Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyPycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
GenusPycnonotus (Typical Bulbuls)
SpeciesPycnonotus barbatus (Common Bulbul)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Garden Route National Park

1 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026

40,235 Verified sightings across all 49 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the 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.

The common bulbul was formally described and illustrated in 1789 by the French botanist René Desfontaines from a specimen collected near Algiers in Algeria. He placed it with the thrushes in the genus Turdus and coined the binomial name Turdus barbatus. The common bulbul is now one of 31 species placed in the genus Pycnonotus that was introduced in 1826 by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek πυκνος/puknos meaning "thick" or "compact" with -νωτος/-nōtos meaning "-backed". The specific epithet barbatus is Latin meaning bearded. Alternate names for the common bulbul include black-eyed bulbul, black-capped bulbul and common garden bulbul.

Ten subspecies are recognised. Several of these have sometimes... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Garden Route National Park

LC Endemic

Pycnonotus capensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Andropadus importunus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Zosterops virens

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Dicrurus adsimilis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Motacilla capensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Cinnyris afer

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Apalis thoracica

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Ploceus capensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Batis capensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Muscicapa adusta

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Oriolus larvatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~80%
2	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
3	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~70%
4	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
5	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~70%
6	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
7	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~70%
8	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~70%
9	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
10	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	~70%
11	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
12	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~70%
13	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~70%
14	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~70%
15	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
16	Nyungwe National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~60%
17	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	~60%
18	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~60%
19	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~60%
20	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
21	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
22	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~60%
23	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~60%
24	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
25	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~50%
26	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~50%
27	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~50%
28	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
29	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
30	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
31	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~50%
32	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
33	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
34	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~50%
35	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
36	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
37	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~40%
38	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
39	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
40	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~40%
41	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~40%
42	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~40%
43	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
44	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~30%
45	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~30%
46	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
47	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
48	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
49	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data

← Back to Garden Route National Park

Common Bulbul

About the Common Bulbul

Recent sightings of Common Bulbul in Garden Route National Park

Closest Relatives at Garden Route National Park

Cape Bulbul

Sombre Greenbul

Terrestrial Brownbul

Cape White-eye

Fork-tailed Drongo

Cape Wagtail

Greater Double-collared Sunbird

Bar-throated Apalis

Cape Weaver

Cape Batis

African Dusky Flycatcher

Black-headed Oriole

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found