Sooty-headed Bulbul

Tentang

The Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster), known locally as Cucak Kutilang, is a common and widespread passerine bird in Southeast Asia. It is characterized by its distinctive sooty-black head, white throat, and bright yellow vent. This adaptable species thrives in a variety of open and disturbed habitats, often found in close proximity to human settlements.

Ukuran dan masa hidup

Panjang

19-21 cm

Bentang sayap

28-32 cm

Berat

25-35 g

Masa hidup

5-7 years in the wild, up to 10 years in captivity

Makanan

Omnivore (primarily frugivorous and insectivorous)

Ciri fisik

Bulu

Adults have a distinctive sooty-black head and nape, contrasting sharply with a clean white throat and upper breast. The back and wings are olive-brown, and the underparts are whitish to pale grey, becoming bright yellow on the vent and undertail coverts. The tail is dark brown with white tips on the outer rectrices.

Bentuk paruh

Slender, slightly decurved, and black.

Warna mata

Dark brown.

Warna kaki

Dark grey to black.

Ciri pembeda

The combination of a sooty-black head, white throat, and bright yellow vent is diagnostic. The white tips on the outer tail feathers are also a good field mark.

Penampilan muda

Juveniles resemble adults but have a duller, more brownish-grey head, less distinct white throat, and paler yellow on the vent. Their plumage is generally softer and less defined.

Perubahan musiman

No significant seasonal plumage changes are observed.

Dimorfisme seksual

Males and females are monomorphic in plumage and size, making them difficult to distinguish visually in the field.

Cara identifikasi

1. 1

   Head and Throat Coloration

   Look for the striking contrast of a sooty-black head and nape against a clean white throat. This is the most reliable field mark.

2. 2

   Vent Color

   Observe the bright yellow undertail coverts (vent). This yellow patch is prominent and diagnostic.

3. 3

   Back and Wing Color

   Note the olive-brown coloration of the back and wings, which contrasts with the head and underparts.

4. 4

   Tail Tips

   Look for white tips on the outer tail feathers, especially visible when the bird fans its tail.

5. 5

   Vocalizations

   Listen for its characteristic cheerful, bubbling, and chattering song, often including 'kutilang-kutilang' calls.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Often found in open, disturbed habitats, gardens, and urban areas, making it a common sight in human-modified landscapes.

Habitat dan persebaran

Bioma

Tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, shrublands, grasslands, rural gardens, urban areas.

Persebaran geografis

Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Borneo.

Rentang ketinggian

Sea level up to 1,500 meters, occasionally higher.

Lingkungan yang disukai

Highly adaptable, preferring open woodlands, forest edges, secondary growth, plantations, parks, gardens, and cultivated areas. It is often found in disturbed habitats and human-modified landscapes.

Perilaku

Waktu aktivitas

Diurnal.

Kebiasaan makan

Forages actively in trees and shrubs, often in the mid-canopy or lower strata. Its diet consists mainly of fruits (especially figs, berries, and cultivated fruits), insects (grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars), and sometimes nectar. It will also visit bird feeders for fruit.

Perilaku sosial

Typically seen in pairs or small family groups. Outside the breeding season, they may form larger, loose flocks, sometimes associating with other bulbul species or mixed-species foraging flocks. They are generally quite vocal and conspicuous.

Pola terbang

Direct and undulating flight, often with rapid wing beats. It can be quite agile when maneuvering through dense vegetation.

Pola migrasi

Resident and non-migratory throughout its range.

Teritorialitas

Pairs defend a breeding territory, especially during the nesting season, but are generally less territorial outside of this period.

Reproduksi

Musim kawin

Varies geographically, but generally throughout the year with peaks during the wet season (e.g., March-July in parts of Southeast Asia).

Kebiasaan bersarang

Nests are typically cup-shaped, loosely constructed from twigs, rootlets, leaves, and grass, often lined with finer materials. They are usually placed in a fork of a small tree or shrub, 1-3 meters above the ground, often in dense foliage for concealment.

Jumlah telur

2-3 eggs.

Deskripsi telur

Typically 2-3 eggs, pale pinkish-white to creamy, heavily spotted and blotched with reddish-brown or purplish-grey, particularly at the larger end.

Masa inkubasi

Approximately 12-14 days.

Masa terbang

Chicks fledge around 12-14 days after hatching.

Perawatan orang tua

Both parents participate in nest building, incubation, and feeding of the young.

Di mana ditemukan

Tips lapangan

1. Listen for its song. Its distinctive and often repetitive song is a good way to locate it, even before seeing it.
2. Check fruiting trees. Sooty-headed Bulbuls are highly frugivorous; look for them feeding on berries and small fruits in trees and shrubs.
3. Observe in open areas. Unlike some shyer forest birds, this species is quite bold and often forages in the open, making it easier to spot.
4. Look for movement in foliage. They are active foragers, constantly moving through branches and leaves in search of food.

Spesies serupa

Fakta singkat

Common Name:

Sooty-headed Bulbul (Cucak Kutilang)

Scientific Name:

Pycnonotus aurigaster

Family:

Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)

Diet:

Omnivore (fruits, insects, nectar)

Habitat:

Open woodlands, gardens, urban areas, forest edges

Conservation Status:

Least Concern

Key ID Feature:

Sooty-black head, white throat, bright yellow vent

Fakta menarik

• The Indonesian name 'Kutilang' is onomatopoeic, derived from its characteristic call.
• It is one of the most common and familiar birds in many parts of Southeast Asia, often seen in urban environments.
• Despite its commonality, its adaptability to human-modified landscapes highlights its ecological resilience.
• It plays a role in seed dispersal due to its frugivorous diet.

Klasifikasi ilmiah

Kerajaan

Animalia

Filum

Chordata

Kelas

Aves

Ordo

Passeriformes

Famili

Pycnonotidae

Genus

Pycnonotus

Spesies

P. aurigaster

Jelajahi Sooty-headed Bulbul