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Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Infraordo: Passerida
Superfamilia: Sylvioidea
Familia: Pycnonotidae
Genera: Acritillas – Alcurus – Alophoixus - Andropadus – Arizelocichla – Atimastillas – Baeopogon - Bleda – Brachypodius – Calyptocichla - Chlorocichla - Criniger – Euptilotus – Eurillas – Hemixos - Hypsipetes - Iole – Ixodia – Ixonotus - Ixos -– Microtarsus – NeolestesNok - Phyllastrephus – Poliolophus – Pycnonotus – Rubigula – Setornis - Spizixos – Stelgidillas – Thescelocichla - Tricholestes

Genera transferred: Malia – to Locustellidae; Nicator – to Nicatoridae.

Genera synonymized: Cerasophila – Thapsinillas – into Hypsipetes.
Name

Pycnonotidae G.R. Gray, 1840

Typus: Pycnonotus Boie, 1826

References
Primary references

Gray, G.R. 1840. A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, compiled from various sources. 80 pp. Richard and John Taylor (London). p.28 as "Picnonotynae" BHL DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.13777 Reference page.

Additional references

Johansson, U.S.; Fjeldså, J.; Lokugalappatti, L.G.S.; & Bowie, R.C.K. 2007. A nuclear DNA phylogeny and proposed taxonomic revision of African greenbuls (Aves, Passeriformes, Pycnonotidae). Zoologica Scripta 36: 417–427. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00290.x Paywall Reference page.
Oliveros, C.H. & Moyle, R.G.. 2010. Origin and diversification of Philippine bulbuls. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 54: 822–832. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2009.12.001 PDF Reference page.
Oliveros, C.H.; Reddy, S.; & Moyle, R.G. 2012. The phylogenetic position of some Philippine "babblers" spans the muscicapoid and sylvioid bird radiations. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 65(2): 799–804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.07.029 Reference page.
Cracraft, J.; Beresford, P.; & Barker, F.K. (2014). Nicatoridae Cracraft, Beresford & Barker. Fam. Nov. Pp. 637-638. In The Howard and Moore complete checklist of the birds of the world. 4th edition. Volume two: Passerines., Aves Press, Eastbourne, 2014: i-lii, 1-752. Reference page.
Shakya, S.B. & Sheldon, F.H. 2017. The phylogeny of the world's bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) inferred using a supermatrix approach. Ibis 159: 498–509. DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12464 Open access Reference page.
Fuchs J.; Pasquet, E.; Stuart, B.L.; Woxvold, I.A.; Duckworth, J.W.; & Bowie, R.C.K.. 2018. Phylogenetic affinities of the enigmatic Bare-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus hualon with description of a new genus. Ibis 160(3): 659–665. DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12580 Paywall Reference page.

Vernacular names
বাংলা: বুলবুলি
Deutsch: Bülbüls
English: Bulbuls
עברית: בולבוליים
Nederlands: Buulbuuls
русский: Бюльбюлевые
ไทย: นกปรอด
Türkçe: Arap bülbülügiller
中文: 鵯科

The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristlebills. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical Asia to Indonesia, and north as far as Japan. A few insular species occur on the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. There are 166 species in 32 genera. While different species are found in a wide range of habitats, the African species are predominantly found in rainforest, whereas Asian bulbuls are predominantly found in more open areas.
Taxonomy

The family Pycnonotidae was introduced by the English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1840 as a subfamily Pycnonotinae of the thrush family Turdidae.[1][2]

The Arabic word bulbul (بلبل) is sometimes used to refer to the "nightingale" as well as the bulbul, but the English word bulbul refers to the birds discussed in this article.[3]

A few species that were previously considered to be members of the Pycnonotidae have been moved to other families. Several Malagasy species that were formerly placed in the genus Phyllastrephus are now placed in the family Bernieridae.[4][5] In addition, the genus Nicator containing three African species is now placed in a separate family Nicatoridae.[6][7]

A study published in 2007 by Ulf Johansson and colleagues using three nuclear markers found that the genus Andropadus was non-monophyletic. In the subsequent revision, species were moved to three resurrected genera: Arizelocichla, Stelgidillas and Eurillas. Only the sombre greenbul (Andropadus importunus), was retained in Andropadus.[8][9] A study by Subir Shakya and Frederick Shelden published in 2017 found that species in the large genus  Pycnonotus formed several deeply divergent clades. The genus was split and six genera were resurrected to accommodate these clades.[8][10]

The family forms two main clades. One clade contains species that are only found in Africa; many of these have greenbul in the common name. The second clade contains mostly Asian species but includes a few species that are found in Africa.[10]


Pycnonotidae – bulbuls (166 species)

Paradoxornithidae – parrotbills and myzornis (37 species)

Sylviidae – sylviid babblers (32 species)

Zosteropidae – white-eyes (150 species)

