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

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)

Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Nicolas Day, Ken Simpson, Peter Trusler.This is known to birdwatchers as "Simpson and Day". I like the pictures in this one the best out of all the major field guides. The information is still very highly regarded compared to most of the other guides. Many serious birdwatchers think "Pizzey and Knight" (listed here) is the best though. I bought this one since I liked the pictures so much I figured (correctly) that I would spend more time looking through it. I feel that I made the right choice since I love the pictures in this one so much. I have the 6th edition, the current one is the updated version of the 8th edition, which has a different colour cover to the original 8th edition with a black cover. I'm not sure why they haven't called this the 9th edition.

Purchase 8th ed. updated from Australia (Booktopia)

Purchase 8th ed. updated from Australia (Angus & Robertson)

Click here to purchase 8th ed. updated version from Australia (The Nile)

Click here to purchase from Australia (Fishpond)

Click here to purchase 8th ed. original version from Amazon

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