Bulbul

The word bulbul derives from Hindi (बुलबुल) or Persian or Arabic (بلبل),[1][2] meaning nightingale,[3] but in English, bulbul refers to passerine birds of a different family.

The traditional layout was to divide the bulbuls into four groups, named Pycnonotus, Phyllastrephus, Criniger, and Chlorocichla groups after characteristic genera (Delacour, 1943). However, more recent analyses demonstrated that this arrangement was probably based on erroneous interpretation of characteristics.

Comparison of mtDNA cytochrome b sequences found that five species of Phyllastrephus did not belong to the bulbuls, but to an enigmatic group of songbirds from Madagascar instead (Cibois et al., 2001; see below for the species in question), and they are now usually referred to as Malagasy warblers. Similarly, sequence analysis of the nDNA RAG1 and RAG2 genes suggests that the genus Nicator is not a bulbul either (Beresford et al., 2005). That the previous arrangement had failed to take into account biogeography was indicated by the study of Pasquet et al. (2001) who demonstrated the genus Criniger must be divided into an African and an Asian (Alophoixus) lineage. Using analysis of one nDNA and 2 mtDNA sequences, Moyle & Marks (2006) found one largely Asian lineage and one African group of greenbuls and bristlebills; the golden greenbul seemes to be very distinct and form a group of its own. Some taxa are not monophyletic, and more research is necessary to determine relationships within the larger genera.

Currently, there are 27 genera recognized:[4]

Collared finchbill

• Genus Nok – bare-faced bulbul
• Genus Spizixos – finchbills (2 species)

Red-whiskered bulbul

• Genus Pycnonotus – (49 species)
• Genus Arizelocichla – (12 species)
• Genus Stelgidillas – slender-billed greenbul
• Genus Eurillas – (5 species)
• Genus Andropadus – sombre greenbul
• Genus Calyptocichla – golden greenbul
• Genus Baeopogon – (2 species)
• Genus Ixonotus – spotted greenbul
• Genus Chlorocichla – (5 species)
• Genus Atimastillas – yellow-throated leaflove
• Genus Thescelocichla – swamp palm bulbul
• Genus Phyllastrephus – (21 species)
• Genus Bleda – bristlebills (4 species)
• Genus Criniger – (5 species)
• Genus Alophoixus – (7 species)
• Genus Acritillas – yellow-browed bulbul
• Genus Setornis – hook-billed bulbul
• Genus Tricholestes – hairy-backed bulbul
• Genus Iole – (6 species)
• Genus Ixos – (4 species)
• Genus Thapsinillas – (3 species)
• Genus Hemixos – (3 species)
• Genus Hypsipetes – (15 extant and 1 extinct species)
• Genus Cerasophila – white-headed bulbul
• Genus Neolestes – black-collared bulbul

The bulbuls are generally monogamous. One unusual exception is the yellow-whiskered greenbul which at least over part of its range appears to be polygamous and engage in a lekking system. Some species also have alloparenting arrangements, where non-breeders, usually the young from earlier clutches, help raise the young of a dominant breeding pair. Up to five purple-pink eggs are laid in an open tree nests and incubated by the female. Incubation usually lasts between 11–14 days, and chicks fledge after 12–16 days.

Bulbuls eat a wide range of foods, ranging from fruit to seeds, nectar, small insects and other arthropods and even small vertebrates. The majority of species are frugivorous and supplement their diet with some insects, although there is a significant minority of specialists, particularly in Africa. Open country species in particular are generalists. Bulbuls in the genus Criniger and bristlebills in the genus Bleda will join mixed-species feeding flocks.