The Story
This is a Light-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis) that I photographed near the Mai Po Marshes in Hong Kong’s northwest New Territories on March 22, 2018. Also called the Chinese bulbul, it is a common songbird of lightly wooded places and often turns up in towns, suburbs and city parks. It has a black crown with white patches on the nape and sides of the head. It is found in southeastern China and northern Vietnam. IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. Mai Po lies within the Inner Deep Bay Ramsar site, listed as a Wetland of International Importance in 1995.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW, at 1/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200. WWF’s work at Mai Po, including education and bird monitoring with public help, keeps this wetland open to people and safe for birds.
©2018 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Light-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis) belongs to the family Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2018), with the population trend listed as increasing. Source: IUCN Red List