This bird sings the forest awake in a crown of black velvet.
The Black-crested Bulbul is a burst of sunshine in the green gloom of Asian forests. Its bright yellow body glows like a lantern among the leaves, while its head wears a sleek, black crest that gives it a regal, slightly mischievous look.
Found from the foothills of the Himalayas through Southeast Asia, this bulbul thrives in forests, gardens, and edges of plantations. It’s rarely alone, moving in chatty groups that fill the trees with a chorus of whistles, chirps, and bubbling notes.
Its diet is a mix of fruit and insects, making it both a forest gardener and an agile hunter. One moment it’s perched calmly, the next it’s darting after a flying insect or plucking a berry with quick precision.
Nests are small cups of twigs and roots, tucked safely in dense foliage where both parents share in raising the chicks.
The Black-crested Bulbul reminds us that even in the tangled depths of the forest, there’s always room for a splash of color, a crown of black velvet, and a song bright enough to light the day.