Animalia Life
Pycnonotus latirostris
TAXONOMY
Pycnonotus latirostris Strickland, 1844, Fernando Po (now Bioko,
Equatorial Guinea). Four races recognized on basis of plumage
variation.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Yellow-whiskered bulbul; French: Bulbul а moustaches
jaunes; German: Gelbbartbьlbьl; Spanish: Bulbul de
Bigotes Amarillos.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
6.3–7.5 in (16–19 cm); 0.6–1.1 oz (19–32 g). Upperparts and
head sooty olive, rump with rufous tinge, back and wings
brownish, tail dark reddish brown. Bright yellow moustache
stripes on sides of throat. Sexes alike. Juvenile resembles adult,
but more dingy brown, no moustache.
DISTRIBUTION
Endemic; central and West Africa.
HABITAT
Primary and secondary forest, interior and edge.
BEHAVIOR
Solitary and generally unsociable, usually travels singly. Bathes
frequently. Sings continuously, dry jumbled notes; “chop, chip,
chirrop, chup, prip, prip” repeated, volume increases throughout
song, ends with loud “kick kick.” Nonmigratory.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Omnivorous, eats fruits, berries, many invertebrates including
mollusks, woodlice, spiders, frogs, and geckos. Shy when feeding,
will fly from undergrowth, gorge on fruits, then return to
cover. Often hovers while plucking fruit or gleaning insects
from vegetation. Will dig in loose soil for insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Quite variable. In high-density areas uses leks; polygamous and
non-territorial with some evidence of cooperative breeding.
Before breeding season, males gather and sing at lek sites. Females
gather at leks and choose male, female then takes care of
young. At lower densities, monogamous and territorial. One to
four eggs, incubation by female only 12–14 days. Outside of
leks, both care for young.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Common and abundant, often most abundant
bird in species in range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
Photo Gallery of - Yellow-whiskered greenbul
