Black-and-white Bulbul

Scientific Name: Microtarsus melanoleucos
Malay Name: Merbah Bahu Putih
Chinese Name: 黑白鹎

Range:
Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 18 cm

Identification:
Male has overall blackish-brown plumage with contrasting white upper- and underwing-coverts. Female is somewhat browner than male and has less white on upperwing-coverts. Juvenile is paler and browner (especially the underparts) and lacks white on upperwing-coverts.

Habitat: Forest and forest edge.

Behaviour/Ecology: Nomadic. Often frequents the canopy which make observations difficult.

Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Only one sighting at Central Catchment Forest (Jelutong Tower) on 29 May 2012.

Photos:

Male Black-and-white Bulbul at Panti Forest. Photo Credit: Con Foley

Female Black-and-white Bulbul at Panti Forest. Photo Credit: Con Foley

Black-and-white Bulbul at Jelutong Tower. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Microtarsus melanoleucos. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.
Wells, D. (1999). Birds of Thai-Malay Peninsula. Academic Press.