Red vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Pycnonotus
Species: P. cafer

Identification
The red-vented bulbul is about 8.25 inches in length. It weighs between 26 and 45 grams. In general it is dark and is crested with a white abdomen and rump and is crimson under the tail coverts. The immature bird is like the adult except there is some brownish edging on the feathers. The red-vented bulbul is larger than the red-whiskered bulbul.

The male and female are similar in appearance, although the male tends to be slightly larger. It is usually found in trees, a quick flyer with a flight that is recognizable by being somewhat bouncy rather than even. The nest is cup-shaped, made of plant matter, with spider webs binding the outside. It is lined with soft material. In it are laid 2 to 5 pale pink to reddish eggs marked with darker spots and streaks. There are often two to three broods each year. When not breeding, it tends to form large flocks and gather together in communal roosts.

Habitat
Red-vented bulbuls live around secondary growth and shrub, cultivation, parks and gardens. They are also found in forest and agricultural areas.