19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN DARK CAPPED BULBUL (Pycnonotus barbatus ssp. layardi)

The Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor), also known as the Black-eyed Bulbul or Common Bulbul, is a widespread and conspicuous bird found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. 

Key Facts

Appearance: A medium-sized (around 20 cm) bird with grayish-brown upperparts and a distinctive dark head that has a short, pointy crest. The underparts are a paler greyish-white, but a key feature is its bright yellow vent (undertail coverts). Sexes look similar in plumage.

Habitat: Highly adaptable, it thrives in a variety of wooded and bushy environments, including riverine forests, orchards, parks, and suburban gardens. It avoids only dense, evergreen forests or treeless deserts.

Diet: Omnivorous and highly flexible in its diet. It primarily feeds on fruits, berries, seeds, nectar, and flower petals, but also hawks for insects and small invertebrates, especially when breeding.

Behavior: It is a social and noisy bird, typically seen in pairs or small groups. They are known for being alert and are often one of the first species to sound an alarm when a predator is spotted. Their flight is described as bouncy.Vocalization: Possesses a loud, cheerful, and varied call, which has been transcribed as "doctor-quick doctor-quick be-quick be-quick" or a phrase sounding like "Wake-up, Gregory". They also have harsh chattering alarm calls.

Breeding: They are monogamous and territorial during the breeding season. The female builds a neat, cup-shaped nest well-concealed in dense foliage using twigs, grass, and roots. She typically lays a clutch of two to three eggs, which she incubates for about two weeks. The male brings food to the female at the nest and helps feed the chicks after they hatch. Their nests are sometimes parasitized by the Jacobin Cuckoo. 

1-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN DARK CAPPED BULBUL (Pycnonotus barbatus ssp. layardi)

The "southern dark-capped bulbul" is likely referring to the Dark-capped Bulbul (\(<<!nav>>Pycnonotustricolor<<!/nav>>\)), a common bird in southern Africa that has a dark head, a grayish-brown body, and white or yellow underparts depending on its range. 

These omnivorous birds are known for their noisy calls and are frequently found in gardens, parks, and plantations alongside their diet of fruit, insects, and nectar. 

Identification Plumage: Grayish-brown upperparts and breast, with a dark brown to blackish head.

The underparts are whitish, but can be yellowish in the southern part of its range.Underparts: Has a bright yellow vent.Size: Medium-sized, around 20 cm in length.Other features: A peaked crown on the head, with black eyes and bill. Habitat and behavior Habitat: Common in various habitats with fruit trees and bushes, including urban gardens, parks, and plantations.Social structure: Usually seen in pairs or small groups, and they become territorial during the breeding season.

Vocalization: Known for noisy, repetitive, and powerful songs, as well as harsh chattering calls. Diet Omnivorous: Eats a varied diet of fruit, insects, and other invertebrates.

Nectar: Feeds on nectar and plays a role as a pollinator at certain times of the year. Reproduction Nesting: Mates are monogamous, and the female builds a cup-shaped nest in dense foliage using materials like grass and twigs.

Eggs: Lays two to three eggs that are incubated for approximately 15 days.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN DARK CAPPED BULBUL (Pycnonotus barbatus ssp. layardi)

The Southern Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor) is a common African bird, and the Birda app (birda.app) provides identification and information for this species, helping users log sightings in southern Africa, fitting into the broader Bulbul family (Pycnonotidae) known for tropical African and Asian presence. Birda is a birding app for logging and identifying birds, with specific resources for African species like the Dark-capped Bulbul, which eats fruit, insects, and nectar. 

The dark-capped bulbul, known scientifically as Pycnonotus tricolor, is a passerine bird belonging to the bulbul family. It presents a mostly greyish brown plumage above and a paler whitish brown below. The species is adorned with a distinctive dark head and a pointed crest, giving it a rather striking appearance. The back of the head seamlessly blends into the brown of the back, while the chin boasts a similar dark hue. The vent area is surrounded by white, with a yellow tinge in the P. t. tricolor subspecies. This bird measures approximately 18 cm in length and sports a long tail, with both sexes sharing similar plumage.

When identifying the dark-capped bulbul, look for its dark brown head and upperparts, which contrast with the grey-brown underparts. The white around the vent is a key feature, especially when trying to distinguish it from similar species. The pointed crest atop the head is also a helpful characteristic.

The dark-capped bulbul is a versatile species, inhabiting a range of environments across central, eastern, and south-eastern Africa.

This bird can be found from eastern Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, western and central Kenya, Angola, north-western Botswana, and northern and western Zambia. It is also present from south-eastern Kenya to eastern and southern Zambia, north-eastern Botswana, and South Africa.

Observations of the dark-capped bulbul reveal a bird that is active and engaging. It is often seen flitting about in search of food or engaging in social interactions with its peers.

The vocal repertoire of the dark-capped bulbul includes a variety of melodious calls and songs. Its voice can be heard echoing through its habitat, a delightful symphony for any birdwatcher to experience.

Breeding behavior of the dark-capped bulbul includes the typical avian courtship displays and nest building, with the female laying and incubating the eggs.