General
Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin reflects Mandarin pronunciation; for some dialect names, it is no more than a polite fiction. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.
The bulbuls are all ornithologically known in Chinese as 鹎 . This appears to be derived from the Japanese name of Hypsipetes amaurotis (Brown-eared Bulbul), which is written 鵯 in Chinese characters and pronounced hiyo-dori. The Japanese character usage is based on the old Chinese names 鹎鵊 and 鹎颊 (both ).
However, unlike other borrowings from Japanese, this name is not found in the earliest ornithological list of Chinese bird names (Chinese Birds (35) in 1927), which instead uses 布鲁布鲁 , from English 'bulbul', in turn borrowed from Indian usage.
There has been some regularisation of the Chinese ornithological names.
1. 冠鹎 'crested bulbul' is used for the genus Alophoixus.
2. 短脚鹎 'short-legged bulbul' is used for the old Hypsipetes genus, now four genera (Iole, Hemixos, Ixos, and Hypsipetes).
3. 雀嘴鹎 'finch-billed bulbul' is used for the genus Spizixos (finchbills). While 雀 traditionally refers to small songbirds such as sparrows and finches in Chinese, in this case it is clearly used as the translation-equivalent of English 'finch'.
The word 鹎 'bulbul' is also used in the Chinese ornithological names of the leafbirds (Irenidae).
A couple of bulbuls have vernacular Chinese names comparing them to old men or women. The most commonly seen bulbul, the Light-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis), is known as 白头翁 or 'white-headed old-man', referring to the white patch on the nape which becomes even whiter as the bird gets older. This name is still ornithologically used in Taiwan but has been changed to 白头鹎 'white-headed bulbul' in Mainland ornithological usage. Some vernacular southern names feature the word 公 meaning 'old man' or 'grandfather': 白头公 'white-headed old-man' is used for for Pycnonotus sinensis and 蓝头公 'blue-headed old-man' for Spizixos semitorques (Collared Finchbill).
(It should be noted that 白头翁 'white-headed old-man' is not necessarily confined to the bulbuls. The equivalent Japanese and Vietnamese terms, 白頭翁 hakutō-ō and Bạch đầu ông respectively, refer to varieties of starling. In Chinese the homophonous term 白头鶲 'white-headed flycatcher' is an old vernacular name for the Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka.)
Species names
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
EAST |
SOUTH | NORTH |
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| Alophoixus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Alophoixus flaveolus Criniger flaveolus  |
White-throated bulbul Ashy-fronted bearded bulbul Yellow-bellied bulbul |
黄腹冠鹎 (黃腹冠鵯) 'yellow-bellied crested bulbul' |
キバラカンムリヒヨ (黄腹冠鵯) ki-bara kanmuri hiyo 'yellow-bellied crested bulbul' |
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| Alophoixus pallidus Criniger pallidus |
Puff-throated bulbul Olivaceous bearded bulbul White-throated bulbul |
白喉冠鹎 (白喉冠鵯) 'white-throated crested bulbul' |
中国褐色凤头布鲁布鲁 (中國褐色鳳頭布魯布魯) 'Chinese brown phoenix-headed bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
ノドジロカンムリヒヨ (喉白冠鵯) nodo-jiro kanmuri hiyo 'white-throated crested bulbul' |
Chim Cành cạch lớn 'large bulbul2 (bird)' (onomat.) (12) |
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| Iole | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Iole propinqua Hypsipetes propinquus |
Grey-eyed bulbul | 灰眼短脚鹎 (灰眼短腳鵯) 'grey-eyed short-legged bulbul' |
