Mainly Himalayan and Southeast Asian range of Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala reaches southeast Tibet and western Yunnan, where flavala is common resident. Also bourdellei southern Yunnan. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Moist submontane forests, to 1800 m (5,910 ft.). Gathers in noisy parties, moving through lower, middle, and upper stories in search of fruit and insects. Raises crest when vocalizing; also puffs out feathers of throat. ID Crest greyish (flavala) to black (bourdellei), upperparts grey, throat white. Black facial mask, tawny ear coverts, and distinct yellow panel on wing make easily identifiable. VOICE Loud, squeaky bursts of 4 to 5 notes. — Craig Brelsford
THE BULBULS OF CHINA
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White-throated Bulbul Alophoixus flaveolus
Puff-throated Bulbul A. pallidus
Striated Bulbul Alcurus striatus
Grey-eyed Bulbul Iole propinqua
Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala
Chestnut Bulbul H. castanonotus
Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii
Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis
Black Bulbul H. leucocephalus
Black-headed Bulbul Brachypodius melanocephalos
Black-crested Bulbul Rubigula flaviventris
Crested Finchbill Spizixos canifrons
Collared Finchbill S. semitorques
Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni
Flavescent Bulbul P. flavescens
Brown-breasted Bulbul P. xanthorrhous
Light-vented Bulbul P. sinensis
Red-whiskered Bulbul P. jocosus
Yellow-vented Bulbul P. goiavier
Red-vented Bulbul P. cafer
Sooty-headed Bulbul P. aurigaster
Himalayan Bulbul P. leucogenys
See also:
Styan’s Bulbul Pycnonotus taivanus
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
