Dark-capped Bulbul | Pycnonotus tricolor

The Dark-capped Bulbul is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Pycnonotidae bird family group which includes birds such as Bulbuls, Nicators.

The description for the Dark-capped Bulbul (Latin name Pycnonotus tricolor) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Pycnonotus tricolor can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 568 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 766. You will find a picture of the Dark-capped Bulbul on page 817.

NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.

This bird is known as Black-eyed Bulbul in the Roberts 6th Edition. The Latin name for this bird is Pycnonotus barbatus in the Roberts 6th Edition.

The Dark-capped Bulbul is known in Afrikaans as Swartoogtiptol.

The Dark-capped Bulbul has a height of 22 cms and weighs around 40 gms. The head is coloured brown while the bill is coloured black. The Pycnonotus tricolor has a grey coloured throat, black legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown.

Take note of the bird's main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size of the bird. Colours of a bird's body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts Birds using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.

Head is brown

Eyes are brown

Bill is black

Legs are black

Throat is grey

Back is brown

Feeding Habits ...

This bird forages for food on the ground

The Dark-capped Bulbul is usually seen hunting for food within the tree foliage

The Pycnonotus tricolor attacks its prey aerially and feeds on wing or takes the prey to a secluded venue where it is killed, torn into small pieces and eaten

This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten .

The Pycnonotus tricolor forages mainly on the ground or at the base of trees, and low down in the shrubs eating mostly fruits and seeds.

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...

The Dark-capped Bulbul is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 to 3 eggs and they are coloured brown.

The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae.

The Dark-capped Bulbul is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees.

The bird is found in the African bushveld

This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...

This bird is usually seen in small family groups or in large flocks

The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition * edited by PAR Hockey, WRJ Dean and PG Ryan, published by "The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund."

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