bulbul

Bulbuls are short-necked slender passerines. The tails are long and the wings short and rounded. In almost all species the [[beak|bill]] is slightly elongated and slightly hooked at the end. They vary in length from 13&nbsp;cm for the [[Tiny Greenbul]] to 29&nbsp;cm in the [[Straw-headed Bulbul]]. Overall the sexes are alike, although the females tend to be slightly smaller. In a few species the differences are so great that they have been described as functionally different species. The soft [[plumage]] of some species is colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throat or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive brown to black plumage. Species with dull coloured eyes often sport contrasting eyerings. Some have very distinct crests. Bulbuls are highly [[Bird vocalization|vocal]], with the calls of most species being described as nasal or gravelly. One author described the song of the [[Brown-eared Bulbul]] as "the most unattractive noises made by any bird".<ref name = "HBW">Fishpool ''et al.'' (2005)</ref>  [[File:Bulbul 2.JPG|thumb|Bulbul from Attappadi Plateau]]

Bulbuls eat a wide range of different foods, ranging from fruit to seeds, nectar, small insects and other arthropods and even small vertebrates. The majority of species are frugivorous and supplement their diet with some insects, whilst there is a significant minority of specialists, particularly in Africa. Open country species in particular are generalists. Bulbuls in the genus ''[[Criniger]]'' and bristlebills in the genus ''[[Bleda]]'' will join [[mixed-species feeding flock]]s.

The bulbuls are generally [[monogamy|monogamous]]. One unusual exception is the [[Yellow-whiskered Greenbul]] which at least over part of its range appears to be polygamous and engage in a [[Lek (biology)|lekking]] system. Some species also have [[alloparenting]] arrangements, where non-breeders, usually the young from earlier clutches, help raise the young of a dominant breeding pair.  Up to five purple-pink eggs are laid in an open tree nests and [[avian incubation|incubated]] by the female. Incubation usually lasts between 11–14 days, and chicks [[fledge]] after 12–16 days.