The grey-headed bulbul is a member of the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in south-western India, and found from Goa south to Tamil Nadu at altitudes up to 1200m. It is found in dense reeds or thickets mainly near rivers and swampy areas inside forests. They have a distinctive call that reveals their presence inside dense vegetation where they are hard to spot.
Region
Western Ghats, India
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Goa through Karnataka and Kerala to Tamil Nadu, chiefly within moist evergreen and semi-evergreen forest belts. It favors dense reeds, bamboo brakes, and riverine thickets inside forests, often near streams, swamps, and forest edges. The species keeps low in the understory and midstory, moving between cover in short, direct flights. It is highly dependent on well-structured native vegetation and is uncommon in heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to the Western Ghats of India, the grey-headed bulbul is a shy, understory specialist that is often detected by its ringing calls rather than seen. It plays a role in forest regeneration by dispersing seeds of many native shrubs and small trees. The species is sensitive to habitat fragmentation and prefers intact riparian thickets within evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.
Illustration from the Voyage autour du monde exécuté pendant les années 1836 et 1837 sur la corvette La Bonite commandée par M. Vaillant (The voyage of the Bonita)
A pair
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through dense cover
Social Behavior
Typically found singly, in pairs, or small family groups, sometimes loosely associating with mixed-species flocks at forest edges. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low to mid-height in dense shrubbery or reed clumps. Breeding generally coincides with the monsoon period, with small clutches typical of bulbuls.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are clear, ringing whistles and sharp notes that carry through dense vegetation. The song is a short, melodious series of whistles delivered from within cover, often revealing birds otherwise hidden.
