__NOTOC__ ''Hypsipetes'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

bulbul The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristlebills. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropic ...

songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5,00 ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Pycnonotidae. Most of its

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

occur in

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

forests around the Indian Ocean. But while the genus is quite diverse in the Madagascar region at the western end of its range it does not reach the African mainland. Most ''Hypsipetes'' bulbuls are dark greyish birds with orange or red bills and feet. The feathers on top of the head are slightly elongated and usually black, and can be erected to form a short and wispy crest.

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus ''Hypsipetes'' was introduced in 1831 by the Irish zoologist

Nicholas Aylward Vigors Nicholas Aylward Vigors (1785 – 26 October 1840) was an Ireland, Irish zoologist and politician. He popularized the classification of birds on the basis of the quinarian system. Early life Vigors was born at Old Leighlin, County Carlow, in 1 ...

with ''Hypsipetes psaroides'' as the

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

. This taxon is now a subspecies of the

black bulbul The black bulbul (''Hypsipetes leucocephalus''), also known as the Himalayan black bulbul or Asian black bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found primarily in the Himalayas, its range stretching from Pakistan east ...

''Hypsipetes leucocephalus psaroides''. The genus name combines the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

''hupsi'' meaning "high" with ''petēs'' meaning "-flyer".

Species

The genus contains 26 species: *

Nicobar bulbul The Nicobar bulbul (''Hypsipetes nicobariensis'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Nicobar Islands. This species has sometimes been placed in the genus ''Ixos''. Taxonomy The Nicobar bulbul was forma ...

, ''Hypsipetes nicobariensis'' (formerly placed in ''

Ixos ''Ixos'' is a genus of passerine birds in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. Taxonomy and systematics The genus ''Ixos'' was introduced in 1825 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck to accommodate the Javan bulbul. The genus name is th ...

'') *

Philippine bulbul The Philippine bulbul (''Hypsipetes philippinus'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. Descriptio ...

, ''Hypsipetes philippinus'' *

Mindoro bulbul The Mindoro bulbul (''Hypsipetes mindorensis'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to Mindoro in the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests. It ...

, ''Hypsipetes mindorensis'' *

Streak-breasted bulbul The streak-breasted bulbul (''Hypsipetes siquijorensis'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found in the Visayas on the islands of Tablas Island, Siquijor, Cebu and Romblon. This species i ...

, ''Hypsipetes siquijorensis'' *

Seram golden bulbul The Seram golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes affinis'') is a species of songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Moluccas. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the northern golden bulbul and the Buru golden bulbul. Its na ...

, ''Hypsipetes affinis'' *

Sangihe golden bulbul The Sangihe golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes platenae'') is a species of passerine bird in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Sangihe Islands which lie northeast of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropica ...

, ''Hypsipetes platenae'' (split from ''H. longirostris'') *

Togian golden bulbul The Togian golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes aureus'') is a species of passerine bird in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Togian Islands in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The Togia ...

, ''Hypsipetes aureus'' (split from ''H. longirostris'') *

Banggai golden bulbul The Banggai golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes harterti'') is a species of passerine bird in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to Banggai Island in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The Bangga ...

, ''Hypsipetes harterti'' (split from ''H. longirostris'') *

Sula golden bulbul The Sula golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes longirostris'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to Sula Island (east of Sulawesi) in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland fore ...

, ''Hypsipetes longirostris'' (formerly northern golden bulbul before splits) *

Halmahera golden bulbul The Halmahera golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes chloris'') is a species of passerine bird in the bulbul family of Pycnonotidae. It is found in Morotai, Halmahera and Bacan Islands, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowlan ...

, ''Hypsipetes chloris'' (split from ''H. longirostris'') *

Obi golden bulbul The Obi golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes lucasi'') is a species of passerine bird in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae. It is found in Obi in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The Obi golden bulbul was for ...

, ''Hypsipetes lucasi'' (split from ''H. longirostris'') *

Buru golden bulbul The Buru golden bulbul (''Hypsipetes mysticalis'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family. It is endemic to Buru Island. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Taxonomy and systematics The Buru golden bulbu ...

, ''Hypsipetes mysticalis'' *

Visayan bulbul The Visayan bulbul (''Hypsipetes guimarasensis'') or Steere's bulbul, is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the western Visayas in the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowla ...

, ''Hypsipetes guimarasensis'' *

Yellowish bulbul The yellowish bulbul (''Hypsipetes everetti'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on East Visayas, Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The birds of the Sulu archipelago are some ...

, ''Hypsipetes everetti'' *

Camiguin bulbul The Camiguin bulbul (''Hypsipetes catarmanensis'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Philippines being only found on Camiguin. The Camiguin bulbul was formerly considered a subspecies of the yello ...

, ''Hypsipetes catarmanensis'' * Zamboanga bulbul, ''Hypsipetes rufigularis'' *

Brown-eared bulbul The brown-eared bulbul (''Hypsipetes amaurotis'') is a medium-sized bulbul native to eastern Asia. It is extremely common within the northern parts of its range and can be found from southern Sakhalin to the northern Philippines. Taxonomy and ...

