Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus Scientific name definitions

19–20·5 cm; 24–36 g. Relatively dainty, small-headed, unassuming bulbul. Nominate race has dark brown lores and eyering, grey face, olive-brown ear-coverts with white shaft lines that start below eye; cap dark olive-brown with faintly paler and greyer fringes (distinctly squamate impression in good light); upperparts to uppertail-coverts dark olive-brown, strongly tinged greenish, rump slightly warmer brown; upperwing olive-brown, primaries and secondaries darker, with brighter yellowish-green edging; tail dark olive-green with deep brown shafts and brighter yellowish-green edging; chin and throat whitish with faint greyish-brown tinge; breast olive-brown, faintly infused ochraceous-yellow (faded when worn, giving breast a greyish cast); flanks as breast but darker and browner, belly as throat but with tawny tinge, undertail-coverts light olive-brown with yellowish-buff margins; iris brownish orange, red or dark red (age-related); bill blackish brown to dark grey-brown; legs reddish brown, variably paler to darker. Distinguished from similar P. blanfordi by less pronounced whitish streaks on ear-coverts, slightly darker olive wash on chest, yellowish-green (rather than ashy brown) flight-feather edging, dark eye. Sexes alike, male on average slightly larger than female. Juvenile is browner overall, particularly on throat and vent (yellow tones lacking), with less obvious whitish streaks on face, duller flight-feather fringes, browner eyes, also lacks dark patterning on undertail-coverts. Race porphyreus has iris orange, yellow or creamy-white (brown in immature); hachisukae is very similar to nominate, but slightly larger (although measurements overlap); hutzi has slightly darker (less olive) upperparts, slightly greyer (less yellowish) underparts.

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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.

Very broad range of habitats, from forest edge and second growth to coastal scrub and mangroves. Scrubby landward fringe of mangrove forest, degraded strand woodland and coastal scrub generally, including paperbark (Melaleuca) stands and screw-palm (Pandanus) thickets; pioneer/gap-phase trackside and riverside secondary growth at edge of lowland evergreen forest and peatswamp-forest, and where forest heavily degraded; mixed orchard, e.g. under coconut plantings; abandoned rubber (Hevea) and other tree plantations, e.g. of teak, pine (Pinus) and Araucaria, reverting to secondary forest; secluded thickets in parkland. Not normally in parks or gardens, but will venture far out into scrubby grassland. Usually in lowlands, but on slopes to c. 500 m, rarely to 800 m, in parts of Peninsular Malaysia, and to above 1300 m in Kalimantan (Borneo).

Resident.

Generalist, consuming berries, other fruits, invertebrates. Diverse diet includes figs (Ficus microcarpa, F. trichocarpa), small fruit of Gynotroches axillaris and Campnospermum auriculatum (Anacardiaceae), and the aril of Acacia mangium seeds; also Dillenia excelsa, D. suffruticosa. Consumes various arthropods, including beetles (Coleoptera) and orthopterans, and even freshwater crabs. Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes in small family parties; usually low down. Often joins other bulbuls at fruiting trees.

Song soft and chirping, with liquid, fruity quality, similar to that of P. finlaysoni; common song phrases, among almost infinite variations, transcribed as “quick doc-tor quick”, slightly longer and more stressed “quick doc tor quíck doc”, or with stuttered components, e.g. “qu-quick doc tor quíck d-doc”, “pee-kwod, kapichu-peeku, pee-kwod” or “whip wi-wiu wu-wurri’i”, usually lasting < 1 second, occasionally up to two seconds. Calls include throaty “whip-whip” and purring “wrrh wrrh wrrh”.

Jan–Sept; almost year-round in tropical localities, e.g. on Borneo, eggs recorded Jan to early May, with nests at unknown stage and birds in breeding condition as late as Sept, and evidence of egg-laying in all months Jan–Jul in Peninsular Malaysia. Record of three apparent adults (one brooding, flanked by two perched) at one nest suggested presence of helper, but proof of co-operative breeding lacking. Nest, sometimes built by two adults, is a deep, open cup, with external diameter c. 7 cm, loosely constructed from dead leaves and fine creeper stems, often decorated on outside with bamboo leaves, lined with fine fibres and a little grass, placed 1·5–13 m above ground (mostly towards lower end of range) usually in a bush or sapling, commonly in the shrub layer of abandoned rubber plantations, once in an Araucaria plantation; reported sites include hollowed top of Nipa (Nypa) palm frond stub, stemless forest-edge bertam palm (Eugeissona tristis), deep in clump of screw-palm, in scrambling resam ferns, in fork in low rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum), in fork of rubber tree. Clutch two eggs, similar to those of P. goiavier but darker, with larger redder markings mixed with bluish-grey ones, mean size 22·4 mm × 17·8 mm; no information available on incubation and fledging periods; fledged broods of one and two young recorded, fledglings tended at least sometimes by two adults. Maximum longevity at least 13 years.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally abundant throughout much of range and species is known from a number of protected areas. Ability to tolerate broad range of degraded and man-modified habitats suggests that this species is not likely to face any future risk of extinction.