Photo: Eyton, 1839 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-and-white Bulbul
Microtarsus melanoleucos
Black-and-white Bulbul (Microtarsus melanoleucos) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-and-white Bulbul (Microtarsus melanoleucos) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 31 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pycnonotidae Bulbuls
- Genus Microtarsus
- Species melanoleucos
Where it lives
Malay Pen., Sumatra, Siberut (west of central Sumatra) and Borneo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 31 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-and-white 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 Black-and-white Bulbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-and-white Bulbul (Microtarsus melanoleucos) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Malay Pen., Sumatra, Siberut (w of c Sumatra) and Borneo.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31 g, with a wing length of about 8.3 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-and-white Bulbul?
The Black-and-white Bulbul is a small bird that weighs around 31 g.
Where does the Black-and-white Bulbul live?
The Black-and-white Bulbul is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Malay Pen., Sumatra, Siberut (w of c Sumatra) and Borneo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-and-white Bulbul belong to?
The Black-and-white Bulbul (Microtarsus melanoleucos) belongs to the Pycnonotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-and-white Bulbul eat?
The Black-and-white Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Black-and-white Bulbul migrate?
The Black-and-white Bulbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-and-white Bulbul endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Black-and-white Bulbul make?
1 real field recording of the Black-and-white 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 Black-and-white Bulbul's range?
The Black-and-white Bulbul has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million 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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