, ''Hypsipetes amaurotis'' * Reunion bulbul, ''Hypsipetes borbonicus'' *

Malagasy bulbul The Malagasy bulbul (''Hypsipetes madagascariensis'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found on Madagascar and other regional islands in the south-western Indian Ocean. Taxonomy and systematics The Malagasy b ...

, ''Hypsipetes madagascariensis'' *

Mauritius bulbul The Mauritius bulbul (''Hypsipetes olivaceus''), is a songbird belonging to the bulbul family (biology), family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to Mauritius. Taxonomy and systematics The Mauritius bulbul was the type species of the obsolete genus ' ...

, ''Hypsipetes olivaceus'') *

White-headed bulbul The white-headed bulbul (''Hypsipetes thompsoni'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in Myanmar and north-western Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical ...

, ''Hypsipetes thompsoni'') *

Black bulbul The black bulbul (''Hypsipetes leucocephalus''), also known as the Himalayan black bulbul or Asian black bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found primarily in the Himalayas, its range stretching from Pakistan east ...

, ''Hypsipetes leucocephalus'' *

Square-tailed bulbul The square-tailed bulbul (''Hypsipetes ganeesa'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-western India and Sri Lanka. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It was previou ...

, ''Hypsipetes ganeesa'' * Grande Comore bulbul, ''Hypsipetes parvirostris'' *

Moheli bulbul The Moheli bulbul (''Hypsipetes moheliensis'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Indian Ocean island of Mohéli. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Until 2011, it ...

, ''Hypsipetes moheliensis'' *

Seychelles bulbul The Seychelles bulbul (''Hypsipetes crassirostris'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a common endemic species of the Seychelles, breeding on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette as well as some smaller islands. Tax ...

, ''Hypsipetes crassirostris''

Extinct species

* †

Rodrigues bulbul The Rodrigues bulbul (''Hypsipetes cowlesi'') is an extinct bird which was endemic to the island of Rodrigues, the easternmost of the Mascarene Islands group of the western Indian Ocean. It is known only from subfossil remains collected in 1974. ...

(''Hypsipetes cowlesi'')

Former species

Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species as belonging to the genus ''Hypsipetes'' including: *

Eastern bearded greenbul The eastern bearded greenbul (''Criniger chloronotus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from south-eastern Nigeria to Central African Republic, north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo and ext ...

(as ''Hypsipetes malaccensis'') *

Yellow-browed bulbul The yellow-browed bulbul (''Acritillas indica''), or golden-browed bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in the forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. The yellow-browed bulbul is mainly yellow on the ...

(as ''Hypsipetes indica'' or ''Hypsipetes indicus'') *

Hairy-backed bulbul The hairy-backed bulbul (''Tricholestes criniger'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is the sole species contained within the monotypic genus ''Tricholestes''. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. ...

(as ''Hypsipetes criniger'') *

Olive bulbul The olive bulbul (''Iole viridescens'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from southern Myanmar to south-western Thailand and the Malay Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowla ...

(as ''Hypsipetes virescens'' or ''Hypsipetes viridescens'') *

Grey-eyed bulbul The grey-eyed bulbul (''Iole propinqua'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in Southeast Asia in its natural habitat of subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Taxonomy and systematics The grey-eyed ...

(as ''Hypsipetes propinquus'') *

Buff-vented bulbul The buff-vented bulbul (''Iole crypta'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in south-eastern Myanmar, south-western Thailand, on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and nearby islands. Its natural habitat is subtrop ...

(as ''Hypsipetes olivacea'') *

Sulphur-bellied bulbul The sulphur-bellied bulbul (''Iole palawanensis'') is a songbird species in the bulbul The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bris ...

(as ''Hypsipetes palawanensis'') *

(as ''Hypsipetes nicobariensis'', ''Hypsipetes virescens'', or ''Ixocincla virescens'') *

Mountain bulbul The mountain bulbul (''Ixos mcclellandii'') is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is often placed in ''Hypsipetes'', but seems to be closer to the type species of the genus ''Ixos'', the Sunda bulbul.Gregory, Steven M. (200 ...

(as ''Hypsipetes mcclellandi'' or ''Hypsipetes mcclellandii'') was often included in ''Hypsipetes'' due to an error that was promoted in modern times by the Sibley taxonomyGregory (2000) * Mountain bulbul (tickelli) (as ''Hypsipetes tickelli'') was often included in ''Hypsipetes'' due to an error that was promoted in modern times by the Sibley taxonomyGregory (2000) * Mountain bulbul (holtii) (as ''Hypsipetes holtii'') was often included in ''Hypsipetes'' due to an error that was promoted in modern times by the Sibley taxonomyGregory (2000) *

Streaked bulbul The streaked bulbul (''Ixos malaccensis''), or green-backed bulbul, is a songbird species in the bulbul family (Pycnonotidae). It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland f ...

(as ''Hypsipetes malaccensis'') *

Sunda bulbul Sunda bulbul has been split into two species: * Javan bulbul, ''Ixos virescens'' * Sumatran bulbul, ''Ixos sumatranus'' Birds by common name {{Short pages monitor