Grey-headed Bulbul

The Grey-headed Bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to the Western Ghats of south-west India, found from Goa south to Tamil Nadu, at altitudes up to 1200m. It is found in dense reeds or thickets mainly near rivers and swampy areas inside forests. They have a distinctive call that reveals their presence inside dense vegetation that makes them hard to spot. Their taxonomic position within the bulbuls is not clear.

The Grey-headed Bulbul is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

* Grey-headed Bulbul, member of the bulbul family of passerine birds * Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae * Grey-headed Chachalaca, member of an ancient group of birds of the Cracidae family * Grey-headed Dove, large New World tropical dove * Grey-headed Fish Eagle, bird of prey * Grey-headed Flying Fox, fruitbat native to Australia More

The Grey-headed Bulbul has only been seen twice before by me in Manipal in 7 months - and I presume it is indeed a very uncommon species outside of the ghats. So I was especially pleased to have (accidentally) flushed what seemed to be over 15 of these endemic birds from a tree after I followed their calls to a bushy area next to a small dirt road. Taken in Manipal, Karnataka, on 21.02.2010. More

Grey-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus priocephalus - Female at nest Grey-headed Bulbul Photographer : More

Grey-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus priocephalus) is a local resident in south-west India. More

desperate attempt for Grey-headed Bulbul, we decided to bird parts of the evergreen lush green sides of the Ghats that descends to the coastal plains below. Since its habitat is described as "evergreen forest with dense thickets", that's what we looked for! So just before noon we stopped at a place we found nice - lots of thickets, trees etc. - see Figure 3. More