Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Cape Bulbul

Pycnonotus capensis (Linnaeus, 1766)

39 gWeight

The Cape bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds.

Busiest months: September–October · Most records: South Africa

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: September–October · Most records: South Africa

Cape Bulbul has been recorded at 23 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Kirstenbosch Botanical GardenSouth Africa2,751 records
  2. Strandfontein WTPSouth Africa1,358 records
  3. West Coast NPSouth Africa915 records
More places
  1. Harold Porter Botanical GardensSouth Africa819 records
  2. Rondevlei NRSouth Africa741 records
  3. Rooi-ElsSouth Africa679 records
  4. De Hoop Nature ReserveSouth Africa494 records
  5. Boulders BeachSouth Africa455 records
  6. West Coast NP – Abrahamskraal hideSouth Africa452 records
  7. Kirstenhof WetlandSouth Africa415 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South Africa

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Cape bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is an endemic resident breeder in coastal bush, open forest, gardens and fynbos in western and southern South Africa. This species nests mainly in the southern spring from September to November.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Cape Bulbul?

The Cape Bulbul weighs around 39 g.

Where does the Cape Bulbul live?

Its breeding range: Africa: western, southern South Africa. It is most often recorded in South Africa.

When is the best time to see the Cape Bulbul?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in September and October (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Cape Bulbul endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Cape Bulbul as Least Concern.

What does the Cape Bulbul eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Cape Bulbul in?

It belongs to the family Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
39 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
93 mm
Tail
86 mm
Bill
20 mm
Tarsus
22 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: western, southern South Africa

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Bulbuls Pycnonotidae
Genus
Pycnonotus

Other birds in the genus Pycnonotus

Cream-vented BulbulCream-vented BulbulPycnonotus simplexOlive-winged BulbulOlive-winged BulbulPycnonotus plumosusAsian Red-eyed BulbulAsian Red-eyed BulbulPycnonotus brunneusStraw-headed BulbulStraw-headed BulbulPycnonotus zeylanicusSpot-necked BulbulSpot-necked BulbulPycnonotus tympanistrigusCream-eyed BulbulCream-eyed BulbulPycnonotus pseudosimplexAshy-fronted BulbulAshy-fronted BulbulPycnonotus cinereifronsWhite-browed BulbulWhite-browed BulbulPycnonotus luteolusAyeyarwady BulbulAyeyarwady BulbulPycnonotus blanfordiStreak-eared BulbulStreak-eared BulbulPycnonotus conradiPale-eyed BulbulPale-eyed BulbulPycnonotus davisoniStripe-throated BulbulStripe-throated BulbulPycnonotus finlaysoni
Cape Bulbul

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Derek Keats. ↗

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