Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Pycnonotus zeylanicus
Family: Bulbuls · Status: Common resident and common introduced resident · Size: 29 cm · Conservation: Critically Endangered
Occurs on the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Borneo (except the south); now extinct on Java and nearly so on Sumatra due to trapping pressure, scarce and difficult to observe across most of its range.
Largest bulbul in Singapore with a robust bill, straw-yellow crown and ear coverts, blackish eye-stripe and strong black submoustachial streak. Throat whitish, greyish-brown breast heavily streaked white; wings and tail olive-green on outer webs, iris red. Juvenile has a duller, browner head, less pronounced streaking, and a brown iris.
Found primarily in secondary forest and forest edges, not within interior forest, also often observed near water.
Gregarious; typically in small family groups of three to six. Frugivorous, takes berries, figs, and exotic palm fruits; also forages on the ground. Full song that is typically heard is product of a duet or group chorus.