- Hypsipetes amaurotis
Microscelis amaurotis
Ixos amaurotis
Identification
28cm (11 in)
- Grey-brown back wings and tail
- Richer brown underparts
- Spotted grey breast
- Streaked grey head, nape and throat
- Chestnut ear patch
- Black bill and feet
Sexes similar
Distribution
Asia: found in Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
Taxonomy
Placed in the genus Microscelis by some authorities. Formerly placed in genus Ixos.
Subspecies
There are 14 subspecies[1]:
- H. a. hensoni: Breeds south-western Hokkaido; winters to southern Korea, northern Japan and south-eastern China
- H. a. matchiae: Southern Japan (Hachijo-jima, Tanegashima and Yakushima)
- H. a. amaurotis: Central Japanese islands (Honshu to Kyushu); Cheju-Do Island (Korea)
- H. a. squamiceps: Bonin Islands (Mukojima, Chichijima and Hahajima)
- H. a. magnirostris: Volcano Islands (Japan)
- H. a. borodinonis: Daito Islands (Japan)
- H. a. ogawae: Northern Ryukyu Islands (Amami-O-Shima and Tokuno-Shima)
- H. a. pryeri: Central Ryukyu Islands (Ihiya, Okinawa, Zamami and Kume)
- H. a. insignis: Miyako-Jima (south Ryukyu Islands)
- H. a. stejnegeri: Ryukyu Islands (Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonaguni)
- H. a. harterti: Southern Taiwan and Lan-yü Island
- H. a. batanensis: Philippines (Babuyan Claro, Batan, Ivojos and Sabtang)
- H. a. fugensis: Philippines (Calayan, Fuga and Dalupiri)
- H. a. camiguinensis: Camiguin Norte (northern Philippines)
Subspecies H.a. hensoni and H.a. insignis are often considered invalid[1].
Habitat
Lowland forests to 1600 m, parks and gardens partial to cherry trees.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes insects, seeds, blossom, fruit, berries, and leafy vegetables.
Breeding
A cup shaped nest is placed in the lower branches of a tree. The clutch consists of 4 eggs.
Vocalisation
Recording by pietrod
Mount Takao, Japan, August 2014
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Birding in Taiwan
- BirdForum Member observations
- Brazil, M.A. (1991) The Birds of Japan. Smithsonian Inst. Press.
- Brazil, M.A. (2009) Birds of East Asia. Princeton Univ. Press.
- Fishpool, L. & Tobias, J. (2017). Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/58035 on 21 June 2017).
- Oliveros, C.H. & Moyle, R.G. (2010) Origin and diversification of Philippine bulbuls. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 54(3): 822–832.
- Stejneger, Leonhard. 1892. Notes on a collection of birds made by Mr. Harry V, Henson in the Island of Yezo, Japan. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 15(904): 289-359, 1 pl..
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Brown-eared Bulbul. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brown-eared_Bulbul
