Pycnonotus leucotis
Identity and identification
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis belongs to Pycnonotidae. A black head bears large white cheek patches above a grey-brown body and yellow undertail. Those patches differ from White-spectacled Bulbul’s narrow eye-ring. Yellow undertail colour alone does not identify either species. It is placed in the order Passeriformes. The IUCN category carried in AviList 2026 is Least Concern (LC).
Habitat, food and behaviour
Orchards, gardens, oases and wooded farmland provide habitat. Fruit, seeds and insects are eaten in pairs or small groups. Association with people does not mean dependence on handouts: fruiting trees and invertebrates remain natural resources.
Breeding and parental care
A cup nest occupies a shrub or tree, including palms. Iraqi references document small clutches of up to three eggs and parental provisioning. Dates vary among regions. Captive-breeding observations should not be presented as measurements from wild populations.
Range and Arab occurrence
Its range extends from southwestern Asia into parts of the Gulf. It is familiar in Iraq and Bahrain; Saudi sources describe a common breeding resident. Native and introduced populations may coexist regionally, so origin should be stated when established rather than assuming every record reflects natural spread.
Seasonality and observation
Resident sites support year-round sightings, including November. Document cheek-patch extent, head and tail with location. An isolated bird beyond its expected range does not automatically prove natural expansion or breeding; escape from captivity may need exclusion.
Ecological role and conservation
Fruit and insect consumption contribute to food webs and some seed dispersal. Illegal capture and trade, pesticides and loss of varied gardens are pressures. Native planting and avoiding ornamental capture help, while indiscriminate releases of captive birds should be avoided.
References
B. E. Allouse — Ornithological Excursion in Iraq, Iraq Natural History Museum.
Saudipedia — White-Eared Bulbul.
AviList Core Team — AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2026 (20 October 2026).
Photo: Михаил и Максим Поспеловы — CC0 1.0.