Timaliidae – tree babblers (58 species)

Pellorneidae – ground babblers (65 species)

Alcippeidae – Alcippe fulvettas (10 species)

Leiothrichidae – laughingthrushes and allies (133 species)

Phylogeny based on a study of the babblers by Cai and colleagues published in 2019.[8][11]
List of genera
Collared finchbill
Red-whiskered bulbul

Currently, there are 166 recognized species in 32 genera:[8]

Genus Andropadus – sombre greenbul (formerly contained many species)
Genus Stelgidillas – slender-billed greenbul (formerly in Andropadus)
Genus Calyptocichla – golden greenbul
Genus Neolestes – black-collared bulbul
Genus Bleda – bristlebills (5 species)
Genus Atimastillas – yellow-throated leaflove
Genus Ixonotus – spotted greenbul
Genus Thescelocichla – swamp palm bulbul
Genus Chlorocichla – greenbuls (5 species)
Genus Baeopogon – greenbuls (2 species)
Genus Arizelocichla – greenbuls (12 species) (formerly in Andropadus)
Genus Criniger – greenbuls (5 species)
Genus Eurillas – greenbuls (5 species) (formerly in Andropadus)
Genus Phyllastrephus – greenbuls and brownbuls (20 species)
Genus Tricholestes – hairy-backed bulbul
Genus Setornis – hook-billed bulbul
Genus Alophoixus – 8 species (formerly in Criniger)
Genus Alcurus – striated bulbul
Genus Iole – 7 species
Genus Hemixos – 4 species
Genus Acritillas – yellow-browed bulbul
Genus Ixos – 5 species
Genus Hypsipetes – 25 species (includes 3 species formerly in Thapsinillas, one formerly in Cerasophila and one formerly in Microscelis)
Genus Euptilotus – puff-backed bulbul (formerly in Pycnonotus)
Genus Microtarsus – black-and-white bulbul (formerly in Pycnonotus)
Genus Poliolophus – yellow-wattled bulbul (formerly in Pycnonotus)
Genus Brachypodius – 4 species (formerly in Pycnonotus)
Genus Ixodia – 3 species (formerly in Pycnonotus)
Genus Rubigula – 5 species (formerly in Pycnonotus)
Genus Nok – bare-faced bulbul (genus introduced in 2017)
Genus Spizixos – finchbills (2 species)
Genus Pycnonotus – 34 species (substantially reduced from earlier classification)

Cladogram


Africa clade

Andropadus – sombre greenbul

Calyptocichla – golden greenbul

Stelgidillas – slender-billed greenbul

Neolestes – black-collared bulbul

Phyllastrephus – greenbuls, brownbuls, leaflove (20 species)

Criniger – greenbuls (5 species)

Eurillas – greenbuls (5 species)

Bleda – bristlebills (5 species)

Arizelocichla – greenbuls (12 species)

Atimastillas – yellow-throated leaflove

Ixonotus – spotted greenbul

Thescelocichla – swamp palm bulbul

Arizelocichla montana – Cameroon greenbul

Chlorocichla – greenbuls (5 species)

Baeopogon – greenbuls (2 species)

Chlorocichla simplex – simple greenbul

mainly Asian clade

Brachypodius – (4 species)

Poliolophus – yellow-wattled bulbul

Euptilotus – puff-backed bulbul

Microtarsus – black-and-white bulbul

Ixodia – (3 species)

Rubigula – (5 species)

Pycnonotus – (34 species)

Nok – bare-faced bulbul

Spizixos – finchbills (2 species)

Tricholestes – hairy-backed bulbul

Alophoixus – (8 species)

Setornis – hook-billed bulbul

Alcurus – striated bulbul

Iole – (7 species)

Acritillas – yellow-browed bulbul

Hemixos – (4 species)

Hypsipetes – (25 species)

Ixos – (5 species)

Phylogeny based on a study by Subir Shakya and Frederick Shelden published in 2017 with the revised genera as defined in the list maintained on behalf of the International Ornithological Committee.[8][10] The positions of the bare-faced bulbul (Nok hualon) and the yellow-browed bulbul (Acritillas indica) are based on a study by Jérôme Fuchs and colleagues published in 2018.[12] As currently defined the genera Chlorocichla and Arizelocichla are not monophyletic.
Description

Bulbuls are short-necked slender passerines. The tails are long and the wings short and rounded. In almost all species the bill is slightly elongated and slightly hooked at the end. They vary in length from 13 cm and 13.3 g (0.47 oz) for the tiny greenbul to 29 cm and 93 g (3.3 oz) in the straw-headed bulbul.[13] Overall the sexes are alike, although the females tend to be slightly smaller. In a few species the differences are so great that they have been described as functionally different species. The soft plumage of some species is colorful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throat or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Species with dull coloured eyes often sport contrasting eyerings. Some have very distinct crests. Bulbuls are highly vocal, with the calls of most species being described as nasal or gravelly. One author described the song of the brown-eared bulbul as "one of the most unattractive noises made by any bird".[14]
Behaviour and ecology
Breeding

