Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyPycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
- GenusPycnonotus (Typical Bulbuls)
- SpeciesPycnonotus barbatus (Common Bulbul)
The common bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is widespread throughout most of Africa except for the very arid areas, and has recently begun breeding in southernmost Spain. Ten subspecies are recognised based on the geographical variation in plumage. Some of these were formerly considered as separate species: Dodson's bulbul, the Somali bulbul and the dark-capped bulbul. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bulbul sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 1,221 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Serengeti National Park
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
Chlorocichla flaviventris
Cabanis's Greenbul
Phyllastrephus cabanisi
Superb Starling
Lamprotornis superbus
Rüppell's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis purpuroptera
Grey-backed Fiscal
Lanius excubitoroides
Northern White-crowned Shrike
Eurocephalus ruppelli
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Hildebrandt's Starling
Lamprotornis hildebrandti
Rattling Cisticola
Cisticola chiniana
Wattled Starling
Creatophora cinerea
Silverbird
Empidornis semipartitus
Yellow-throated Longclaw
Macronyx croceus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Bulbul in Serengeti National Park?
About 31% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bulbul sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 1,221 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Bulbul in Serengeti National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Common Bulbul in Serengeti National Park in our monthly data.