6027. Straw-headed bulbul

 The straw-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo.

 Gregarious and often perches on low branches overlooking water. Location: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Gombak, Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Brown and Pulau Ubin.

 

 

The Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) is primarily a frugivore that feeds on fruits, figs, and berries, supplemented by insects and small invertebrates. They are crucial for seed dispersal in their forest habitat, often feeding in pairs or family groups in mangroves, woodlands, and along rivers. 

Primary Diet Components

• Fruits and Berries: Their main diet consists of various soft fruits, especially figs (Ficus spp.) and mistletoe berries. They frequently consume wild "cherry" (Muntingia calabura).
• Insects and Invertebrates: They forage for spiders, beetles, caterpillars, mantids, and cockroaches
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Small Animals: They occasionally consume small molluscs (riverine snails) and small vertebrates like flying lizards. 

Foraging Behavior

• They typically forage in the canopy but are known to feed on the ground more often than other forest bulbuls.
• They may follow foraging flocks of monkeys or squirrels to catch insects disturbed by them.
• They are known to eat nectar and flower buds.
• They often use water sources to wash or soak food. 

Diet in Captivity/Rehabilitation
For rehabilitation or captive care, a suitable diet includes soft fruits (banana, papaya, chiku), insects (worms), and specialized pellets.

 

 

 

 

The Straw-headed Bulbul is listed as critically endangered primarily due to the illegal Asian songbird trade. Highly prized for its loud, melodious song, it is heavily targeted by poachers. This relentless trapping, combined with severe habitat loss across Southeast Asia, has decimated its wild populations. 

The species (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) faces two main threats:

• The Cage-Bird Trade: Because of their beautiful calls, these birds are highly sought after by bird enthusiasts and competitors. This demand has driven prices up, fueling relentless poaching and local extinctions in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Java, and Sumatra.
Habitat Destruction: The loss of preferred environments—such as lowland forests, mangroves, and riverine habitats—has severely restricted their natural living spaces. 

A Unique Haven in Singapore
While the global population continues to struggle, Singapore has emerged as an unexpected stronghold for the species. Thanks to strict wildlife protections and over three decades of conservation efforts, the local population of Straw-headed Bulbuls has remained stable and is even slowly increasing. 

You can learn more about these ongoing preservation efforts from the Mandai Wildlife Reserve or the Nature Society Singapore.