The bulbuls are generally monogamous. One unusual exception is the yellow-whiskered greenbul which at least over part of its range appears to be polygamous and engage in a lekking system. Some species also have alloparenting arrangements, where non-breeders, usually the young from earlier clutches, help raise the young of a dominant breeding pair.[15] Up to five speckled eggs are laid in open tree nests and incubated by the female. Incubation usually lasts between 11 and 14 days, and chicks fledge after 12–16 days.[16]
Feeding

Bulbuls eat a wide range of foods, ranging from fruit to seeds, nectar, small insects and other arthropods and even small vertebrates. The majority of species are frugivorous and supplement their diet with some insects, although there is a significant minority of specialists, particularly in Africa. Open country species in particular are generalists. Bulbuls in the genus Criniger and bristlebills in the genus Bleda will join mixed-species feeding flocks.
Relationship to humans

The red-whiskered bulbuls and red-vented bulbuls have been captured for the pet trade in great numbers and have been widely introduced to tropical and subtropical areas, for example, southern Florida, Fiji, Australia and Hawaii. Some species[which?] are regarded as crop pests, particularly in orchards.[citation needed]

In general, bulbuls and greenbuls are resistant to human pressures on the environment and are tolerant of disturbed habitat. Around 13 species are considered threatened by human activities, mostly specialised forest species that are threatened by habitat loss.
References

Gray, George Robert (1840). A List of the Genera of Birds : with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus. London: R. and J.E. Taylor. p. 28.
Bock, Walter J. (1994). History and Nomenclature of Avian Family-Group Names. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Vol. 222. New York: American Museum of Natural History. pp. 201, 237. hdl:2246/830.
Fishpool & Tobias 2005, pp. 161–162.
Cibois, Alice; Slikas, Beth; Shulenberg, Thomas S.; Pasquet, Eric (2001). "An endemic radiation of Malagasy songbirds is revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequence data". Evolution. 55 (6): 1198–1206. doi:10.1554/0014-3820(2001)055[1198:AEROMS]2.0.CO;2. PMID 11475055.
Cibois, Alice; David, Normand; Gregory, Steven M. S.; Pasquet, Eric (2010). "Bernieridae (Aves: Passeriformes): a family-group name for the Malagasy sylvioid radiation". Zootaxa. 2554: 65–68. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2554.1.6.
Beresford, P.; Barker, F.K.; Ryan, P.G.; Crowe, T.M. (2005). "African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary 'enigmas'". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 272 (1565): 849–858. doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2997. PMC 1599865. PMID 15888418.
Johansson, U.S.; Fjeldså, J.; Bowie, R.C.K. (2008). "Phylogenetic relationships within Passerida (Aves: Passeriformes): A review and a new molecular phylogeny based on three nuclear intron markers". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 48 (3): 858–876. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.05.029. PMID 18619860.
Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Bulbuls". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
Johansson, U.S.; Fjeldså, J.; Lokugalappatti, L.G.S.; Bowie, R.C.K. (2007). "A nuclear DNA phylogeny and proposed taxonomic revision of African greenbuls (Aves, Passeriformes, Pycnonotidae)". Zoologica Scripta. 36 (5): 417–427. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00290.x. S2CID 84799480.
Shakya, Subir B.; Sheldon, Frederick H. (2017). "The phylogeny of the world's bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) inferred using a supermatrix approach". Ibis. 159 (3): 498–509. doi:10.1111/ibi.12464.
Cai, T.; Cibois, A.; Alström, P.; Moyle, R.G.; Kennedy, J.D.; Shao, S.; Zhang, R.; Irestedt, M.; Ericson, P.G.P.; Gelang, M.; Qu, Y.; Lei, F.; Fjeldså, J. (2019). "Near-complete phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the world's babblers (Aves: Passeriformes)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 130: 346–356. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.010. PMID 30321696.
Fuchs, J.; Pasquet, E.; Stuart, B.L.; Woxvold, I.A.; Duckworth, J.W.; Bowie, R.C.K. (2018). "Phylogenetic affinities of the enigmatic Bare-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus hualon with description of a new genus". Ibis. 160 (3): 659–665. doi:10.1111/ibi.12580.
Dunning, John B. Jr., ed. (2008). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses (2nd ed.). CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-6444-5.
Fishpool & Tobias 2005, p. 146.
Fishpool & Tobias 2005, p. 151.

Fishpool & Tobias 2005, pp. 154–155.

Sources
Fishpool, L.D.C.; Tobias, J.A. (2005). "Family Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 10: Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 124–250. ISBN 978-84-87334-72-6.

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