Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) - HBW 10, p. 183

French: Bulbul à oreillons blancs German: Weißohrbülbül Spanish: Bulbul Orejiblanco
Other common names: White-cheeked Bulbul(!)

Taxonomy: Ixos leucotis Gould, 1836, Karachi, Sind, Pakistan.
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. barbatus, P. nigricans, P. capensis, P. xanthopygos and P. leucogenys, possibly including some other species. Hybridizes with last-mentioned in E Afghanistan and N Pakistan (putative race humii represents a hybrid swarm) and often treated as conspecific, but differs morphologically, and hybridization zone is relatively abrupt. Elsewhere, sometimes hybridizes with P. cafer, including in Oman (where latter introduced). Old record of mixed pair of present species and P. barbatus, but no hybrids known (and ranges apparently do not meet). Race mesopotamia (erroneously emended to to “mesopotamiae”) only marginally differentiated and its validity requires review. Proposed races farahensis (Afghanistan) and dactylus (Saudi Arabia) not reliably distinguishable. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

mesopotamia Ticehurst, 1918 - E & SE Iraq, S Iran and Kuwait; also E Saudi Arabia (and probably introduced inland, at Riyadh) S to United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman (probably introduced).
leucotis (Gould, 1836) - SE Afghanistan, Pakistan (except far N) and NW India (E to W Uttar Pradesh and N Madhya Pradesh, also NW Maharashtra).