• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
No population data is available for this species at present, although it is considered considerably rarer than the sympatric Cream-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus simplex (Shakya et al. 2019).

Trend justification
While the population trend has not been assessed directly, the population is thought to be in decline as a result of rapid ongoing deforestation and habitat loss (del Hoyo et al. 2005). Lowland forest has disappeared at a rapid rate in recent decades throughout much of the species's range in Borneo (Hansen et al. 2013, Fishpool and Tobias 2019, Global Forest Watch 2019). Its strict requirements for mature forest put this species at particular risk (Shakya et al. 2019).

The species is endemic to the island of Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia), where it occurs throughout forested environments up to an elevation of 500 m (Shakya et al. 2019).

The species occurs sympatrically with the Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex) in mature forest interior and edge throughout Borneo. It however has strict habitat requirements and is found most commonly at the edges of mature good-soil dipterocarp forest and in Kerangas forest nearer to sea level (Shakya et al. 2019). It is known to feed on insects and fruits, including mass produced small fruit or figs, as both individuals and pairs. Whilst several individuals may converge at a fruit source, there is no evidence that it forms larger groups although it has been seen to join mixed-species foraging flocks of insectivores (Fishpool and Tobias 2019). The species is often found in the lower and middle storeys but also ascends to the canopy (Fishpool and Tobias 2019). The species is thought to breed between February and October (Fishpool and Tobias 2019).

The most severe threat stems from rapid deforestation and habitat loss (del Hoyo et al. 2005) as lowland forest has disappeared at a rapid rate in recent decades throughout much of its range in Borneo (Hansen et al. 2013, Fishpool and Tobias 2019, Global Forest Watch 2019). This species of bulbul is particularly at risk as a result of its strong reliance on well-developed forest habitats and fairly narrow habitat requirements (Shakya et al. 2019).

A medium-small bulbul, approximately 20.5g in mass. The species's head (except throat) and upperparts are a uniform dark warm olive-brown whilst the upperwings have brighter fringing on secondaries. The tail is dark olive-brown with a slight rufous tinge, darker than the uppertail-coverts; chin and throat yellow, contrasting with the darker breast and flanks; breast pale brown with cream feather fringing, shading browner at the side and on flanks. The belly to undertail-coverts are a pale creamy white with slight yellow tinge, palest on the tail-coverts, slight greyish-brown wash on breast and flanks. Creamy yellow iris. The bill is black, and slightly short, and legs brown. Sexes alike.

Text account compilers
Everest, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Cream-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus pseudosimplex. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/cream-eyed-bulbul-pycnonotus-pseudosimplex on 19/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 19/12/2024.