Seychelles bulbul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seychelles bulbul |
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The Seychelles bulbul (Hypsipetes crassirostris) is a type of bird belonging to the bulbul family. These birds are also known as passerines, which means they are perching birds. This species is special because it is endemic to the Seychelles islands. This means you can only find it living naturally in the Seychelles! It is a common bird there. They breed on islands like Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, and Silhouette, as well as some smaller islands.
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About the Seychelles Bulbul
The Seychelles bulbul has a few other names. Some people call it the Seychelles black bulbul. Others know it as the thick-billed bulbul. This bird is very closely related to two other types of bulbuls. These are the Grand Comoro bulbul and the Moheli bulbul.
Life and Habits
The Seychelles bulbul is a social bird. This means they like to live together. You can find them in pairs, family groups, or small flocks. They live in forests and woodlands. You can see them from the sea all the way up to the granitic mountains.
Territory and Family Life
During the breeding season, Seychelles bulbuls are monogamous. This means one male and one female bird stay together. They also become territorial. This means they protect their own space. Their territory is usually about 200 meters (about 656 feet) across.
They defend this area from other bulbuls. They also protect it from animals that might try to hurt them. They make loud alarm calls to warn others. Sometimes, they even chase away large intruders, including people! They might allow a "helper" bird in their territory. This helper is usually a chick from a previous year. However, the helper is not allowed to get too close to the nest.
Reproduction and Chicks
The breeding season for the Seychelles bulbul usually starts when the monsoon rains begin. This is around October to January. But they can sometimes breed at other times of the year too.
They build a round nest in a tree branch that splits into two. The nest is made from palm fibers, leaves, twigs, and moss. It is usually built high up, often 10 meters (about 33 feet) or more above the ground.
Female bulbuls usually lay two whitish eggs with spots. However, most of the time, only one chick grows up successfully. The eggs hatch after about 15 days. The young birds are ready to fledge (fly from the nest) about 21 days after hatching. Even after they can fly, young fledglings stay with the adult birds. They probably do this to learn how to find food.
What They Eat
The Seychelles bulbul is an omnivorous bird. This means they eat both plants and animals. They enjoy eating fruits and flowers. They also eat eggs and insects. They find insects by picking them off leaves. Sometimes, they catch insects in the air during short flights.
These birds can be quite aggressive when they are eating. They will chase away other bird species. They even chase away birds as big as green-backed herons from their feeding areas!
