Striated Bulbul Alcurus striatus Scientific name definitions

21–23 cm; 45–60 g. A large, almost entirely streaked , rather long-tailed bulbul with long, tapered crest. Cheeks and crown are greenish-brown, finely streaked white (including on dusky-olive crest); mantle , rump and uppertail-coverts bright olive, streaked white; wings and tail rich olive-green, tail browner towards tip, outer rectrices with small yellowish-white tips; lores, eye ring, throat and vent bright yellow, lower throat lightly spotted or stippled blackish; breast dark gray becoming dark olive-green on belly, all broadly streaked yellowish-white; iris deep brown; bill blackish or plumbeous slate; legs and claws dark brown or plumbeous black. Sexes alike. Juvenile is slightly duller above, with much shorter crest, less distinct streaking overall, and much paler yellow on throat, belly and vent. Subspecies <em>paulus</em> is supposedly slightly larger, with buffy-olive crest, and fringes of breast feathers grayish, rather than brownish.

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Aberrant species perhaps meriting separation, along with the Cream-striped Bulbul (Ixos leucogrammicus) and Spot-necked Bulbul (Pycnonotus tympanistrigus), in Alcurus. Validity of subspecies paulus dubious, as features seem to fall within range of variation of nominate; further investigation required. Putative subspecies arctus (northeastern India) lacks constant differences and is merged with nominate. Two subspecies provisionally recognized.

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.

Lower-stature broadleaf evergreen forest, semi-deciduous forest and moist oak-rhododendron (Quercus-Rhododendron) forest, forest characterized by Bucklandia and Lauraceae; often emerges at edges but never ventures far from relatively tall trees. Commonest in mid-altitude band at 1,200–2,400 m, sometimes ranging to 3,000 m; occasionally down to 300 m in winter.

Eats berries and many insects. Birds in Myanmar seen to forage on Maesa, Viburnum, Bucklandia, Ilex, Heptapleurum and other berries; stomachs of specimens in northern Thailand contained only insects. Forages singly or in pairs, in non-breeding season also in small parties of up to twelve individuals. Forages from bushes upwards, but most often in treetops, often hidden among dense foliage, and perching in open much less often than do most members of genus. Insects often caught in short aerial sallies from tops of trees.

Less vocal than most bulbuls. Calls a hard “pyik…pyik”, or harsh slurred “djrrri”; also repeated loud, short, jolly phrases of simple strident notes, often in couplets separated by brief pause, e.g., “schew-whit! tchi-whit!” or “cha whik! tu-tu”, continuing thus with evenly spaced pauses; may slip into more monotonous, simpler two-note “tchick-whirk tchik-whirk…”, sometimes slowing pace markedly. More complex variants sound like “tchoidi-chik tchoik”, or “tchip-it, chi’chi-guweeez” with last note an upslurred guttural buzz. Less often a more involved song with same hard metallic musical quality, but with several notes strung together in quickly descending, almost warbling series.

Little reliable information. Breeds May–July. Reported nests in each case a robust, compact cup composed of fine elastic twigs, coarse fern roots, twigs, dead stems and scraps of moss, inner lining of very fine shreds of grass, placed low in dense undergrowth, usually in thick bush or bamboo clump, close to ground and hidden by twigs and creepers; likely that, at least sometimes, nest placed much higher up in tree. Clutch usually three eggs, sometimes two. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Generally fairly common throughout range. Thinly distributed in northeastern India, but total population there must be large in view of large area of suitable habitat surviving in West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states. Fairly common in Bhutan, where much habitat remains. Status in Myanmar unknown, but large amounts of unsurveyed habitat remain in highland regions. Local and uncommon in Nepal and much of northern Thailand. Occurs in a range of protected areas, including Namdapha National Park, in India, Thrumshingla National Park, in Bhutan, and Doi Inthanon National Park, in Thailand.