Réunion bulbul
species of bird

The Réunion bulbul (Hypsipetes borbonicus) is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Réunion.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Réunion bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus. Formerly, some authorities also considered the Mauritius bulbul to be a subspecies of the Réunion bulbul. Alternate names for the Réunion bulbul include the Bourbon thrush, olivaceous bulbul, Réunion black bulbul and Réunion merle.
Description
The appearance of the Réunion bulbul is similar to that of the Mauritius bulbul but is slightly smaller with a length of 22 cm. It is ashy gray with a blackish crest and the iris is conspicuously white. The bill and feet have an orange hue.
Behaviour and ecology
Breeding
The female lays two eggs in a cup-shaped nest during the southern summer.
Food and feeding
The Réunion bulbul is primarily frugivorous.
The public source identifies “Réunion bulbul” as species of bird. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Réunion, bulbul and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Réunion bulbul”, the useful work is to connect “species of bird” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 24, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1303412. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Réunion bulbul”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Réunion bulbul primary sources, Réunion bulbul archive and Réunion research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Réunion bulbul”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Réunion bulbul” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.