White-throated Bulbul   Alophoixus flaveolus

 Etymology:

• Alophoixus : Greek word alophos- crestless; genus Ixos- Bulbul   {Crestless Bulbul}

• Flaveolus: Latin word for Golden Yellow

 Vernacular Names: Lepcha: Kussap-eeechiop-pho, Cachar: Dao-bulip-gurrmo-didi

Distribution in India: Resident of Himalayas and North East India.

Description: Size of 21·5–22 cm; Wt. of male 38–54 g, Wt. of female 38–48 g. It is a bulky, brash, conspicuous bulbul with fairly stout bill, adult with spindly, pointed crest, elongated throat feathers often held erect, as if brushed the wrong way. The nominate race has bronzy-olive crown and crest, distinctly whitish lores, white-streaked grey ear-coverts, long fine hairs emerging from nape; upperparts are bronzy olive, wings and tail are rufous-brown; throat is white, underparts are bright yellow from breast to undertail-coverts. The iris is brown; bill is variable, often mostly pale bluish-grey, particularly at cutting edges and around base; legs are silvery grey, pale leaden grey or pale fleshy brown. Both the sexes are similar. The juvenile has browner crest and upperparts, more rufescent wings, distinctly duller yellow underparts and darker bill.

Habitat: It is found in understorey or middle storey of primary and secondary evergreen forest. It is found from 600m–1200 m.

Food habits: It eats primarily fruit, including berries. It also eats insects. It roves in tight-knit parties in winter, creeping and clambering through vegetation in manner of some laughingthrushes , following each other closely and flying across gaps in single file. Usually forages just above the ground.

Breeding habits: They breed in Apr–Jul in India. The nest is built by both sexes. In the nest, the outer layer is constructed of dead leaves and bamboo leaves, fairly loosely fastened together with fine fern rootlets and elastic stems, inner layer also of dead leaves, very strongly bound and lined with fern roots. The nest is placed above ground in thick low vegetation or vine tangle, often near stream. They lay a clutch of 3–4 eggs. The incubation is done by both sexes. The Incubation period is 12-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents.