Réunion bulbul

The Réunion bulbul (Hypsipetes borbonicus) is a species of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Réunion.

Taxonomy and systematics
The Réunion bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus. Formerly, some authorities also considered the Mauritius bulbul to be a subspecies of the Réunion bulbul. Alternate names for the Réunion bulbul include the Bourbon thrush, olivaceous bulbul, Réunion black bulbul and Réunion merle.

Description
The appearance of the Réunion bulbul is similar to that of the Mauritius bulbul but is slightly smaller with a length of 22 cm. It is ashy gray with a blackish crest and the iris is conspicuously white. The bill and feet have an orange hue.

Breeding
The female lays two eggs in a cup-shaped nest during the southern summer.

Food and feeding
The Réunion bulbul is primarily. In February and March, it moves from areas of higher elevation, where it inhabits humid secondary forests, to lower valleys to feed on ripe guavas. Nectar, insects and small lizards enrich its range of food.

Threats
Although assessed as a species Near Threatened by the IUCN, the Réunion bulbul is no longer a common bird, mainly due to poaching and competition from the introduced red-whiskered bulbul. In the earlier days of the settlement of Réunion it was hunted for food on a large scale, and was considered as tasty as the ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana). As late as the 1970s it was hunted excessively. It is also kept as a pet.