Dark-capped bulbul in Arusha National Park, Tanzania

Very common throughout Africa, but not at all common for me as a European.

comments (8)

Oddfeel

Lion

Pycnonotus barbatus (common bulbul) vs Pycnonotus tricolor (Dark-capped bulbul) some confusion slipped into these two birds files. Pycnonotus tricolor for this one? Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I'm not that sure. Check this out:
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=7144&subview=map&taxon_id=14587&view=species
  
  It suggests that Pycnonotus barbatus is the only species within the Pycnonotus genus occurring in Tanzania. That would make Pycnonotus tricolor unlikely, maybe even impossible.
  
  But then there is this:
  https://www.gbif.org/species/2486126
  
  Which suggests Pycnonotus tricolor does occur in Tanzania, although not often.
  
  And to complicate things further, some authorities consider both the same species, with tricolor being a subspecies.
  
  I will loop in Thibaud into this discussion, I'm curious what he thinks. Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Oddfeel
    
    Lion
    
    Tricky indeed hence why me asking....depending of some streams, 3 subspecies in fact:
    
    Pycnonotus tricolor tricolor (e Cameroon to DRCongo, s Sudan, w, c Kenya, Angola, nw Botswana and n, w Zambia)
    Pycnonotus tricolor spurius (s Ethiopia)
    Pycnonotus tricolor layardi (se Kenya to e, s Zambia, ne Botswana and South Africa)
    
    but they are invasive birds...I am quite sure that their habitat is evolving a lot too Posted 2 years ago
  2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
      
      Lion
      
      OK so some authorities (such as the taxonomy followed by eBird) do lump Dark-capped within Common, in which case the only species for Tanzania is indeed Bulbul.
      However, as you've already found out, birds in Arusha could either be assigned to layardi or tricolor, both of which subspecies belong to the Dark-capped group.
      So as long as you follow the taxonomy that recognizes the split between Common and Dark-capped, it would be correct to assign your birds to Dark-capped. Posted 2 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Thanks so much Thibaud. Which of the taxonomies would you recommend to follow, from a consistency point of view? Posted 2 years ago
      2. Thibaud Aronson
        
        Lion
        
        iNat recognizes Dark-capped, that's good enough for me! Posted 2 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Fair enough, thanks! Posted 2 years ago
        
        Thibaud Aronson
        
        Lion
        
        No probs! Posted 2 years ago