Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Hook-billed Bulbul
Setornis criniger
Hook-billed Bulbul (Setornis criniger) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Hook-billed Bulbul (Setornis criniger) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 29.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pycnonotidae Bulbuls
- Genus Setornis
- Species criniger
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.5 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Hook-billed Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Hook-billed Bulbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Hook-billed Bulbul (Setornis criniger) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Sumatra, Bangka (e of s Sumatra) and Borneo.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.5 g, with a wing length of about 9.6 cm and a tail of around 8 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 775,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Hook-billed Bulbul?
The Hook-billed Bulbul is a small bird that weighs around 29.5 g.
Where does the Hook-billed Bulbul live?
The Hook-billed Bulbul is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Sumatra, Bangka (e of s Sumatra) and Borneo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Hook-billed Bulbul belong to?
The Hook-billed Bulbul (Setornis criniger) belongs to the Pycnonotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Hook-billed Bulbul eat?
The Hook-billed Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Hook-billed Bulbul migrate?
The Hook-billed Bulbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Hook-billed Bulbul endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Hook-billed Bulbul make?
1 real field recording of the Hook-billed Bulbul — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Hook-billed Bulbul's range?
The Hook-billed Bulbul has a mapped global range of about 775,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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