Egypt, Israel (B), Jordan (B) (NB), Lebanon (B), Oman (B), Saudi Arabia (B), Syrian Arab Republic (B), Turkey (B) (NB), United Arab Emirates (B), Yemen (B).
Vagrant to Iraq.
Eastern Mediterranean from central-southern Turkey, western Syria, Lebanon, Israel and western Jordan south to north-eastern Egypt (Sinai), also western and central Iraq, western and southern Saudi Arabia, Yemen, northern United Arab Emirates and northern and south-western Oman.
 
Population
Estimated population is 100,000 - 1,000,000 (2010).
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) [XC516938]
by James Lidster from Abha, Aseer Province, Saudi Arabia (alarm call)
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) [XC779974]
by Albert Lastukhin from Antalya, Muratpa\u015fa, Antalya, Turkey (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms superspecies with Garden Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus), Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis), Black-fronted Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans), White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) and Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), possibly including some other species. No hybrids with Garden Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) are known, and ranges apparently barely meet, but an old record of a mixed pair reported.