The Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster) is a species of songbird in the Pycnonotidae family. It is found in south-eastern Asia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
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Taxonomy and systematics The sooty-headed bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus. Alternate names for the sooty-headed bulbul include the golden-vented bulbul and several names used for other species (black-capped, red-vented, white-eared and yellow-vented bulbul).
Nine subspecies are recognized:
• Pycnonotus aurigaster chrysorrhoides - (Lafresnaye, 1845): Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-eastern China
• Pycnonotus aurigaster resurrectus - Deignan, 1952: Found in southern China and north-eastern Vietnam
• Pycnonotus aurigaster dolichurus - Deignan, 1949: Found in central Vietnam
• Pycnonotus aurigaster latouchei - Deignan, 1949: Found from eastern Myanmar to southern China and northern Indochina
• Pycnonotus aurigaster klossi - (Gyldenstolpe, 1920): Found in south-eastern Myanmar and northern Thailand
• Pycnonotus aurigaster schauenseei - Delacour, 1943: Found in south-eastern Myanmar and northern Thailand
• Pycnonotus aurigaster thais - (Kloss, 1924): Found in central and southern Thailand, central Laos
• Pycnonotus aurigaster germani - (Oustalet, 1878): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Ixos. Found in south-eastern Thailand and southern Indochina
• Pycnonotus aurigaster aurigaster - (Vieillot, 1818): Found in Java and Bali
Length: 21 cm
Wingspan:
Weight:
Longevity: 40 - 50 g
Distinctive Feature
• Vent area varies from yellow, through orange to red, depending on the subspecies.