LC
Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Least Concern
2016 Near Threatened B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2012 Near Threatened B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2008 Near Threatened B1a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type shelf island
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 13,300 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend stable poor suspected -
Generation length 3.64 years - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as abundant in the central provinces of Sri Lanka, particularly above elevations of 850 m (del Hoyo et al. 2005; E. Goodale in litt. 2020).

Trend justification: Forest loss has been low within the species's range in recent years, equating to population declines of <2% (Global Forest Watch 2020) over three generations (10.9 years). The species is also able to persist and indeed may be abundant within degraded agricultural areas (Goodale et al. 2014; E. Goodale in litt. 2020). In the absence of substantial evidence of a decline and low immediate risk (Fishpool and Tobias 2020) the species's population trend is suspected to be stable. Given the small range of the species continued monitoring of abundance and rates of habitat loss remains important in order to detect population changes.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Sri Lanka extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Sri Lanka Agrapatana-Bopaththalawa
Sri Lanka Dikoya
Sri Lanka Dotalugala / Rassagala
Sri Lanka Hakgala / Meepilimana
Sri Lanka Haputale
Sri Lanka Horton plains / Ohiya / Pattipola-Ambewela
Sri Lanka Kandapola-Seethaeliya / Pedro
Sri Lanka Knuckles Range (Knuckles IBA)
Sri Lanka Morningside and Handapan Ella Plains (Sinharaja IBA)
Sri Lanka Namunukula
Sri Lanka Nuwara Eliya
Sri Lanka Peak Wilderness Sanctuary
Sri Lanka Tangamalai

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Rural Gardens suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist suitable resident
Altitude 850 - 2200 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) No decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Yellow-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus penicillatus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-eared-bulbul-pycnonotus-penicillatus on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.