Grand Comoro Bulbul (Hypsipetes parvirostris) [XC207061]
by Rich Lindie from Mt Karthala, Comoros (song)
Grand Comoro Bulbul (Hypsipetes parvirostris) [XC142878]
by Phil Gregory from above Mvouni, Grand Comoro, Comoros (call)
Subspecies
Sometimes considered to form a superspecies with all other members of genus, and in the past all have been treated as conspecific. Nominate subspecies has been treated as a hybrid between Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis) and Seychelles Bulbul (Hypsipetes crassirostris). The larger olivaceous moheliensis was originally described as a subspecies of Seychelles Bulbul (Hypsipetes crassirostris). It is now recognized that the olivaceous phenotype constitutes a separate species, which behaves as a parapatric vicariant of Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis) (replacing latter in montane forest habitats). Furthermore, recent molecular analysis suggests that moheliensis is not the sister-taxon of nominate and that it should be accorded rank of full species, a treatment supported by differences in size and vocalizations and is retained as subspecies of present species, pending a fuller study.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
parvirostris Milne-Edwards & Oustalet, 1885 - La Grille and Mt Karthala on Grand Comoro (Njazidja), in northern Comoro Is.
moheliensis (Benson, 1960) - Mohéli (Mwali), in central Comoros. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Moheli Bulbul (Hypsipetes moheliensis).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet