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

Vinaceous Rosefinch

More Birds in Taiwan

Chinese Crested Tern

Japanese White-eye

Fairy Pitta

Black-faced Spoonbill

Styan’s Bulbul

Picnonotus taivanus

Endemic

A medium-sized bulbul (18–19 cm) with black cap and moustachial stripe on white head.  Orange spot at base of lower bill.  Grayish-white ear-coverts, chin, and belly.  Darker gray breast.  Upperparts olive, wings and tail brown, edged olive-yellow.  Sexes similar.  Iris, dark brown; bill, black; legs, black.

            Endemic to eastern and southern Taiwan, in lowland habitat up to 600 m where Light-vented [Chinese] Bulbul Picnonotus sinensis formosae is absent.  Common in the Huatung valley and the Hengchun Peninsula in a variety of habitats, including secondary forest, scrub, and agricultural areas.

            Omnivorous, eating fruits, flowers and insects.   Active flocks crowd fruiting trees.  Sometimes fly-catches from a perch.  Large flocks form in fall and winter, but it is territorial in the breeding season, which lasts from March to July.  Nests in canopy of tall trees.   Clutch size 3–4; incubation 11–12 days.

            Styan’s Bulbul is considered Globally Vulnerable.  The main threat is hybridization with the closely related Light-vented Bulbul.  The ranges of both species increasingly overlap resulting in frequent hybridization.  This has been accelerated by release of Light-vented Bulbul for religious purposes.  If this trend continues, genetically pure populations may soon be lost.

Reference:  Endemic Species of Taiwan, compiled by Greenland Ecology Conservation Association of R.O.C.

                       www.gio.gov.tw/info/ecology/English