How to identify the Yellow-browed Bulbul

To correctly identify the Yellow-browed Bulbul (Acritillas indica), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

19-20 cm

Wingspan

25-28 cm

Weight

25-35 g

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   Adults have olive-green upperparts, including the crown, nape, back, and wings. The most striking feature is a prominent bright yellow supercilium (eyebrow) extending from the lores to behind the eye. The underparts are entirely bright yellow, often slightly paler on the belly. The throat is also yellow. The tail is olive-green with yellowish outer rectrices.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

   Slender, slightly decurved, and pointed. Blackish-brown to black.

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

   Dark brown, almost black.

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

   Dark grey to blackish.

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

   The combination of olive-green upperparts, bright yellow underparts, and a distinct bright yellow supercilium is diagnostic. No other bulbul in its range has this exact combination.

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   Juveniles resemble adults but may have slightly duller plumage, with the yellow areas being less vibrant and the olive-green upperparts having a slightly browner tinge. The supercilium might be less sharply defined.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   No significant seasonal plumage changes are observed.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

   Males and females are monomorphic in plumage, appearing identical.

Key field marks

• Plumage Coloration. Look for the striking contrast between olive-green upperparts and bright yellow underparts. This combination is unique among bulbuls in its range.
• Yellow Supercilium. The most distinctive field mark is the prominent, bright yellow 'eyebrow' extending from the bill to behind the eye. This is a key identifier.
• Vocalization. Learn its melodious, whistling song. Often, the bird is heard before it is seen, as it tends to stay hidden in dense foliage.
• Habitat. Focus your search in dense undergrowth, forest edges, and shola forests within the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.
• Behavior. Observe its foraging behavior – gleaning insects and plucking berries from dense vegetation, often in the mid-story.

Explore the Yellow-browed Bulbul