Buff-vented Bulbul

Scientific Name: Iole crypta

Malay Name: Merbah-Riang Biasa

Chinese Name: 棕臀短脚鹎

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

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 20-20.5 cm

Identification: Adult has brownish upperparts, greyish underparts, blackish crown streaks, pale supercilium, silvery-white eyes, long heavy bill and buffish undertail-coverts. Juvenile resembles adult but has light brown eyes.

Similar looking species: Streaked Bulbul

Habitat: Forest, forest edge and secondary growth.

Behaviour/Ecology: A generalist feeder, searching foliage for arthropods and also sallies after insects passing in flight. The fruit part of the diet include figs.

Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor

Location: Last sighting at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (Summit) on 20 Dec 1990.

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Records currently under review are also not displayed. For a full list, click here.

Buff-vented Bulbul at Panti Forest. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Buff-vented Bulbul at Panti Forest. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Buff-vented Bulbul)

References:

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

Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Vol. 1). Academic Press, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Buff-vented Bulbul. Retrieved on June 5, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/buff-vented-bulbul.