The pale-olive greenbul, or pale-olive bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae.
Region
Sundaland and adjacent Peninsular Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Found in lowland and foothill evergreen forests across the Malay Peninsula, southern Myanmar–Thailand (Tenasserim), Borneo (Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia), and Sumatra. It favors primary dipterocarp forests but also uses well-structured secondary growth, forest edges, and riparian corridors. Typically forages in the shaded midstory and lower canopy. Occurs patchily where suitable intact forest persists and is less common in heavily fragmented landscapes.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as Finsch’s bulbul, this unobtrusive songbird is often called the pale-olive bulbul or pale-olive greenbul in various taxonomies. It frequents midstory layers of mature evergreen and secondary forests and often joins mixed-species flocks. The species is sensitive to extensive lowland forest loss, and both sexes look alike, which can make field identification challenging.
Pale-olive Greenbul
Temperament
shy and retiring
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, but regularly accompanies mixed-species foraging flocks in the midstory. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed in dense foliage. Breeding behavior is discreet, with both parents likely participating in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Soft, fluty phrases interspersed with thin whistles and chattering notes. Calls are modest and can be easily overlooked amid louder forest species.
