Streak-breasted bulbul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Streak-breasted bulbul |
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| H. s. siquijorensis | |
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The streak-breasted bulbul (Hypsipetes siquijorensis) is a type of songbird. It belongs to the bulbul family, called Pycnonotidae.
This bird lives only in the Philippines. You can find it on islands like Tablas Island, Siquijor, Cebu, and Romblon. It prefers to live in tropical moist lowland forests and shrublands. Sadly, its home is shrinking, and it is also hunted.
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Meet the Streak-Breasted Bulbul
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The streak-breasted bulbul is a medium-sized bird. It lives in forests and open wooded areas. It is quite large for a bulbul.
Its back is dark brown. Its belly is pale, and its chest and throat are warm brown. You can see pale streaks on its chest. It has brown cheeks and a black crown. This crown can be raised into a spiky crest.
It looks a bit like the Philippine Bulbul. But the streak-breasted bulbul is larger. It also has a longer beak and a black crown. Its throat and chest are paler. Its calls can sound like harsh chattering or squeals.
Different Kinds of Streak-Breasted Bulbuls
Scientists have found three different types, or subspecies, of this bird. Each type has different calls and looks a bit different. Some people think each type should be its own species.
- Romblon Bulbul (H. s. cinereiceps): This type lives on Tablas and Romblon. It has a gray spiky crown. Its body is mostly gray, and it has a large beak.
- Cebu Bulbul (H. s. monticola): This type lives on Cebu island. It has a white throat and a paler body. People thought it was extinct, but it was found again in 1996!
- Siquijor Bulbul (H. s. siquijorensis): This type lives on Siquijor island. It is a bit larger. It has a spiky black crest on its head.
Where They Live and How They Are Doing
The streak-breasted bulbul lives in tropical lowland forests. These can be old, untouched forests or forests that have grown back. It can live in areas where the forest is not perfect. But it prefers healthy forests.
The IUCN (a group that checks how animals are doing) says this bird is endangered. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. There are likely only 2,500 to 9,999 adult birds left. Their numbers are still going down.
The biggest danger to these birds is habitat loss. People are cutting down forests for logging, farming, and mining. This takes away the birds' homes. Siquijor, Cebu, and Tablas Island have lost a lot of their forests. For example, Siquijor has only about 8 square kilometers of forest left. Cebu has about 15 square kilometers.
These bulbuls also have to compete with other birds. The Yellow-vented bulbul and the Philippine bulbul might be taking their food or living spaces.
Helping the Streak-Breasted Bulbul
People are working to protect these birds. Here are some ways they are trying to help:
- Making sure existing protected areas are managed well. This helps keep the forests healthy on Siquijor, Cebu, and Romblon.
- Creating more protected areas, especially on Tablas Island.
- Helping forests grow back on Tablas Island and Cebu.
- Looking into special ways to help the Cebu bulbul. This might include breeding them in safe places.
Images for kids
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H. s. siquijorensis
