Photo: Sergei from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-breasted Bulbul
Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 26.9 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 Pycnonotus
- Species xanthorrhous
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26.9 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-breasted Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brown-breasted Bulbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR c, s China to Myanmar and n Thailand.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26.9 g, with a wing length of about 9.1 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-breasted Bulbul?
The Brown-breasted Bulbul is a small bird that weighs around 26.9 g.
Where does the Brown-breasted Bulbul live?
The Brown-breasted Bulbul is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR c, s China to Myanmar and n Thailand, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Brown-breasted Bulbul belong to?
The Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous) belongs to the Pycnonotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brown-breasted Bulbul eat?
The Brown-breasted Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Brown-breasted Bulbul migrate?
The Brown-breasted Bulbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-breasted 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 Brown-breasted Bulbul make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-breasted 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 Brown-breasted Bulbul's range?
The Brown-breasted Bulbul has a mapped global range of about 1.7 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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