There are two major varieties of Bulbuls in Malnad.I don't really understand Bollywood's fascination with this bird - I personally think songs of other birds are more melodious, and there are much, much more beautiful birds out there - no idea why our poets had to single out these common birds to write songs on!! I guess it is just their chirruping sound that people find delightful.
First of the very common Bulbuls is the
Red-whiskered Bulbul. Well, you can see these almost anywhere - on electric wires, near bushes with fruits or insects it can feed on, near cultivated lands - well, almost anywhere. Wikipedia mentions that this was once a popular cagebird. Salim Ali notes that these are usually tame and are very friendly.
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| Red-Whiskered Bulbul |
Scientific name for this bird is
Pycnonotus jocosus.
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| Red-vented Bulbul |
Second of these is the
Red-vented Bulbul. These have a black head. For some reason red-whiskered ones seem to be more comfortable near urban areas - I see the red-vented ones near scrubs and cultivation whereas red-whiskered ones are more often found closer to my house. Salim Ali notes that bulbul fights are a common reason for high bets, but I have never seen a bulbul fight around Shimoga. Maybe they are limited to other parts of India, or have disappeared since the days of the great Ornithologist.
Scientific name for this bird is
Pycnonotus cafer.
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