Black-fronted bulbul

Pycnonotus nigricans

Photo by Hans Hillewaert (Wikipedia)

Common name:
black-fronted bulbul (en); tuta-de-olhos-vermelhos (pt); bulbul brunoir (fr); bulbul encapuchado (es); maskenbülbül (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Pycnonotidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Africa, from southern Angola and Zambia down to South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 21 cm long and weigh around 30 g.

Habitat:
The black-fronted bulbul is found in a wide variety of arid and semi-arid habitats, such Acacia savanna and dry scrublands, but also in riparian vegetation along rivers and streams and in rural gardens and orchards in arid areas.

Diet:
They mainly eat fruits and nectar, but also flowers and some arthropods.

Breeding:
Black-fronted bulbuls are monogamous, territorial nesters. They breed in September-April with the female building the nest, an untidy cup of fine twigs, dry grass and other small plant fibres, reinforced with spider web. It is usually concealed in the fork of a scrub or tree. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 11-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest 12 days after hatching, but are only able to fly competently 1 week later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common and widely distributed. The population is suspected to be increasing as this species benefits from the provision of water for livestock and thrives in gardens and orchards.