Hypsipetes
genus of birds
Hypsipetes is a genus of bulbuls, songbirds in the family Pycnonotidae. Most of its species occur in tropical forests around the Indian Ocean. But while the genus is quite diverse in the Madagascar region at the western end of its range it does not reach the African mainland.
Most Hypsipetes bulbuls are dark greyish birds with orange or red bills and feet. The feathers on top of the head are slightly elongated and usually black, and can be erected to form a short and wispy crest.
Taxonomy and systematics
The genus Hypsipetes was introduced in 1831 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors with Hypsipetes psaroides as the type species. This taxon is now a subspecies of the black bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus psaroides. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek hupsi meaning "high" with petēs meaning "-flyer".
Species
The genus contains 26 species:
Nicobar bulbul, Hypsipetes nicobariensis (formerly placed in Ixos)
Philippine bulbul, Hypsipetes philippinus
Mindoro bulbul, Hypsipetes mindorensis
Streak-breasted bulbul, Hypsipetes siquijorensis
Seram golden bulbul, Hypsipetes affinis
Sangihe golden bulbul, Hypsipetes platenae (split from H. longirostris)
Togian golden bulbul, Hypsipetes aureus (split from H. longirostris)
Banggai golden bulbul, Hypsipetes harterti (split from H. longirostris)
Sula golden bulbul, Hypsipetes longirostris (formerly northern golden bulbul before splits)
Halmahera golden bulbul, Hypsipetes chloris (split from H. longirostris)
Obi golden bulbul, Hypsipetes lucasi (split from H. longirostris)
Buru golden bulbul, Hypsipetes mysticalis
Visayan bulbul, Hypsipetes guimarasensis
Yellowish bulbul, Hypsipetes everetti
Camiguin bulbul, Hypsipetes catarmanensis
Zamboanga bulbul, Hypsipetes rufigularis
Brown-eared bulbul, Hypsipetes amaurotis
Reunion bulbul, Hypsipetes borbonicus
Malagasy bulbul, Hypsipetes madagascariensis
Mauritius bulbul, Hypsipetes olivaceus
White-headed bulbul, Hypsipetes thompsoni
Black bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Square-tailed bulbul, Hypsipetes ganeesa
Grande Comore bulbul, Hypsipetes parvirostris
Moheli bulbul, Hypsipetes moheliensis
Seychelles bulbul, Hypsipetes crassirostris
Extinct species
†Rodrigues bulbul (Hypsipetes cowlesi)
Former species
Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species as belonging to the genus Hypsipetes including:
Eastern bearded greenbul (as Hypsipetes malaccensis)
Yellow-browed bulbul (as Hypsipetes indica or Hypsipetes indicus)
Hairy-backed bulbul (as Hypsipetes criniger)
Olive bulbul (as Hypsipetes virescens or Hypsipetes viridescens)
Grey-eyed bulbul (as Hypsipetes propinquus)
Buff-vented bulbul (as Hypsipetes olivacea)
Sulphur-bellied bulbul (as Hypsipetes palawanensis)
Nicobar bulbul (as Hypsipetes nicobariensis, Hypsipetes virescens, or Ixocincla virescens)
Mountain bulbul (as Hypsipetes mcclellandi or Hypsipetes mcclellandii) was often included in Hypsipetes due to an error that was promoted in modern times by the Sibley taxonomy
Mountain bulbul (tickelli) (as Hypsipetes tickelli) was often included in Hypsipetes due to an error that was promoted in modern times by the Sibley taxonomy
Mountain bulbul (holtii) (as Hypsipetes holtii) was often included in Hypsipetes due to an error that was promoted in modern times by the Sibley taxonomy
Streaked bulbul (as Hypsipetes malaccensis)
Sunda bulbul (as Hypsipetes virescens) was often included in Hypsipetes due to an error that was promoted in modern times by the Sibley taxonomy
Seram golden bulbul (as Hypsipetes affinis)
Ashy bulbul (as Hypsipetes flavalus)
Chestnut bulbul (as Hypsipetes castanonotus)
White-headed bulbul (as Hypsipetes thompsoni)
Notes
References
Sources
Media related to Hypsipetes at Wikimedia Commons
Gregory, Steven M. (2000): Nomenclature of the Hypsipetes Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae). Forktail 16: 164–166.
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