of it; brown upperparts; greyish chest and underparts; yellow vent; dark eyes – brown-black iris; a pale ring around eye; may have a superciliary streak; black bill and legs, and a few nice songs.

Taxonomy:-

 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Pycnonotidae

Genus: Pycnonotus

Species: leucogenys

Photographed in Forests beyond Pangot, Uttarakhand, India on 4.4.2015.

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with Tamron 150-600mm lens.