Photo: luluchouette / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-headed Bulbul
Hypsipetes thompsoni
White-headed Bulbul (Hypsipetes thompsoni) — 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 White-headed Bulbul (Hypsipetes thompsoni) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 41.8 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 thompsoni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 41.8 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-headed Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-headed Bulbul is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-headed Bulbul (Hypsipetes thompsoni) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Myanmar, nw Thailand.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 41.8 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 8.8 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 187,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-headed Bulbul?
The White-headed Bulbul is a small bird that weighs around 41.8 g.
Where does the White-headed Bulbul live?
The White-headed Bulbul is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Myanmar, nw Thailand, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-headed Bulbul belong to?
The White-headed Bulbul (Hypsipetes thompsoni) belongs to the Pycnonotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-headed Bulbul eat?
The White-headed Bulbul is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the White-headed Bulbul migrate?
The White-headed Bulbul is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-headed 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 White-headed Bulbul make?
1 real field recording of the White-headed 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 White-headed Bulbul's range?
The White-headed Bulbul has a mapped global range of about 187,000 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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Guides for this bird
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