Photo: Mike Prince from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Bulbul
Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) — 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 Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 51.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pycnonotidae Bulbuls
- Genus Hypsipetes
- Species leucocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 51.8 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black 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 Bulbul is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 51.8 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 9.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Bulbul?
The Black Bulbul is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 51.8 g.
Where does the Black Bulbul live?
The Black Bulbul is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black Bulbul belong to?
The Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) belongs to the Pycnonotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black Bulbul eat?
The Black Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Black Bulbul migrate?
The Black Bulbul is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Black Bulbul endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Bulbul make?
1 real field recording of the Black Bulbul — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Bulbul's range?
The Black Bulbul has a mapped global range of about 4.6 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.
Explore more birds
More in Pycnonotidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.