# 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.

## Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes it as "A medium-sized bird of lowland and montane forest as well as more open wooded areas. Dark brown above with a pale belly, an orange-brown throat and chest with pale streaking, and a dark head with faint gray streaks. Bill fairly long and black. Similar to streak-breasted bulbul, but smaller, with a shorter bill, a grayish crown, and a warmer orange-brown throat and chest. Song consists of short, loud whistled phrases with a slightly metallic quality. Also gives downslurred squeals and chattering."
The Philippine bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus and later placed in the genus Ixos. In 2010, it was re-classified to the genus Hypsipetes as it is very closely related to the type species of that genus, the black bulbul. Until 2010, the Mindoro bulbul, Visayan bulbul and Zamboanga bulbul were all considered as subspecies of the Philippine bulbul.
The Philippine bulbul differs from the rest with its lighter plummage, smaller bill and different call.

### Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognized:
* H. p. parkesi - (du Pont, 1980): Found on Burias
* H. p. philippinus - (Forster, 1795): Found in northern Philippines
* H. p. saturatior - (Hartert, 1916): Found in eastern-central and southern Philippines

## Behaviour and ecology

It is a generalist that feeds on fruit and insects.
Fledglings of the Philippine bulbul were recorded on Mindanao in late April, but the breeding season seems to be prolonged as females with ripe ovarian follicles were still found in April and May. Territorial songs are heard at lower altitudes as late as May, while further upslope the birds are silent at that time of year and presumably engaged in breeding activity. The besra has been recorded as a predator of young Philippine bulbuls, and this or other goshawks might also catch adult birds.

## Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest, forest edge, clearings, and coconut groves up to 2,000 meters above sea level.
A common and adaptable bird as long as sufficient forest remains, it is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.

## Footnotes

* ↑ BirdLife International (2018). "Hypsipetes philippinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22713179A131968585. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22713179A131968585.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
* ↑ "Philippine Bulbul - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
* ↑ "Taxonomy Version 2 « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
* ↑ Gregory (2000), Pasquet et al. (2001), Moyle & Marks (2006), BLI (2008)
* ↑ "Species Version 2 « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
* ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2017). "Bulbuls". World Bird List Version 7.3. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
* ↑ Peterson et al. (2008)
* ↑ Fishpool, Lincoln; Tobias, Joseph A. (2020). "Philippine Bulbul (Hypsipetes philippinus), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.phibul1.01. ISSN 2771-3105.
* ↑ BLI (2008)