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Comment: Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus nesting. See the beauty of the red whiskers! Adult bulbuls are around 20-22cm long. A few studies show that males have slightly longer wing length and whiskers with respect to their female counterparts. @ home, kerala.
ceylon_frogmouth_thattekkad_002 * Ceylon Frogmouth, Batrachostomus moniliger in its camouflaging environment. * 1600 x 1071 * (480KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_egg_001 * Nest of a Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus. Nesting is known to take place from August to March, probably the period of the year excluding the wettest months (June and July) southwest monsoon and the hottest months of April and May. There are 2 nests taken at different periods in this album and this one was taken around mid January while the other was taken around end of September. A typical clutch consists of two to four (I've seen mostly three) pale pink eggs, streaked and spotted with shades of red. Two or three broods may be reared in a season. Both birds incubate the eggs and care for the nsetlings. Red whiskered Bulbuls build an open cup nest of rootlets, twigs, bark and leaves, lined with soft fibre. The nest is usually placed in a low tree fork, which is usually covered by overlying bush or leaves. Making of a nest is an interesting period to watch. I have once put a few colorful cotton threads near the nesting area and later found that the bulbuls have incorporated the threads with the nest. Though they guard and defend their nest aggressively, many of the nests I have watched have been ransacked by predating indian koels and sometimes the crow pheasants. Some bulbuls have a wonderful tactic of misleading the predators or humans. If it senses a predator near the nest, the bulbul flies up and then all of a sudden it falls down, almost as if it was shot by a gun! It then crawls on the ground and makes a cry as if it is hurt. The unsuspecting predator moves on to the parent bulbul and as soon as it gets nearby, the bulbul flies off, having its purpose accomplished succesfully! @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1200 * (360KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_egg_002 * Nest of a Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus. @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1071 * (288KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_egg_003 * A close-up view of the eggs of a Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus. Pale pink eggs, streaked and spotted with shades of red. @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1071 * (173KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_nestling_001 * Nestling of a Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus. The nestlings are fed with highly nutritious food comprising of insects and worms and they grow up very fast, and within a few days one can see them flying off! This photograph was taken in September 2007 @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1070 * (398KB)
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red_whiskered_bulbul_nesting_001.jpg - 1600 x 1071 - (483KB)
2007.09.26 09:47:08
red_whiskered_bulbul_nesting_003 * Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus nesting. @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1071 * (320KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_nestling_002 * Nestling of a Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus, with its hungry beak up. @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1072 * (519KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_nesting_002 * Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus nesting. @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1071 * (400KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_002 * Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus on our mulberry tree. Fruits, berries, nectar, insects and worms makes the lion's share of their diet. @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1197 * (703KB)

red_whiskered_bulbul_001 * Red whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus on our mulberry tree. Native to southern Asia, they have been introduced to many other regions. Adult bulbuls are around 20-22cm long. A few of the characteristics are its pointed crest, red whiskers (leading to its name) and the red vent. Red whiskered bulbuls are active around human habitats and less timid around humans. Their flight is a characteristic bouncing up-and-down woodpecker-like. The call, a characteristic descending musical whistle, is often an indication the bird's presence long before it is seen. Red vented bulbul, its cousin, is bit duller, lacks the pointed crest and red whiskers, has a different call and is more confined to the wooded areas. @ home, kerala. * 1600 x 1197 * (658KB)
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