Black Bulbuls in Hong Kong

Black Bulbul. Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve 15 February 2023

These pictures had been taken by AJP two weeks in the past in Tai Po Kau reserve in Hong Kong. Since there have been tons it must be assumed this was an irruption yr. Today small numbers could also be seen in Tai Po Kau however sometimes there’s a enormous inflow from the north in winter; different years there are none to be discovered. Throughout an irruption Black Bulbuls will be seen all through Hong Kong.

I can keep in mind the thrill of seeing Black Bulbuls for the primary time—within the College of Hong Kong compound. That was in February-March 1967. The Chook Report for that yr famous:

The early a part of the yr produced what was in all probability the largest irruption of this species in Hong Kong ever recorded.

The primary had been seen on 7 January 1967 however flocks of as much as greater than 90 had been seen in February. They stayed till nicely into March with the final reported sighting on 25 March.

Within the college compound, earlier than it was ruined by over-development, it was comparatively straightforward to get a superb view. The tops of the bushes the place they had been dwelling reached the extent of a footpath by the library.

In these days the Black Bulbul dwelling in Hong Kong was considered a subspecies of Hypsipetes madagascariensis. Now it thought of a full species, Hypsipetes leucocephalus, one described by Johan Friedrich Gmelin in 1789. Solely absolutely grownup birds have s utterly white head.