Crested Finchbill Spizixos canifrons Scientific name definitions

19–22 cm; 44 g. Medium-large, noisy, conspicuous bulbul with short, conical bill. Most of head is dark grey, forehead pale grey, chin, throat, mask and rear crown blackish, some pale grey on lower face and ear-coverts,crown feathers elongated to form erect pointed jet-black crest ; hindneck to uppertail-coverts olive-green; wings dusky olive, prominent yellow-green fringing on outer webs of remiges; tail similar, but with broad black terminal band; breast and flanks olive-green, becoming yellower on belly and undertail-coverts; iris dark brown to reddish-brown (hazel); bill pale yellowish-horn, black gape; legs pinkish or brownish-flesh, claws brown. Sexes similar, but female noticeably smaller than male, with duller black crest and mid-grey throat. Juvenile is much duller, with short crest, very weak head pattern (greenish-yellow forehead, pale brown ear-coverts, contrasting blackish-brown crown and nape, brown throat), pale yellow-tinged underparts with dark brownish-olive breastband, less distinct tailband; iris dull brown, bill pale fleshy or dusky, feet and toes horny flesh. Race <em>ingrami</em> supposedly has greyer throat and duller olive-green underparts than nominate.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open and stunted evergreen and deciduous forest, montane scrub, secondary growth and grasses; fond of clearings overgrown with bamboo and brambles (Rubus). Commonest at 1200–2500 m, but ranges to 4000 m in breeding season, and occasionally down to 900 m (once to 300 m) in winter.

Resident; does not usually descend to lower altitudes in harsh weather, but has been recorded down to 300 m in cold season.

Feeds on seeds (e.g. millet, grass), beans, peas, various types of fruit (e.g. Leucospectrum in Myanmar); also insects , including small beetles (Coleoptera), moths (Lepidoptera) and dipteran flies. Feeds at all levels; insects occasionally caught in flight. When not breeding forms monospecific flocks, sometimes containing 50–100 individuals, or mixed flocks with S. semitorques (S China, N Vietnam); has been recorded as joining other bulbuls to feed in fruiting fig trees (Ficus).

Dry, bubbling, trilled song described as “purr-purr-prruit-prruit-prruit”, also a loud, full, sputtering series of harsh and guttural but somewhat musical “squirr ki-kirr-kirr-kirr” that rises distinctly and ends abruptly. Oft-given calls include bursts of gritty, powerful rattles comprised of short, upward-inflected buzzes, “grz-grz-grz”; similar but drier rattles may be merged with song elements.

Mar–Jul; most pairs in Chin Hills (NW Myanmar) had nestlings by late Apr. Apparently breeds co-operatively, although evidence rather scant. Nest a compact cup of strong fibres and a few elastic twigs, often without inner lining, fixed between several upright twigs, or lodged in stout fork, usually 1–3 m up in low bush (e.g. Rubus) or small tree, often in dense, low secondary growth; several nests in Chin Hills were made of corkscrew-like tendrils of a creeper plaited together to form shallow saucer, most unlined, or lined with a trace of fluff or fine grass. Clutch 2–4 eggs, usually 2; no information on incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common in highlands of Myanmar and N Thailand, but scarce in China. Nominate race possibly occurs also in SE Bangladesh (reported from Chittagong Hills, but no definite records). Much of its range is difficult of access, and overall population must be large and relatively secure. This is one of few montane Asian species to benefit from slash-and-burn agriculture, as this promotes its favoured scrubby habitat. It is a popular cagebird, but constant low-level extraction has not reduced its population. Can be a pest in montane gardens, where flocks can damage crops such as peas etc.