Blackcrested Bulbul

The Blackcrested bulbul with the scientific name Pycnonotus melanicterus is a Bulbul species under the family Pycnonotidae.

There are about four Bulbul subspecies existing in various parts of the world. It is found widely in the Indian subcontinent including India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, eastwards in Thailand and Nepal.

The quick classification of Blackcrested Bulbul is as below,

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Pycnonotidae
Genus	Pycnonotus
Species	P. melanicterus

Physical Characteristics:

The black crested bulbul is generally 19 cm in length. This bird is 19 to 20 cm (7 to 8 inches) in its body size including the long tail. The head of the bulbul is black while the other parts of the body are yellow colored. Both male and female are similar. The upper parts are yellow in color and the under parts are shaded olive yellow. The juveniles are paler than the adults. The crest and throat are also black. The yellow color fades to duller yellow and around the vent.


It has a striking yellow eye. The beak and legs are black in color. The sex of the bird cannot be differentiated based on the color of the plumage. This bird is easily tamed and hence suits will with the captive environment. The flight of the bird is bouncy in nature which is like the flight of the wood pecker.

The subspecies of black crested bulbul is as below,


• The Ruby-throated Bulbul (P. dispar) found in Sumatra and Java which is crestless, reddish eyed and has a deep red throat.
• The Flame-throated Bulbul (P. gularis) found in Western Ghats in India which is crestless, whitish eyed and has an orange-red throat
• The Black-capped Bulbul (P. melanicterus) found in Sri Lanka is crestless, brownish eye and has a yellow throat
• The Bornean Bulbul (P. montis) found in Borneo has a black crest, brownish eyes and yellow throat.

Food Habits:

These birds prefer eating fruits and insects. They usually feed on food items which are soft since they have very soft bills. The food can be in the form of fruits like apples, oranges, pears, chopped grapes and berries which are their favorite eatables. At times they feed on small sized insects and worms. They may also feed on coarse grains. They can intake around six meal worms each day.

Behavior:

The flight of the bird is bouncy in nature which is like the flight of wood pecker. Some times they are seen individually and at times in flocks.

Distribution and Habitat:

It prefers being in a dense forest and in dense scrub lands. It resides in the tropical southern Asia right from India and Sri Lanka to the east of Indonesia. It is spotted widely in the Indian subcontinent including other countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Indonesia, eastwards in Thailand and Nepal.

The pair isolates during the flight by its own.

It builds up a cup-shaped nest in bushy vegetation which looks so messy. In captivity they are known to utilize boxes or baskets. In a thickly planted area it doesn't build a nest.

In captivity, a proper environment should be given for the bird to build nests. In wild the birds prefer living in dense vegetation and in forested areas. They build nest in bushy areas. Hence stones, bushy areas, tree branches can be formed inside the aviary for the bird.The females lay two to three eggs in a single clutch. Both male and female take part in building up the nest. Both are the active participants in incubating the eggs and in rearing the young.

Incubation process normally lasts for about 14 to 16 days and the chicks mature quickly once the hatching is done. From 2 weeks of the hatch the juveniles are ready to leave the nest. Successful rearing of chicks is very much dependent on the live food, meal-worms, small smooth-backed caterpillars, grasshoppers, maggots, woodlice and small locusts which are expected to be plenty.Two broods are normal for every breeding season. The chicks separate themselves from the parents as soon as they are capable to self feed or when they can defend themselves. The plumage of the juveniles is dull in appearance. The feather becomes darker as the bird grows and becomes mature.

Threats and conservation:

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has categorized Black crested Bulbul as 'Least Concern' since this species is found in wide range and is very common throughout its range. Also, the population of the species is increasing day by day. It is under the least concern category for consecutive years and is assumed that it will not reach the threshold of vulnerability. The threat for this bird is dependent on the hatching results. In few areas, the mortality of these birds happens owing to the deforestation happening in the dense forests.

1. Black crested bulbul is declared as the state bird of Goa.


2. In Sri Lanka, this bird is called as 'Hisa kalu Kondaya' in their Sinhala Language.
3. The don't have a concrete call and have different unattractive calls being made by them every time
4. They could be tamed easily and hence used as pet by people.