Tuesday 10 March 2009

The Ubiquitous Yellow-vented Bulbul


(Click photo to see animation)
The Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) is one of, if not the commonest bird in Borneo because it is almost impossible not to see one here, whether in the garden, on trees in town, in parks, plantations and at the edge of the forest. It is found almost everywhere except deep in the jungle in most of Southeast Asia including Cambodia, thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, The Philippines and most of Indonesia. 

This is a species so adapted to humans and cultivated areas that it may even nest in low ornamental plants in your garden. The nest is a "typical" cup shaped nest made of grass, small twigs, vines and leaves. Three to five eggs with lots of reddish speckles are laid. Its food comprise of fruits - berries, cultivated fruits like ripe papaya, guava, tarap and banana.

The above image is that of a bird attracted by a ripe banana placed on my verandah.

Malay name: Merbah kapur.