Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)

White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus) - HBW 10, p. 191

French: Bulbul à sourcils blancs German: Weißbrauenbülbül Spanish: Bulbul Cejiblanco

Taxonomy: Haematornis luteolus Lesson, 1841, Mumbai, India.
Genus as currently constituted probably polyphyletic; in-depth analysis of morphology, voice, behaviour and genetics required to redefine its limits. Present species forms a superspecies with P. goiavier; affinities to other members of genus remain to be clarified. Proposed race flavirictus (Tamil Nadu, in S India) considered indistinguishable from nominate. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • luteolus (Lesson, 1841) - peninsular India (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and S West Bengal S to Tamil Nadu); possibly also in Dry Zone of Sri Lanka.
  • insulae Whistler & Kinnear, 1932 - Sri Lanka (with possible exception of Dry Zone).