The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2008: T22712719A94345114
Scope: Global
Language: English

Pycnonotus xantholaemus, Yellow-throated Bulbul

Assessment by: BirdLife International

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: BirdLife International. 2016. Pycnonotus xantholaemus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2016: e.T22712719A94345114. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-
3.RLTS.T22712719A94345114.en

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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Aves Passeriformes Pycnonotidae

Taxon Name:Pycnonotus xantholaemus (Jerdon, 1845)

Common Name(s):
English: Yellow-throated Bulbul
Taxonomic Source(s):
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016.
HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx
Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Identification Information:
20 cm. Rather plain, olive-and-greyish bulbul. Yellow throat, undertail-coverts and tail-tip. Plain head,
greyish breast and belly. Similar spp. White-browed Bulbul P. luteolus has pale supercilium and lacks
yellow throat and tip of tail. Voice Explosive conversational babble pit pit pit, woopit woopit, pit pit ut
utoo pit pit ut utoo and nasal, mellow rhid-tu-tu.

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable A2ac+3c+4c; C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published: 2016

Date Assessed: October 1, 2016

Justification:
Despite its relatively large range, populations of this bulbul are small and severely fragmented.
Destruction and degradation of its habitat continue to cause population declines. It therefore qualifies it
as Vulnerable.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2013 Vulnerable (VU) http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T22712719A50422160.en

2012 Vulnerable (VU)

2008 Vulnerable (VU)

2004 Vulnerable (VU)

2000 Vulnerable (VU)

1994 Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt)

1988 Near Threatened (NT)

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Geographic Range
Range Description:
Pycnonotus xantholaemus is endemic to southern India, where it is locally distributed in southern
Andhra Pradesh, eastern Karnataka, eastern Kerala and northern Tamil Nadu (Subramanya 2004). It
could also occur in Orissa, where there is suitable unsurveyed habitat (Subramanya et al. 2006). It is
known from c.80 localities, with all recent records from hills south of 16N and east of 76E (Narayanan
et al. 2006). The southern limit of its known range was recently extended southwards by c.30 km, when
birds were recorded on the eastern slopes of Devarmala (Sandeep Das) (per P. Jayadevan in litt. 2012). It
is still locally common, but appears to be declining. Recent surveys of 75 localities found that it had
totally disappeared from six historical sites, and at most occupied sites it is considered scarce (Thejaswi
2004). Many areas of suitable habitat within the species's range remain unsurveyed.

Country Occurrence:
Native: India

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Distribution Map
Pycnonotus xantholaemus

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Population
Although this species has a large EOO (210,000 km2), it is very patchily distributed, in being restricted to
hills and hill ranges. Surveys of 18 sites showed it to be common in intact suitable habitat, but this was
'very limited'. Analysis of the detailed account in BirdLife International (2001) suggests that the total
population may well be below 10,000 individuals, so it is placed in the band 2,500-9,999 individuals
here. This equates to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.

Trend Justification
Recent surveys of 18 sites found that the species had disappeared from six historical locations. Habitat
loss is occurring throughout its fragmented range, suggesting that rapid population declines are likely to
be on-going, although habitat in south India is largely intact and in some areas vegetation on hills is
recovering (S. Subramanya in litt. 2016). It is thought to have been significantly more abundant in the
past, particularly in the Western Ghats (Subramanya et al. 2006).
Current Population Trend:Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

It is a largely sedentary resident, generally associated with boulder-strewn hillsides or rocky outcrops
with dense undergrowth, usually under either thorn-scrub, scrub jungle, mixed dry or moist deciduous
forest at 300-1,800 m. It is quite tolerant of denuded habitat, although not found on completely bare
hills. Some local or altitudinal movements may be made in response to the abundance of fruiting trees.
It is encountered in pairs or small groups of six or more. Berry-bearing shrubs, particularly Securinega,
Toddalia, Erythroxylon, Solanum, Santalum, Ziziphus, Ficus, Canthium, Phyllanthus and Lantana, are
important food sources (S. Subramanya in litt. 2012). It also feeds on insects. Evidence suggests that the
species breeds in the south-west monsoon, between June and August (Subramanya et al. 2006).

Systems:Terrestrial

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

The key threats are habitat loss and degradation owing to commercial quarrying for granite, cutting and
lopping of trees for fuelwood, clearance for cultivation and intensive browsing of berry-bearing shrubs
by domestic livestock. However, some of the degraded hills within the species range around Bangalore,
India are showing remarkable recovery of vegetation, primarily owing to reduced dependence of local
people for fuelwood from the hill habitat and slowly switching over to cooking gas in villages found
around these hill habitats (S. Subramanyain litt. 2016).Mining activities in Karnataka have increased
rapidly in recent years (S. Subramanya in litt. 2007). Periodic fires are also thought to degrade its habitat.
Road widening at Devarayanadurga has caused local losses of habitat in the State Forest (A. Ahmed in
litt. 2002). Unregulated tourist traffic may cause detrimental disturbance at some sites (Subramanya et
al. 2006). Quarrying and human disturbance are also cited as threats by Subramanya et al. (2006).

