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White-cheeked Bulbul


White-cheeked Bulbul
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2985 W: 110 N: 7775] (25185)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO, 58mm UV
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-04-01 7:10
Viewed: 585
Points: 25
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
WHITE-CHEEKED BULBUL
Pycnonotus leucogenys

Thanks to Ivan who helped in identifying this bird as White-cheeked Bulbul, I have now revised the note as follows:

Physical description
White-cheeked bulbul is a greyish brown bulbul, with conspicuous white cheeks which contrast with the entirely black hood. The mountain variety has a crest on its head, while those in the plains don't have it. The bright yellow undertail coverts contrast noticeably with white underparts. It has a black head and throat, with bold white blaze below eye, over cheeks and on the sides of neck. Upperparts are dull grey with darker flight feathers, and black-brown tail whose feathers show terminal white spots. Chest is pale dusky-brown; underbody is pale grey-buff, almost grey-white on rear flanks. Vent is rich yellow. Eyes are red-brown, with narrow yellow eye ring. It has black bill and legs. Sexes are similar.

Voice
White-cheeked bulbul's song is generally melodious. It's a liquid, bubbly, chattering, seemingly a repetition of the phrase "oo-toodle-oo". Alarm call is a sharp "pit".

Habitat
White-cheeked bulbul lives in subtropical areas, in warm dry areas from coastal mangroves to 2000 metres. It prefers broader valleys, or side valleys and hills, where climatic barrier is reached. It's a bird of open countries, not of forest, and it likes bushes rather than trees.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
White-cheeked bulbul lives in Himalaya, from northwestern India to southern Iran.

Behaviour
White-cheeked bulbul catches insects on ground. It also hawks flying insects. It launches pursuit from perch, often in the evening.
It likes bushes to perch. We can see small flocks in the hedges in villages. It's a bold and familiar bird, often entering into houses to steal some bread's crumbs on tables.
It perches on bush top, bowing, fluttering wings and tail, and constantly uttering calls series.
White-cheeked bulbul is essentially resident, though populations of Himalayan foothills have some local upward altitudinal movement to find food.
It's a garden and park bird, but also found in high mountains. It's an energetic and noisy bird.

Reproduction-nesting
White-cheeked bulbul's nest is located in a low bush, or sometimes, in branches of low tree. It's a substantial cup of grass, stems, and leaves, roots, and thin twigs. Nest is lined with finer rootlets, lichens and grass.
Female lays 2 to 5 eggs. Incubation lasts 12 days.

Food habits
White-cheeked bulbul eats mainly insects, fruit and berries, seeds, buds and nectar.

Protection / threats
White-cheeked bulbul is not globally threatened. It's widespread and common.

Source: http://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/passeriformes/white-cheeked.bulbul.html

P.S.: I have now posted another picture of the bird as workshop in confirmation of its true identity.

TFL
uleko, jaycee, volkan, livios, JORAPAVI, gannu has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To anilnediyara: Hiramthakur 2 04-03 02:02
To Argus: Hiramthakur 1 04-01 11:31
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2475 W: 168 N: 7514] (23734)
  • [2007-04-01 7:23]

Hello Ram,
Wonderful capture of this little Bulbul busy collecting material for his nest. In spite of his movement you've managed to get him pretty much in focus. I love his pose and the composition is excellent.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

HI ram ,

A lovely emotion captured,This guy is busy bulding his sweet home and you have captured him at the right time.Lovely composition and POV.

Tfs

Pawan

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2007-04-01 9:55]

Hi Ram,
Quite good capture for the circumstances with backlight. Excellent crop and frame.
TFS and best regard, José M.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1799 W: 8 N: 4669] (15091)
  • [2007-04-01 10:57]

Hi Ram,

I don't think I have seen this Bulbul before. Wonderful capture with the piece of straw in his beak. His colors are beautiful and it is an interesting setting.

Jane

Hello Ram,
Nice capture, caught him busy building nest. Was it the the harsh light or exposure that has washed out some of the details ? Informative notes, tfs.
Regards, Anil

  • Great 
  • volkan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 429 W: 16 N: 1047] (6312)
  • [2007-04-01 11:10]

Hi Ram,
Lovely capture of this Bulbul in action.
I really thought these birds didn't fly beyond the Taurus mountains here in Turkey.But they do look a little different from the ones we have here.
TFS

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2620 W: 135 N: 7538] (23519)
  • [2007-04-01 11:10]
  • [+]

Hello Ram,
Nice to see you capture a Bulbul in your compound. You got him during a fine pose and depict him sharply in a well composed presentation.
However, this is not the Yellow-vented! It is the White-cheeked Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys). You seem to go for the rarer species!
It is found in the coastal area in the Persian gulf and a population in Riyadh. Another fine find, approaching the Hypocolius level!
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

nice capture of the bird busy in making her home, nice pose captured, looks like the light from the back was quite harsh, natural colour tones, I did not like the framing of this shot,Looks like you have captured another rare species as Ivan has pointed, thanks a lot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1718 W: 24 N: 5002] (16380)
  • [2007-04-01 12:55]

Hi Ram,
Excellent action shot. Superb natural colours and sharpness. I like its pose with a piece of grass in its beak. The lighting seems a bit hard. Anyway, very nicely composed and framed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2007-04-01 13:10]

Ram, easy to notice it was difficult to deal with exposure upon this image. Anyway, a very nice one, depicting a great moment.

Great photo of a busy little bird. It does appear as he/she is making a nice home for family..:o) Great POV and a great shot of this little guy. TFS
Donna:o)



Thanks for your commments on my photo " A Lake Erie Late Afternoon (16)" :o)

Hola Ram,
Bonita toma, el pájaro parece posar para la cámara, buenos detalles e iluminación muy agradable. Un cordial saludo

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 935 W: 4 N: 2335] (10900)
  • [2007-04-03 8:07]

Rambhai
Wonderful picture captured in a great expression. The focus of the picture is great
Ganesh

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