Newsletter / Blog
2012-03-25 Aves bird of the week - Cape Bulbul - Pycnonotus capensis
The Cape Bulbul - Pycnonotus capensis –
is Endemic to the Western Cape of
South Africa. It generally prefers fynbos, succulent karoo, and coastal scrub.
It is common in suburban parks and gardens.
Description
Male and female
have similar plumage, mainly dull, blackish brown with a diagnostic white
eye-ring, and yellow undertail coverts. It has a small crest, a short, straight
black bill, the legs and feet are black. The iris is dark brown. They are much
darker than the other South African bulbuls, and differs in the eye ring colour
and brown lower belly.
Call
The most typical
call of this species is a liquid whistle of two or more varied notes pit-peet-pitmajol,
piet-piet-patata. Most common call note “piet-my-jol.” Contact calls
sound-like “chirrup” or “key-link”; alarm call a low pitched “churr.”
Food
Diet consists of fruit,
nectar and insects.
Breeding
The egg-laying
season is from August-March and the nest is built solely by the female. She lays
2 to 5 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for between 11 to 14 days.
Both parents feed the chicks, who leave the nest before they can fly, at between
10 to 13 days. They become fully independent at about 50 days old, at which
point they start to sing and call.
Conservation Status – Least concern
This species has
a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable
under the range size criterion. It is very common in certain parts of its
range.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to
create a custom tour for you to see these birds or book on one of the following
scheduled Aves Birding
Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour/Safari/Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast
Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure. |