Chestnut Bulbul

The chestnut bulbul is a neat, medium-sized bulbul 21–22 cm long and weighing roughly 30.5–33.5 g. Adults have bright chestnut upperparts contrasting with a black crown, wings and tail. The chin and throat are white, while the breast and flanks are pearly grey. Juveniles are duller and lack the black crown. The throat is often puffed while calling, emphasising the clean pale foreparts against the rich back (Hong Kong Bird Watching Society; Oiseaux.net).

It is restricted to southern China, Hainan and northern Vietnam. Two subspecies occur in Vietnam: canipennis in the northeast and the nominate form farther north and on Hainan. Birds inhabit evergreen lowland forest and secondary growth, mostly below about 1,000 m, and spend much of their time in the canopy. The species is omnivorous, taking pulpy fruit and invertebrates. Outside breeding periods it may range into shrubland and smaller woodland patches (Oiseaux.net species account; Wikipedia, general species account; Hong Kong Bird Watching Society).