Afghanistan (B) (NB), Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan.
Vagrant to Tajikistan.
Breeds eastern Afghanistan and Himalayas of northern Pakistan east through Nepal to north-eastern India (at least to R Dihang, in north-eastern Arunachal Pradesh).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys) [XC509369]
by Scott Connop from Yongkala side-valley, Bhutan (call)
Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys) [XC31576]
by Allen T. Chartier from Pokhara, Fishtail Lodge area, Nepal (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms superspecies with Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus), Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis), White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos), White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) and Black-fronted Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans), possibly including some other species. Hybridizes with White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) in eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan (putative subspecies humii represents a hybrid swarm) and often treated as conspecific, but differs morphologically, and hybridization zone is relatively abrupt. In addition, form described as Molpastes magrathi is a hybrid between present species and subspecies intermedius of Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer).
Proposed subspeciespicru (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir) poorly differentiated, based on clinal size difference, and considered untenable.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet