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Description The Red-Vented Bulbul measuress about 8 1/4" in length and weighs about 26-45 grams. Their body color is primarily dark brown feathers edged in white, crismson red undertail and a white crested abdomen. The juvenile is almost identical in coloring but instead has a brownish edging on its feathers. Lifecycle Breeding occurs year round with a peak between the months of January and October; and sometime yields up to three nests a year. The nest is in the shape of a cup made with roots and often cobwebs. The Bulbul lays from 2 to 4 pinkish white eggs with purple brown splotches. The incubation period is normally two weeks.Habitat The Red Vented-Bulbul can be found in forests, farms, and parks on secondary brush and shrubs or ferns. It is a pest agriculutre, especially orchid farms whose bulbs were devoured by Bulbul. It is also seen in urban and residential areas and can be seen perched on power lines, fences, houses, and other man-made structures. Diet Feeds on fruit, nectar, insects and sometimes on lizards; also known to eat orchid buds. Communication Several different types of calls that include greeting, alarm, fight, distress, roosting and begging.--many of which are high pitched. Issues The Red-Vented Bulbul first appeared around the mid 1950 on Oahu as an unauthorized release from a cage. It has been nominated as one of the top 100 in the world of invasive species. The bulbul was introduced to Australia and New Zealand but was successfully removed. In Fiji it is a serious pest in vegetable gardens and on fruit trees. The bulbul is also known to spread the seeds of several weeds through their droppings. On Oahu they spread the seeds of the umbrella and fiddlewood trees. |
