Yellow-wattled bulbul

Yellow-wattled bulbul
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Microtarsus
Species:
M. urostictus
Binomial name
Microtarsus urostictus
(Salvadori, 1870)
Synonyms
  • Brachypus urostictus
  • Pycnonotus urostictus
  • Brachypodius urostictus
  • Poliolophus urostictus

The yellow-wattled bulbul (Microtarsus urostictus) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family of passerine birds.[2] It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests and forest edge

Description and taxonomy

The yellow-wattled bulbul was described by Tommaso Salvadori in 1870. In common with the blue-wattled bulbul, it is alternately referred to as simply the wattled bulbul.

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized:[2]

  • M. u. urostictus - (Salvadori, 1870): Found on central and southern Luzon, Catanduanes and Polillo Island
  • M. u. ilokensis - (Rand & Rabor, 1967): Found on northern Luzon; darker underparts with a larger bill
  • M. u. atricaudatus - (Parkes, 1967): Found on Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Bohol Negros and Panaon Island; darker tail featjhers but also with more extensive white tail tips
  • M. u. philippensis - (Hachisuka, 1934): Found on Dinagat, Siargao, Bucas Grande and Mindanao (except the Zamboanga Peninsula); paler underparts with more extensive white tail tips
  • M. u. basilanicus - (Steere, 1890): Originally described as a separate species. Found on the Zamboanga Peninsula (western Mindanao) and Basilan; has a more olive back and more extensive white on the breast

Distribution and habitat

Its natural habitats at tropical moist lowland secondary forest and forest edge up to 1,000 meters above sea level, it tends to avoid more intact primary forest[3]

Behaviour and ecology

Not much is known about this species but it is often observed feeding on fruit. It is seen alone, in pairs and small families. Recorded breeding from March to August. The nest is described as cup-shaped with a typical clutch size of 3 eggs.[3]

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has assessed this bird as least-concern species as it has a wide range and seems to be able to persist and even thrive in degraded habitats.[4]

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Poliolophus urostictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22712710A94344535. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712710A94344535.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b Fishpool, Lincoln; Tobias, Joseph A. (2023). "Yellow-wattled Bulbul (Microtarsus urostictus), version 1.1". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.yewbul1.01.1. ISSN 2771-3105.
  4. ^ IUCN (2016-10-01). Poliolophus urostictus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22712710A94344535 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22712710a94344535.en.