Invasive Species Ireland > Species Accounts > Potential > Terrestrial > Red-whiskered bulbul

Red-whiskered bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

Overview

Photo credit: Public domain
 Pycnonotus jocosus - Red-whiskered bulbul
Description:
  • A medium‑sized passerine bird measuring 17-23 cm in length
  • Wingspan about 28 cm and a weight of 23-42 g
  • Easily recognised by its red ear patch, red undertail coverts, dark brown upperparts, white underside, and tan flanks
  • Features a black head with a pointed crest, thin notched beak, and bristled oval nostrils
  • Both sexes look similar
  • Legs and toes are short and relatively weak, adapted for perching rather than strong grasping
  • Immature birds resemble adults but lack the red ear patch
  • Highly social outside the breeding season, forming communal roosts of 40-100 birds that occupy a home range of about 5.1 km²
Habitat:
  • Occupies a wide range of terrestrial habitats in temperate, tropical, and subtropical climates
  • In native range prefers wet habitats at 500–2000 m elevation, especially forest edges, woodlands, cultivated areas, and urban parks
  • In introduced regions commonly found in suburban areas, gardens, parks, and human‑altered landscapes
  • Also adapts successfully to native woodland, scrubland, and higher‑elevation forests
  • Nests in shrubs, small trees, hedges, trellises, verandas, or similar structures 1–9 m above ground
Origin and Distribution:
  • Native to Asia, particularly China, Indian Subcontinent and the surrounding regions
  • Widely introduced elsewhere as a cage bird, with many populations arising from escapes or releases in Australia, EU, UK, part of Middle East
  • Known to occur in parts of North America, such as Florida, where communal roosts occur outside breeding season
Impacts:
  • Highly adaptable fruit-eating bird may compete with native fruit-eating birds for food resources
  • Able to reach high densities potentially altering seed dispersal dynamics in invaded ecosystems
  • May contribute to predation of native insects, spiders, and small reptiles, affecting local food webs
  • Known to thrive in human‑altered environments, potentially displacing or outcompeting native bird species
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
  • It is not currently present in Northern Ireland
How could it get here?
  • Through the pet trade, as the species is a popular cage bird
  • Many non‑native populations originate from accidental escapes or intentional releases by owners
  • Movement facilitated by its attractiveness and global trade in ornamental birds
  • Human development and suitable urban habitats often support establishment and spread
Prevent Spread
Current legislative position (Listed on 07 August 2025):                                                                                                    This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk  
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Invasive Species Northern Ireland