Birds in Taiwan

Endemic Species

Collared Bush-Robin

Flamecrest

Formosan Magpie

Formosan Whistling-Thrush

Mikado Pheasant

Steere's Liocichla

Styan's Bulbul

Swinhoe's Pheasant

Taiwan Barwing

Taiwan Bush-Warbler

Taiwan Partridge

Taiwan Yuhina

White-eared Sibia

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Yellow Tit

Endemic Sub-Species

Black-browed Barbet

Black-naped Monarch

Black Bulbul

Black Drongo

Black Bulbul

Hypsipetes leucocephalus nigerrimus

Endemic subspecies

Endemic subspecies.  The Black Bulbul is approximately 24 cm in length, mainly black overall with a grey patch on the secondary feathers of its wings.  Its bill and feet are bright red, and its head bears a shaggy crest.  Its tail is fairly short, broad and slightly notched.  Black Bulbuls feed on fruits and insects, and form fairly large, noisy flocks in winter, emitting an almost continuous series of shrill, squeaky calls.  They are found in open forests, forest edges and clearings.

The Black Bulbul breeds in April to June.  The nest is a cup made of roots, twigs, bamboo leaves and bark, interwoven with pieces of moss and cobweb, and lined with finer plant material and even mammalian hair.  It is usually placed fairly high, on a branch or in a fork of a tree or bush.  The female usually lays two to three eggs and does most of the incubating, while the male spends much of the day singing nearby.  The Black Bulbul is a common bird in Taiwan in open forests, groves, clearings and edges, below 1,500 meters elevation.

References:  Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 10; The Complete Guide to Birds in Taiwan (Jin-yuan Wang)