メジロヒヨドリ (目白鵯) me-jiro hiyo-dori 'white-eyed bulbul-bird' |
Hypsipetes propinquus (12): Chim Cành cạch nhỏ 'small bulbul2 (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 34) |
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| Hemixos | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Hemixos flavala Hypsipetes flavalus |
Ashy bulbul | 灰短脚鹎 (灰短腳鵯) 'grey short-legged bulbul'  Taxonomy
|
栗背短脚鹎 (栗背短腳鵯) 'chestnut-backed short-legged bulbul' (10 - H. f. castanonotus) 褐色耳布鲁布鲁 (褐色耳布魯布魯) 'brown-eared bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
ハイイロヒヨドリ (灰色鵯) hai-iro hiyo-dori 'grey bulbul-bird' |
Hypsipetes flavalus (12): Chim Cành cạch xám 'grey bulbul2 (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 34) Taxonomy |
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| Ixos | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Ixos mcclellandii Hypsipetes mcclellandii |
Mountain bulbul Mountain streaked bulbul Green-winged bulbul McClelland's bulbul |
绿翅短脚鹎 (綠翅短腳鵯) 'green-winged short-legged bulbul' (1, 2, 3, 4) 麦克氏短脚鹎 (麥克氏短腳鵯) 'Mr Maike's short-legged bulbul' (5) |
纹喉鹎 (紋喉鵯) 'fine-pattern-throated bulbul' Iole mcclellandii holti: 绿膀布鲁布鲁 (綠膀布魯布魯) 'green-winged bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
ミヤマヒヨドリ (深山鵯) mi-yama hiyo-dori 'deep-mountain bulbul-bird' |
Hypsipetes maclellandi (12, 13): Chim Cành cạch núi 'mountain bulbul2 (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
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| Hypsipetes | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Hypsipetes amaurotis Microscelis amaurotis Ixos amaurotis |
Brown-eared bulbul Chestnut-eared bulbul |
栗耳短脚鹎 (栗耳短腳鵯) 'chestnut-eared short-legged bulbul' |
(棕耳鹎) 棕耳鵯 'reddishbrown-eared bulbul' |
蓝布鲁布鲁 (藍布魯布魯) 'blue bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
ヒヨドリ (鵯) hiyo-dori 'bulbul-bird' |
직박구리 jikbakguri 'bulbul' |
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| Hypsipetes leucocephalus |
Black bulbul | 黑短脚鹎 (黑短腳鵯) 'black short-legged bulbul' or 黑鹎 (黑鵯) 'black bulbul' (alt in 1, 3) Taxonomy |
(红嘴黑鹎) 紅嘴黑鵯 'red-billed black bulbul' |
山白头 (白山頭) 'mountain white head' (35) 白头黑鹎 (白頭黑鵯) 'white-headed black bulbul' 白头黑布鲁布鲁 (白頭黑布魯布魯) 'white-headed black bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
クロヒヨドリ (黒鵯) kuro hiyo-dori 'black bulbul-bird' |
Hypsipetes madagascariensis (12): Chim Cành cạch đen 'black bulbul2 (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
Inner Mongolian: Хар хүрэн шагшуур ᠬᠠᠷᠠ ᠬᠦᠷᠡᠩ ᠱᠠᠭᠱᠣᠣᠷ khar khüreŋ shagshuur 'black brown bulbul' (31) |
|
| Spizixos | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Spizixos canifrons |
Crested finchbill Crested finch-billed bulbul Crest finch-billed bulbul |
凤头雀嘴鹎 (鳳頭雀嘴鵯) 'phoenix-headed finch-billed bulbul' |
印度圆最布鲁布鲁 (印度圓嘴布魯布魯) 'Indian round-billed bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
カンムリカヤノボリ (冠萱昇) kanmuri kaya-nobori 'crested thatch climber' |
Chim Chào mào mỏ lớn 'large-billed bulbul1 (bird)' (12, 34) |
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| Spizixos semitorques |
Collared finchbill Collared finch-billed bulbul Swinhoe's finch-billed bulbul |
领雀嘴鹎 (領雀嘴鵯) 'collared finch-billed bulbul' (1, 2, 3, 4) 绿鹦嘴鹎 (綠鸚嘴鵯) 'green parrot-billed bulbul' (5) |
(白环鹦嘴鹎) 白環鸚嘴鵯 'white-ringed parrot-billed bulbul' |
蓝头公 (藍頭公) 'blue-headed old-man' (southern) (35) 中国圆最布鲁布鲁 (中國圓嘴布魯布魯) 'Chinese round-billed bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
