Olive bulbul facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olive bulbul
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pycnonotidae
Genus:	Iole
Species:	I. viridescens
Binomial name
Iole viridescens Blyth, 1867
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Synonyms
Hypsipetes virescens Hypsipetes viridescens Iole virescens Microscelis viridescens

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The Olive Bulbul (scientific name: Iole viridescens) is a small, cheerful songbird that belongs to the bulbul family. These birds are known for their lovely songs! You can find them living in warm, wet forests in places like southern Myanmar, south-western Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula. They love both forests in lowlands and those higher up in the mountains.

Meet the Olive Bulbul

The Olive Bulbul gets its name from its greenish-olive feathers. It's a type of bird that sings, which is why it's called a songbird. It lives in tropical areas, which means places that are warm and often rainy all year round. These birds are an important part of the forest ecosystem where they live.

Where Do They Live?

Olive Bulbuls are found in Southeast Asia. Their home range stretches from the southern parts of Myanmar all the way to south-western Thailand and down to the Malay Peninsula. They prefer forests that are moist and green, whether they are close to sea level or higher up in the mountains. These forests provide them with food, shelter, and safe places to build their nests.

Different Names for the Olive Bulbul

Sometimes, scientists change how they classify animals as they learn more. The Olive Bulbul has been known by a few different scientific names in the past, like Microscelis and Hypsipetes. This can be a bit confusing!

Besides its main name, the Olive Bulbul also has other common names. People sometimes call it Blyth's Olive Bulbul or the Viridescent Bulbul. Another name you might hear is Sumatran Bulbul. It's interesting how one bird can have so many different names!

Family Members: Subspecies

Just like people have different family branches, animals can have subspecies. These are groups within a species that are a little bit different, often because they live in different areas. For the Olive Bulbul, scientists currently recognize three main subspecies:

• I. v. viridescens: This group lives in southern Myanmar and south-western Thailand.
• I. v. lekhakuni: You can also find this group in southern Myanmar and south-western Thailand.
• I. v. cinnamomeoventris: This subspecies makes its home on the northern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula.

There was another bird, the Cachar Bulbul, that used to be considered a subspecies of the Olive Bulbul. However, in 2017, the International Ornithological Committee decided it was different enough to be its own separate species. This shows how scientists are always studying and updating our understanding of the natural world!