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The African Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans) is a medium-sized passerine bird belonging to the bulbul family. It is characterized by its distinctive red eye-ring, dark head, and relatively plain brown body. It is a common and widespread species in arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa, often found in a variety of wooded habitats, including gardens and cultivated areas.
Size & lifespan
- Length
- 19-21 cm
- Wingspan
- 28-32 cm
- Weight
- 25-35 g
- Lifespan
- 5-8 years in the wild
- Diet
- Omnivore (primarily frugivorous and insectivorous)
Physical characteristics
- Plumage
- Adults have a dark sooty-brown head, contrasting with a plain greyish-brown back, wings, and tail. The underparts are paler, a dull greyish-white, often with a yellowish wash on the vent and undertail coverts. The most striking feature is the bright red eye-ring, which is prominent and diagnostic. The bill is black, and the legs are dark grey to black.
- Beak shape
- Relatively short, slender, and slightly decurved, black in color.
- Eye color
- Dark brown, surrounded by a prominent bright red eye-ring.
- Leg color
- Dark grey to black
- Distinguishing features
- The bright red eye-ring is the most distinctive feature. The dark head contrasting with the paler body and yellowish vent also aids identification. It lacks the crest found in some other bulbul species.
- Juvenile appearance
- Juveniles resemble adults but have a duller, orange-red eye-ring that is less vibrant than the adult's bright red. Their plumage may also appear slightly duller overall, and the head may be less intensely dark.
- Seasonal changes
- No significant seasonal plumage changes are observed in this species.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Males and females are monomorphic in plumage and size, making them indistinguishable in the field based on visual cues alone.
How to identify
- 1
Eye-ring
Look for the bright, unmistakable red eye-ring. This is the most definitive field mark for adults.
- 2
Head Color
Note the dark sooty-brown head, which contrasts with the slightly paler body plumage.
- 3
Vent Color
Observe the yellowish wash on the undertail coverts and vent, which can be a subtle but helpful clue.
- 4
Behavior
Watch for its active foraging in bushes and trees, often in pairs or small groups, and listen for its cheerful, liquid calls.
Habitat & range
- Biomes
- Savanna, shrubland, arid and semi-arid regions, fynbos, karoo, woodlands, riparian thickets.
- Geographic range
- Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini (Swaziland), and Zimbabwe.
- Elevation range
- Sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters.
- Preferred environments
- Prefers dry, open woodlands, acacia scrub, riverine bush, gardens, parks, and cultivated areas. It is often found near human habitation where food and water sources are readily available.
Behavior
- Activity time
- Diurnal, most active during the early morning and late afternoon.
- Feeding habits
- Primarily feeds on fruits, berries, and insects. It forages actively in trees and shrubs, gleaning insects from foliage and branches, and plucking fruits. It will also consume nectar and occasionally small invertebrates. Often seen feeding in small groups.
- Social behavior
- Usually seen in pairs or small family groups. Outside the breeding season, they may form larger, loose flocks, sometimes associating with other bulbul species or frugivorous birds at fruiting trees.
- Flight pattern
- Flight is typically undulating and direct, often low between bushes or trees. It is not a strong long-distance flyer.
- Migration pattern
- Mostly resident throughout its range, though some local movements may occur in response to food availability or seasonal changes in arid regions.
- Territoriality
- Pairs are territorial during the breeding season, defending their nesting area. Outside of breeding, they are less territorial and more tolerant of conspecifics.
Song & calls
- Song
- The song is a series of cheerful, liquid, and often repetitive phrases, typically described as a 'cheer-up, cheer-up' or 'whip-whip-whip' sound. It can be quite varied and melodious, though not as complex as some other bulbul species.
- Call
- Common calls include a sharp, scolding 'chick-chick' or 'churr' when alarmed, and a softer 'whit' or 'chip' contact call. They also emit a harsh, grating alarm call when disturbed.
- When they vocalize
- Vocalizes throughout the day, particularly active in the morning and late afternoon. Calls are more frequent during the breeding season.
Breeding & reproduction
- Breeding season
- Primarily September to March, but can vary geographically and with rainfall, often extending into April or May in some areas.
- Nesting habits
- The nest is a neat, cup-shaped structure made of fine twigs, grass, rootlets, and sometimes spider silk, lined with softer materials. It is typically placed in a fork of a shrub or small tree, usually 1-3 meters above the ground, well-concealed by foliage.
- Clutch size
- 2-4 eggs, most commonly 3.
- Egg description
- Eggs are typically pale pinkish-white to creamy, heavily speckled and blotched with reddish-brown, purple, or grey, often concentrated at the broader end. They are oval-shaped.
- Incubation period
- Approximately 11-13 days.
- Fledging period
- Chicks fledge around 11-14 days after hatching.
- Parental care
- Both parents participate in nest building, incubation, and feeding of the young. The female primarily incubates, while both sexes bring food to the nestlings.
Where to find
Gardens and Parks
Common in suburban and urban gardens, especially those with fruiting trees and shrubs.
Woodlands and Savanna
Found in dry, open woodlands, acacia scrub, and savanna habitats across its southern African range.
Riverine Bush
Often present in dense vegetation along rivers and watercourses, even in otherwise arid areas.
Field tips
- Listen for calls. Their cheerful, liquid calls are often the first indication of their presence. Learn to recognize their distinctive vocalizations.
- Check fruiting trees. They are highly attracted to fruiting trees and shrubs, especially figs, berries, and other soft fruits. Observe these areas carefully.
- Look for movement in foliage. They are active foragers, constantly moving through dense foliage. Look for rustling leaves or subtle movements in bushes.
- Observe at water sources. In arid regions, they will visit waterholes and bird baths, especially during hotter parts of the day.
Similar species
Cape Bulbul
Pycnonotus capensis
The Cape Bulbul has a complete white eye-ring (not red) and a white malar stripe (whisker mark) which the African Red-eyed Bulbul lacks. Its plumage is generally darker and more uniformly sooty-brown.
Dark-capped Bulbul (Black-eyed Bulbul)
Pycnonotus tricolor
The Dark-capped Bulbul has a dark eye (not red) and a more prominent yellow vent. Its head is typically blacker, and it lacks the distinctive red eye-ring of P. nigricans. The ranges overlap in some areas, making careful observation of the eye-ring crucial.
Quick facts
- Distinctive Feature:
- Bright red eye-ring
- Habitat Preference:
- Dry woodlands, savanna, gardens
- Diet:
- Fruits, insects, nectar
- Sociality:
- Pairs or small groups
- Conservation Status:
- Least Concern
Fun facts
- The African Red-eyed Bulbul is one of the most common and adaptable bulbul species in southern Africa, thriving even in human-modified landscapes.
- Despite its name, the 'red eye' is actually a fleshy, unfeathered ring of skin around the eye, not the iris itself.
- They play an important ecological role as seed dispersers due to their frugivorous diet, helping to propagate various plant species.
Scientific classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Pycnonotus
- Species
- Pycnonotus nigricans
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