カヤノボリ (萱昇) kaya-nobori 'thatch climber' |
Chim Chào mào khoang cổ 'streak-necked bulbul1 (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Pycnonotus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Pycnonotus striatus |
Striated bulbul Striped bulbul Striated green bulbul |
纵纹绿鹎 (縱紋綠鵯) 'vertical pattern green bulbul' |
绿布鲁布鲁 (綠布魯布魯) 'green bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
タテフヒヨドリ (縦斑鵯) tate-fu hiyo-dori 'vertical-striped bulbul-bird' |
Chim Chào mào vạch 'lined bulbul1 (bird)' (12, 34) |
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| Pycnonotus melanicterus |
Black-crested bulbul Black-crested yellow bulbul |
黑冠黄鹎 (黑冠黃鵯) 'black-crested yellow bulbul' |
エボシヒヨドリ (烏帽子鵯) eboshi hiyo-dori 'court-headdress bulbul-bird' |
Chim Chào mào vàng mào đen 'black-crested yellow bulbul1 (bird)' (12) |
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| Pycnonotus jocosus |
Red-whiskered bulbul | 红耳鹎 (紅耳鵯) 'red-eared bulbul' |
红颊鹎 (紅頰鵯) 'red-cheeked bulbul' 红颊布鲁布鲁 (紅頰布魯布魯) 'red-cheeked bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) 高鸡冠 (高雞冠) 'high coxcomb' |
コウラウン (紅羅雲) kōra'un 'red silk cloud (?)' |
Chim Chào mào 'bulbul1 (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Pycnonotus xanthorrhous |
Brown-breasted bulbul Anderson's bulbul Yellow-vented bulbul |
黄臀鹎 (黃臀鵯) 'yellow-bottomed bulbul' |
ノドジロヒヨドリ (喉白鵯) nodo-jiro hiyo-dori 'white-throated bulbul-bird' |
Chim Bông lau ngực nâu 'brown-breasted reed-blossom bird' (12, 13, 34) |
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Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Pycnonotus sinensus |
Light-vented bulbul Chinese bulbul |
白头鹎 (白頭鵯) 'white-headed bulbul' |
(白头翁) 白頭翁 'white-headed old-man' |
白头婆 (白頭婆) 'white-headed old-woman' 白头公 (白頭公) 'white-headed old-man' (southern) (35) |
シロガシラ (白頭) shiro-gashira 'white head' |
줄무늬머리직박구리 julmunui-meori-jikbakguri 'stripe-headed bulbul' or 검은이마직박구리 geomeun-ima-jikbakguri 'black-eyebrowed bulbul' |
Chim Bông lau Trung Quốc 'Chinese reed-blossom bird' (12, 13) |
Inner M: Толгои алаг шагшуур ᠲᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠢ ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠱᠠᠭᠱᠣᠣᠷ tolgoi alag shagshuur 'white-head bulbul' (31) Other: Алаг толгой ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠲᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠢ alag tolgoi 'motley head' Шарь шувуухай ᠱᠠᠷᠢ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠤᠬᠠᠢ shar' shuvuukhai 'shar' birdlet' |
| Pycnonotus cafer |
Red-vented bulbul | 黑喉红臀鹎 (黑厚紅臀鵯) 'black-throated red-bottomed bulbul' |
シリアカヒヨドリ (尻赤鵯) shiri-aka hiyo-dori 'red-bottomed bulbul-bird' |
Chim Bông lau đít đỏ 'red-vented reed-blossom bird' (12) (conflicts with the name for Pycnonotus aurigaster in 13) |
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| Pycnonotus aurigaster |
Sooty-headed bulbul White-eared bulbul Golden-vented bulbul Red-vented bulbul |
白喉红臀鹎 (白厚紅臀鵯) 'white-throated red-bottomed bulbul' |
コシジロヒヨドリ (腰白鵯) koshi-jiro hiyo-dori 'white-rumped bulbul-bird' |
Chim Bông lau tai trắng 'white-eared reed-blossom bird' (12) |
Inner M: Тоорцогт алаг шагшуур ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠴᠣᠬᠲᠣ ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠱᠠᠭᠱᠣᠣᠷ toortsogt alag shagshuur 'coiffured motley bulbul' (31) |
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| Pycnonotus finlaysoni |
Stripe-throated bulbul | 纹喉鹎 (紋厚鵯) 'fine-pattern-throated bulbul' |
