Styan's bulbul

Styan's bulbul
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Infraorder:	Passerides
Family:	Pycnonotidae
Genus:	Pycnonotus
Species:	P. taivanus
Binomial name
Pycnonotus taivanus Styan, 1893

At the East coast of Taiwan

Styan's bulbul (Pycnonotus taivanus, Chinese: 烏頭翁) is an endemic species of bulbul found in eastern and southern Taiwan. Though common in some areas, it has been listed as a species vulnerable to extinction. Its decline has been caused by habitat destruction and hybridisation with the closely related Chinese or light-vented bulbul. The two species' ranges overlap in several areas, partly because birds of the latter species have been released for Buddhist ceremonies. The species has already become extinct in Yilan County (Taiwan).

Taxonomy and systematics

Alternate names for Styan's bulbul include the Formosan black head bulbul and Taiwan black head bulbul (Chinese: 烏頭翁: meaning “black head bird”). The latter name is also used to refer to a subspecies of the light-vented bulbul.

Description

The Styan's bulbul has a very similar appearance to the light-vented bulbul, but they differ in the patterns on the head. The Styan's bulbul has a completely black crown with white feathers around its eye, except for a black moustachial stripe below the beak. Hybrids are intermediate between the two species, with the moustachial stripe and white feathers around the eye, but the white feathers extend behind the crown.

External links

• Birdlife factsheet

Media related to Pycnonotus taivanus at Wikimedia Commons