Bulbuls

There are about 150 species of bulbuls (also known as greenbuls and brownbuls) in the family Pycnonotidae.   Most have dull coloured plumage and unmelodious songs.  They eat fruit supplemented with some insects.  

Olive-winged Bulbul (in Malay, Merbah Belukar)

The following two photos are from the Nature Park (Taman Alam) at Kuala Selangor. Although the bulbul is very nearly in the centre of the picture its dull colouration renders it almost invisible.   I  am sure I have walked past many other bulbuls without even noticing.

This bulbul was perched on the edge of the walking path for an easy photograph.

Yellow-vented Bulbul (in Malay, Merbah Kapur) 

This bulbul, which is nicely perched on an alligator-flag Thalia sp., is a reminder of how little most birds weigh.  These are common city birds but as they are drab coloured and generally remain in the tree canopy they are not often noticed. 

Another yellow-vented bulbul, in its typical habitat- in the middle of a tree. 

Black-headed Bulbul (in Malay, Merbah Siam)

In the photo this black-headed bulbul appears more colourful than its relatives.  In reality, I could hear this bird singing but took several minutes to see it in the view finder, although the tree was only about 5m tall.   Just as the grass always seems greener on the other side, so to it seems that the bird is always on the other side of the tree, seen dimly through a tangle of leaves and branches.    

Stripe-throated Bulbul (in Malay, Merbah Luris Leher)

This male saw his reflection in the glass and decided to attack!  The mirror image bird did not yield; instead he himself was forced to retreat to a patch of trees, thereby becoming much less likely to attract the attention of any circling hawk.