Flavescent Bulbul (Pycnonotus flavescens) [XC19672]
by David Edwards from Umphang, Thailand (call)
Flavescent Bulbul (Pycnonotus flavescens) [XC890785]
by David Farrow from Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand (call)
Subspecies
Subspecies leucops is geographically remote from others, differs vocally and morphologically (differences far exceed those between all other subspecies), and is a prime candidate for elevation to species rank. Validity of vividus and sordidus questionable, as individual variation renders both these and nominate virtually indistinguishable in large series. Putative subspecies pallens (Assam, in north-eastern India) is inseparable from nominate.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
flavescens Blyth, 1845 - North-eastern India (southern Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Lushai Hills, also reported north-eastern Arunachal), north-eastern Bangladesh (recent record from Sylhet) and western and south-western Myanmar (including Arakan Hills).
vividus (Baker, ECS, 1917) - Southern China (western and southern Yunnan), northern and eastern Myanmar, north-western Thailand (south to Kaeng Krachan National Park), northern and central Laos and northern and central Vietnam.
sordidus (Robinson & Kloss, 1919) - Southern Laos and southern Vietnam (including Da Lat plateau).
leucops (Sharpe, 1888) - Northern Borneo (Mt Kinabalu south to Gunung Mulu and Gunung Murud, and Gunung Lunjut). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Pale-faced Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucops).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet