Black-crested Bulbul

Scientific Name: Rubigula flaviventris
Malay Name: Merbah-Kunyit Jambul Biasa
Chinese Name: 黑冠黄鹎

Range:
Found from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, southwest China to Southeast Asia

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: flaviventris, vantynei, xanthops, aurata, johnsoni, elbeli, negata, caecilii.

Size: 18.5-19.5 cm

Identification:
Adult has glossy black head with tall erect crest, white eyes, bright yellow underparts and rather uniform greenish-olive upperparts. Juvenile has duller head.

Similar looking species: Black-headed Bulbul

Habitat: Forest, forest edge and secondary growth.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Uncommon introduced resident.

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Sighted at Central Catchment Forest, Venus Drive and Bukit Brown. Recent sightings confined to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (summit).

Photos:

Black-crested Bulbul at Bukit Timah Summit. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Black-crested Bulbul at Bukit Timah Summit. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Black-crested Bulbul at Bukit Timah. Photo Credit: Con Foley
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Black-crested Bulbul)

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Rubigula flaviventris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103826151A104338610.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.