Red-whiskered bulbul

The red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) is a species of bird. It belongs in the family Pycnonotidae. It is found mainly in tropical Asia. It has been introduced in many tropical areas of the world. It feeds on fruits, nectar and small insects. Their calls are a loud kick-pettigrew. They are very common in many hill forests and urban gardens. They have a red patch behind the eye, which juveniles lack. They are often found perching on top of trees and bushes. They now even thrive in cities in different parts of the world.

The red-whiskered bulbul is about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length. It has brown upper-parts and whitish underparts with buff flanks and a dark spur running onto the breast at shoulder level. It has a tall pointed black crest, red face patch and thin black line resembling a mustache. The tail is long and brown with white feather tips at the ends, but the vent area is red. Juveniles lack the red patch behind the eye, and the vent area is rufous-orange.

An albino red-whiskered bulbul has also been recorded.^[2]

The loud and evocative call is a sharp kink-a-joo (also written as pettigrew or kick-pettigrew or pleased to meet you^[3]) and the song is a scolding chatter. They are more often heard than seen, but will often perch in a easily visible place, especially in the mornings, when they call from the tops of trees. The life span is about 11 years.^[4]