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) [XC614318]
by Cedric Mroczko from Yumurtal\u0131k Lag\u00fcnleri Milli Park\u0131 (Halep \u00e7am\u0131 orman\u0131), Adana, Turkey (call)
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) [XC544175]
by Oscar Campbell from Wadi near Masafi, Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (alarm call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms superspecies with Common 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 Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) are known, and ranges apparently barely meet, but an old record of a mixed pair reported.