From Deignan 1948, 1949, and Ali and Ripley. 1971. ... (see Baker 1922, Whistler and Kinnear 1932, Deignan ...... Phil Bruner of Brigham Young Universityâ.
The Birds of North America, No. 520, 2000
KAMAL ISLAM AND RICHARD N. WILLIAMS
Red-vented Bulbul PyCHOnotUS
Cafer
FRENCH: Bulbul a ventre rouge
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
FRENCH: OTHER: Crested Bulbul, Red-eared Bulbul
ulbuls are slim, long-tailed passerines with small crests. Red-vented Bulbuls are native from Pakistan to southwest China, Red-whiskered Bulbuls from India and southeast China to northern Malaya. Popular cage birds, both species have been introduced to many regions of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and the United States. During the 1960s, populations of introduced Red-whiskered Bulbuls became established in southern Florida and southern California, although these populations remain small and limited in distribution. In contrast, populations of Red-vented and Red-whiskered bulbuls released during the same time period on O'ahu I., in the Hawaiian Archipelago, have undergone explosive growth and range expansion, although the Red-whiskered has shown a less dramatic increase in numbers and range than the The Red-vented. Populations Birds of of bulbuls in the abovementioned regions were North either deliberately or accireleased. America dentally Both species are assoLife Histories for ciated with human habithe 21st Century tation in their natural and introduced ranges. They frequent agricultural and urban areas, including parks, suburban gardens, and arboreta. However, on O'ahu I., HI, Red-whiskered Bulbuls range regularly into low-elevation forested areas, and Red-vented Bulbuls occur sparingly in forests up to the highest summits
Red-vented Bulbul © Jack Jeffry
Red-whiskered Bulbul © Jack Jeffry
Figure 1. Distribution of Red-whiskered Bulbul in Florida and California.
Order PASSERIFORMES
Family PYCNONOTIDAE
RED-VENTED BULBUL AND RED-WHISKERED BULBUL
of the Ko'olau Mtns. Both species are sedentary throughout their distribution and have protracted breeding seasons in most of their introduced and native ranges; thus pairs are able to raise 2-3 broods annually. Bulbuls are highly gregarious during the nonbreeding season and gather in large communal roosts. They are primarily frugivores but also feed on animal and plant material, including leaves, flowers, buds, and nectar. In addition, they feed on a variety of cultivated fruits, vegetables, and flowers and thus are in direct conflict with humans. Bulbuls are potential dispersers of noxious weed seeds and compete with native bird species in their introduced ranges. Because Red-whiskered Bulbuls pose a potential threat to agricultural crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Code of Federal Regulation prohibits their importation into the U.S. and its territories. Red-vented Bulbuls, however, are not specifically prohibited. Few key studies have been undertaken on the Red-whiskered and Red-vented bulbuls in North America. Carleton (1971) and Carleton and Owre (1975) detail the release, population expansion, feeding ecology, and breeding biology of the Redwhiskered Bulbul in Florida. On O'ahu I., van Riper et al. (1979) have studied the feeding habits and breeding biology of the Red-whiskered Bulbul; other studies have examined habitat, distribution, and population trends of both species (Williams 1983a, Williams and Giddings 1984, Williams 1987, Ralph 1991). Elsewhere in their native and other introduced ranges, there are detailed accounts of diet (Watling 1977), vocalizations and behavior (Short 1964, Pernetta and Watling 1978), sex ratio (Watling 1977), breeding biology (Dhondt 1977, Watling 1977, 1983, Vijayan 1980), diseases and body parasites (Watling 1977, Bhattacharyya 1988), and molts (Dhondt 1976a, 1976b, 1977, Watling 1977, Balachandran et al. 1995).
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Medium-sized, long-tailed passerines; sexes similar. Red-vented Bulbul is slightly larger and much heavier (total length 20-23 cm; mass of male 3659 g, of female 31-52 g) than Red-whiskered (total length 17-23 cm; mass of male 24-31 g, of female 26-28 g). RED-VENTED BULBUL. Chin, throat, and slightly tufted head are glossy black on adults. Back and breast smoky brown to black, each feather edged with grayish white, giving the individual a scaled appearance. Rump and upper tail-coverts white, and tail brownish black, tipped with white, creating a conspicuous pattern in flight. Belly white and
A. Poole and F. Gill, Editors
The Birds of North America, No. 520, 20OO
under tail-coverts crimson. Bill black, iris dark brown, and legs and feet brownish black. Juveniles similar to adults, but head and throat are dark brown, breast is paler and often more mottled, tail is tipped with brownish buff, and rump is grayish white. Under tail-coverts are pinkish buff, and wing-coverts and secondaries are edged with brownish buff. RED-WHISKERED BULBUL. Upperparts brown, darker on wings and tail; underparts grayish white; an incomplete dark-brown band on upper breast forms an interrupted collar. Black crest sharply pointed; white lower cheeks outlined with black. A tuft of glossy, hairlike crimson feathers behind eyes forms "whiskers." Tail tipped white, except for central pair of rectrices; under tail-coverts crimson. Bill, legs, and feet black; iris dark brown. Juveniles are like adults, but they lack crimson ear-patch, and their under tail-coverts are pink to orange rufous. Both bulbul species have distinct plumage and are unlikely to be confused with any other species in North America or Hawaiian Is., except each other. For a period of time, however, Red-whiskered Bulbul was mistaken for Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) in Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).
DISTRIBUTION THE AMERICAS Figure 1. Red-whiskered Bulbuls have established resident populations in Dade Co. (Miami, Princeton, Kendall), se. Florida (Long 1981, Lever 1987). Rare and local resident of Los Angeles Co., s. California, where individuals periodically sighted in and around the Los Angeles Co. Arboretum (Arcadia), Huntington Gardens, San Marino, and Pasadena-San Gabriel Valley (Hardy 1973, Long 1981, Lever 1987, Small 1994). OUTSIDE THE AMERICAS Hawaiian Archipelago. Figure 2. These introduced species occur only on O'ahu I.; Red-whiskered Bulbuls are restricted to southeastern portions of the island; Red-vented Bulbuls are distributed throughout the island. Other regions. RED-VENTED BULBUL. Native to Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), and sw. China (w. Yunnan). Successfully introduced to Polynesia (Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti); incipient populations documented for New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Kuwait (Long 1981, Lever 1987, Pratt et al. 1987, Cramp 1988, Gill et al. 1995, Heather and Robertson 1997). RED-WHISKERED BULBUL. Native range extends from India, Andaman Is., and Nepal east to Bhutan,
The American Ornithologists' Union
K. ISLAM AND R. N. WILLIAMS
3
Red-whiskered Bulbul
160°
158
/-
• Kaua'i
