Scientific name:
Pycnonotidae

Natural spread:
Africa, South-Asia, Japan

often quite showy, hair-similar thread-feathers in the neck led to the German name "Hair-birds" for the family of the Bülbüls. This name on the other hand is Arabic origin, with what "Bülbül" means so much like small bird. It is throttle-similar Singvögel, the mainly forest or open, tree-existed surfaces, that finding also in gardens and parks as Kulturfolger, however, is, lives in. In its spread-area in Africa and from South-Asia until Japan virtually is fitting it to the place-picture of human settlements.

Way of life All types live from fruits, but also insects are consumed. The females are smaller than the males with some types, they have also a shorter beak. For persevering flights inappropriate is the short wings. Usually, the Bülbüls undertake expeditions in larger flocks outside the incubation through the nearer surroundings without being tied to a certain precinct. In general however they are rather location-loyal, only the northern forms, as the Braunohrbülbül (Hypsipetes madagascariensis) Japan, are to be regarded as migratory bird. So, Z moves. B. the population of Hokkaido in day-hikes over the Japanese sea to Korea and into the eastern China, in order to spend the winter here. The populations of the Bülbüls, that settle in the Himalayagebiet as far as to a height of 3000 m, look for only deeper situations on the other hand during the winter. The African race is location-loyal.

Chant Some types of the Bülbüls are familiar melody-rich voice because of its. Z belongs to the distinct good singers. B. the Gelbscheitelbülbül (Pycnonotus zeylanicus), that is spread from Malaysia as far as to the big Sundainseln. Also this in the Nile-countries Africa's very frequent Graubülbül (Pycnonotus barbatus) is a good and above all hard-working singer, because it is to be heard about the early morning until into the late evening. Quite, these birds can withstand the comparison with one of the best singers of our widths, the nightingale. The nightingale still brooding in the northern Iran is even called "Bülbül of the Persians" after Brehm.

Captivity The well singing types therefore are very valued in its homelands and also with us as cage-bird, because all Bülbüls let themselves tame easily. So, the birds are trained on Sri Lanka of the natives to fighting together at particular events.

Reproduction The big bowl-shaped nests of the Graubülbüls are hung up in the hedge or in low branch-forks from trees. they are built from roots and stalks, that interwove with webs and are padded with finer materials like plant-fibers and animal-hairs indoors. The nests consist of 3 (2-5) eggs, that are incubated by the female approximately 12 days. Both parents feed until the boys leave the nest after 16 days.