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

Conservation Actions Underway
Tracts of habitat that support the species at Adichunchanagiri, Anaimalai Hills, Biligiri Rangana Hills,
Devarayanadurga, Gingee, Horsely Hills, Ragihalli State Forest, Shevaroys and Tirumala Hills are afforded
nominal protection, although many are still under heavy human disturbance, and there are few

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protected areas in the Deccan Plateau and Eastern Ghats, where the majority of the population occurs
(Subramanya et al. 2006). In some areas, natural vegetation is recovering owing to the changing
lifestyles of villagers, who are slowly converting from the using firewood to cooking gas (S. Subramanya
in litt. 2012).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct further surveys across its range to assess population sizes in existing protected areas and to
identify substantial areas of undisturbed and unprotected habitat supporting populations, with a view to
affording strict protected-area status to representative portions. Lobby against further large-scale
granite quarrying operations in areas supporting significant populations. Promote conservation
awareness initiatives in these areas, aimed at reducing habitat degradation, integrated if possible with
rural development schemes (e.g. through the provision of fuel-efficient stoves, or popularisation of
cooking gas among local people in villages around the hill habitats may reduce their dependence on the
species habitat for fuelwood) (S. Subramanya in litt. 2016). Ensure protection of important habitats from
encroachment, and promote the regeneration of native vegetation in areas previously affected by
grazing. Areas in the Deccan Plateau and Eastern Ghats should be a priority, and connectivity should be
maintained between reserves (Subramanya et al. 2006).

Credits
Assessor(s): BirdLife International

Reviewer(s): Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor(s): Ahmed, A., Ghorpade, K., Jayadevan, P., Riyazuddin, S. & Subramanya, S.

Facilitators(s) and Benstead, P., Gilroy, J., Khwaja, N., Taylor, J. & Westrip, J.
Compiler(s):

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Bibliography
BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife
International, Cambridge, U.K.

IUCN. 2016. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 07 December 2016).

Narayanan, S. P.; Boopal, A.; Nanjan, S.; Kurian, J.; Dhanya, R.; Gomahty, N.; Dastidar, D. G.;
Rajamamannan, M. A.; Venkitachalam, R.; Mukherjee, D.; Eswaran, R. 2006. New site record of the
Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus from the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu (India). Indian
Birds 2(6): 151-153.

Subramanya, S. 2004. Does the Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus occur in Orissa?
Newsletter for Ornithologists: 39-40.

Subramanya, S.; Prasad, J. N.; Karthikeyan, S. 2006. Status, habitat and conservation of Yellow-throated
Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus (Jerdon) in south India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society
103(2-3): 215-226.

Thejaswi, S. 2004. New sites for the globally threatened Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus
xantholaemus (Jerdon) in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Journal of the Bombay
Natural History Society 101: 458-461.

Citation
BirdLife International. 2016. Pycnonotus xantholaemus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016:
e.T22712719A94345114. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22712719A94345114.en

Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

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 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.5. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Resident Suitable No

1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Resident Suitable No

3. Shrubland -> 3.5. Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Resident Suitable No

3. Shrubland -> 3.6. Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Resident Suitable No

0. Root -> 6. Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Resident Suitable Yes

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.1. Ongoing Minority (50%) Slow, significant Low impact: 5
Housing & urban areas declines

Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming Ongoing Whole (>90%) Slow, significant Medium
& ranching -> 2.3.2. Small-holder grazing, ranching or declines impact: 7

farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

3. Energy production & mining -> 3.2. Mining & Ongoing Minority (50%) Slow, significant Low impact: 5
quarrying declines

Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

4. Transportation & service corridors -> 4.1. Roads & Ongoing Minority (50%) Slow, significant Low impact: 5
railroads declines

Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood Ongoing Majority (50- Rapid declines Medium
harvesting -> 5.3.3. Unintentional effects: 90%) impact: 7

(subsistence/small scale) [harvest]

Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

6. Human intrusions & disturbance -> 6.1. Ongoing Unknown Causing/could Unknown
Recreational activities cause fluctuations

Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.2. Species disturbance

7. Natural system modifications -> 7.1. Fire & fire Ongoing Minority (50%) Slow, significant Low impact: 5
suppression -> 7.1.3. Trend Unknown/Unrecorded declines

Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

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Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning

Action Recovery plan: No

Systematic monitoring scheme: No

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range

Occur in at least one PA: Yes

Invasive species control or prevention: No

In-Place Species Management

Successfully reintroduced or introduced beningly: No

Subject to ex-situ conservation: No

In-Place Education

Subject to recent education and awareness programmes: No

Included in international legislation: No

Subject to any international management/trade controls: No

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions Needed

1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection

2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management

4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

2. Conservation Planning -> 2.2. Area-based Management Plan

Additional Data Fields

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 Distribution
Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Yes

Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): No

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km): 359000

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Yes

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): No

Number of Locations: 11-100

Continuing decline in number of locations: Yes

Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: No

Lower elevation limit (m): 300

Upper elevation limit (m): 1800

Population
Number of mature individuals: 2500-9999

Continuing decline of mature individuals: Yes

Extreme fluctuations: No

Population severely fragmented: No

No. of subpopulations: 2-100

Continuing decline in subpopulations: Yes

Extreme fluctuations in subpopulations: No

All individuals in one subpopulation: No

Habitats and Ecology

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes

Generation Length (years): 2.7

Movement patterns: Not a Migrant

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The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES