From Opus

Photo by Stijn De Win / Birding2asia
Khammouane province, Laos, December 2008

Pycnonotus hualon

[edit] Identification

A newly described species with first sightings in 1995 and officially described in 2009.

• Bare face and side of the head
• Extensive pale blue periorbital and loral skin and orange-pink skin on the rear sided of head
• Loose, hair-like filoplumes along mid-crown
• Olive undertail-coverts
• Fawn-grey breast and belly
• White throat

[edit] Distribution

Currently only know from Laos. Recorded at Pha Lom and Khammouan province limestone.
May also occur in other similar habitat in Laos or Vietnam. A restricted-range species.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.
Birds seen at Khammouan differ slightly in appearance.

[edit] Habitat

Limestone karst

[edit] Behaviour

Recorded feeding on berries.
A conspicuous species, mostly seen foraging and moving at all times of day. Usually seen singly or in pairs.
No information yet about breeding.

[edit] References

1. Woxvold J., Duckworth J.W. & Timmins R.J. 2009. An unusual new bulbul (Passeriformes:Pycnonotidae) from the limestone karst of Lao PDR. In: Forktail 25 (2009): 1-12
2. De Win S. 2009. Laos’ Khammouane Bulbul, a new bird species from Laos. [1]

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages