Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-whiskered Bulbul (Introduced)

Pycnonotus jocosus

Origin:
Family: Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls, this is the only species in Australia)
Size: 20 cm
Distribution: Very small parts of NSW, VIC and QLD, including around Sydney
Status: Common to locally common
Habitat: Urban areas
References: Simpson and Day, Reader's Digest

Although the Red-whiskered Bulbul is introduced, it seems like a "nice" bird, unlike many of the other introduced birds such as the Feral Pigeon, the Common Myna and others.

They make a variety of several nice melodic sounds, and are usually seen in groups of two or three, perhaps four or even five occasionally.

The Red-whiskered Bulbul has a crest on the top of the head which is quite distinctive, and tiny red patches behind the eye and under its tail that are usually hard to see. Juvenile bulbuls are pink under the tail and have no red patch behind the eye.

Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus
Photo: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW

Some Birdwatching Resources

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight. This is the other of the two best bird field guides for Australia. It is the one preferred by many serious birdwatchers. However I find the pictures a bit dull looking for my taste — the birds all kind of look the same to me, making it harder to remember them in my mind. The illustrations are meant to be the most anatomically correct, though. The text descriptions are better than in Simpson and Day. If you want the most serious bird field guide get this one otherwise get Simpson and Day.

Purchase 9th ed. from Australia (Booktopia)

Purchase 9th ed. from Australia (Angus & Robertson)

Click here to purchase 9th ed. from Australia (The Nile)

Click here to purchase from Australia (Fishpond)

Click here to preorder the 9th ed. from Amazon

Birdsong, Don Stap. From the promotional material: "Following one of the world's experts on birdsong from the woods of Martha's Vineyard to the tropical forests of Central America, Don Stap brings to life the quest to unravel an ancient mystery: Why do birds sing and what do their songs mean? We quickly discover that one question leads to another. Why does the chestnut-sided warbler sing one song before dawn and another after sunrise? Why does the brown thrasher have a repertoire of two thousand songs when the chipping sparrow has only one? And how is the hermit thrush able to sing a duet with itself, producing two sounds simultaneously to create its beautiful, flutelike melody?"

Purchase from Australia (Booktopia)

Click here to purchase from Australia (Fishpond)

Click here to purchase from Wilderness Awareness School $24.00 USD (May not work)

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