キビタイヒヨドリ (黄額鵯) ki-bitai hiyo-dori 'yellow-foreheaded bulbul-bird' |
Chim Bông lau họng vạch 'line-throated reed-blossom bird' (12) |
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| Pycnonotus flavescens |
Flavescent bulbul Flavescent green bulbul Round-tailed green bulbul |
黄绿鹎 (黃綠鵯) 'yellow-green bulbul' |
圆尾绿鹎 (圓尾綠鵯) 'round-tailed green bulbul' (6) 圆尾绿布鲁布鲁 (圓尾綠布魯布魯) 'round-tailed green bulbul' (from English 'bulbul') (early ornithological) (35) |
カオジロヒヨドリ (顔白鵯) kao-jiro hiyo-dori 'white-faced bulbul' bird |
Chim Bông lau vàng 'yellow reed-blossom bird' (12, 34) |
Ухаа бөлбөл ᠬᠣᠧᠨ ᠪᠦᠯᠪᠦ᠋ᠯ ukhaa bölböl 'reddish bulbul' |
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| Brachypodius | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
| Brachypodius atriceps Pycnonotus atriceps |
Black-headed bulbul | 黑头鹎 (黑頭鵯) 'black-headed bulbul' |
ズグロヒヨドリ (頭黒鵯) zu-guro hiyo-dori 'black-headed bulbul-bird' |
Chim Chào mào vàng đầu đen 'black-headed yellow bulbul1 (bird)' (12) |
Inner M: Тоорцогт нохой шагшуур ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠴᠣᠭᠲᠣ ᠨᠣᠬᠠᠢ ᠱᠠᠭᠱᠣᠣᠷ toortsogt nokhoi shagshuur 'button-capped dog bulbul' (31) |
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The term Шувуухай shuvuukhai here refers to a small bird. Шувуухай shuvuukhai is an old term used to refer to a number of generally exotic small species, including the sunbirds (Nectariniidae), the broadbills (Eurylaimidae), and the bee-eaters (Meropidae), as well as the Wren and the Treecreeper. In the traditional script there are two alternative spellings: sibaoqai and sibagoqai.
This name refers to the Тоорцог toortsog, a traditional type of Mongolian cap that is buttoned on top. One particular example of this can be found here.
Hemixos flavala castanonotus is treated as a separate species by some authorities:
Hemixos castanonotus
Hypsipetes castanonotus
栗背短脚鹎
(栗背短腳鵯)
'chestnut-backed short-legged bulbul'
Hemixos flavala castanonotus is treated as a separate species by some authorities:
Chim Cành cạch hung
'reddish canh cach (onomat.) (bird)' (13)
Chim Cành cạch nâu
'brown canh cach (onomat.) (bird)' (33)
中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000
中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005
中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000
世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002
世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002
中国鸟类分布名录 第二版 郑作新 科学出版社 北京 1976年
(Checklist of the Classification of Birds of China 2nd edition by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 1976)
Pocket Checklist of the Birds of the Republic of Singapore / Senai Jenis-Jenis Burung di Singapura / 新加坡野鸟目录 by Lim Kim Seng Nature Society (Singapore) 1999
Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
汉蒙名词术语分类词典（自然科学部分） Mongolian (Cyrillic): Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь (байгалийн шинжлэх ухааны бүлэг) (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary, natural sciences part) by 《汉蒙名词术语分类词典》编纂委员会 Mongolian (Cyrillic): "Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь" найруулах комисс (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary editorial committee), Inner Mongolian People's Press, Hohhot 1990
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009
Chinese Birds (A Tentative List of Chinese Birds) 中國鳥類（中國鳥類目錄試編） N. Gist Gee, Lacy I. Moffett, G. D. Wilder (祁天錫, 慕維德, 萬卓志), Peiping, 1927 (reprinted 1948)
Floating Menu by Milonic |
Tool tips by Walter Zorn |
