Common Bulbul

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park?

Likely. About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bulbul sighting in Kakum National Park on a given day, based on 292 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 8th most-seen of the 250 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park?

December. In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park on a given day, against about 40% in July and September, the lowest months. That is one of Kakum National Park's driest months, with about 45 mm of rain against 250 mm in June.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Common Bulbul?

Between 9 am and noon. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Bulbul sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Kakum National Park the best place to see a Common Bulbul?

33rd of 55. Of the 55 parks where we can rate Common Bulbul sightings, Kakum National Park ranks 33rd at about 50%. The best odds are in uMkhuze Game Reserve (South Africa, about 80%), Arusha National Park (Tanzania, about 70%) and Nairobi National Park (Kenya, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Q: Which relatives of the Common Bulbul live in Kakum National Park?

Same family: Pycnonotidae. The closest relatives of the Common Bulbul that you can see in Kakum National Park (family Pycnonotidae, Bulbuls) are Slender-billed Greenbul (about 50%), Little Greenbul (about 50%) and Golden Greenbul (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the Common Bulbul sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Common Bulbul is recorded against all the birds logged in Kakum National Park (292 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Pycnonotus barbatus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyPycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
GenusPycnonotus (Typical Bulbuls)
SpeciesPycnonotus barbatus (Common Bulbul)

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

at Kakum National Park

In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%

292 Verified sightings at Kakum National Park From 2019 to 2026

32,608 In all 55 parks

December Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Animal challenge African City Birds AfricaEasy

About the Common Bulbul

The common bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is widespread throughout most of Africa except for the very arid areas, and has recently begun breeding in southernmost Spain. Ten subspecies are recognised based on the geographical variation in plumage. Some of these were formerly considered as separate species: Dodson's bulbul, the Somali bulbul and the dark-capped bulbul.

The common bulbul was formally described and illustrated in 1789 by the French botanist René Desfontaines from a specimen collected near Algiers in Algeria. He placed it with the thrushes in the genus Turdus and coined the binomial name Turdus barbatus. The common bulbul is now one of 31 species placed in the genus Pycnonotus that was introduced in 1826 by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek πυκνος/puknos meaning "thick" or "compact" with -νωτος/-nōtos meaning "-backed". The specific epithet barbatus is Latin meaning bearded. Alternate names for the common bulbul include black-eyed bulbul, black-capped bulbul and common garden bulbul.

Ten subspecies are recognised. Several of these have sometimes...

Wikipedia →

Sounds

Song0:33

Congo (Democratic Republic) · 2025

Call0:10

Gambia · 2024

Uncertain0:28

Algeria · 2025

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 4 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	uMkhuze Game Reserve	🇿🇦 South Africa	~80%
2	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
3	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~70%
4	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~70%
5	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~70%
6	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
7	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~70%
8	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
9	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~70%
10	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	~70%
11	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	~70%
12	Mole National Park	🇬🇭 Ghana	~70%
13	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
14	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~70%
15	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~70%
16	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~70%
17	Nyungwe National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~60%
18	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~60%
19	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
20	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~60%
21	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~60%
22	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
23	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~60%
24	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
25	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
26	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~60%
27	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~60%
28	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~60%
29	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
30	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~50%
31	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~50%
32	Saloum Delta National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	~50%
33	Kakum National Park	🇬🇭 Ghana	~50%
34	Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary	🇸🇳 Senegal	~50%
35	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
36	Chinko Conservation Area	🇨🇫 Central African Republic	~50%
37	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
38	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~50%
39	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
40	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~50%
41	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
42	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~40%
43	Odzala-Kokoua National Park	🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo	~40%
44	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
45	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
46	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
47	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~30%
48	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
49	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~30%
50	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~30%
51	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
52	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
53	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
54	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~20%
55	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Lusaka	🇿🇲 Zambia	~90%
2	Marrakesh	🇲🇦 Morocco	~90%
3	Abuja	🇳🇬 Nigeria	~90%
4	Harare	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~90%
5	Yaoundé	🇨🇲 Cameroon	~90%
6	Serrekunda	🇬🇲 Gambia	~90%
7	Monrovia	🇱🇷 Liberia	~80%
8	Kigali	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~80%
9	Ouagadougou	🇧🇫 Burkina Faso	~80%
10	Brazzaville	🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo	~80%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Sedgwick County Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	Toledo Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	Philadelphia Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Closest Relatives at Kakum National Park

Stelgidillas gracilirostris

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Eurillas virens

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Calyptocichla serinus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Baeopogon indicator

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Eurillas latirostris

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Eurillas gracilis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Thescelocichla leucopleura

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Eurillas curvirostris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Chlorocichla simplex

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Ixonotus guttatus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Criniger calurus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Bleda canicapillus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park?

Likely

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bulbul sighting in Kakum National Park on a given day, based on 292 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 8th most-seen of the 250 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park?

December

In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park on a given day, against about 40% in July and September, the lowest months. That is one of Kakum National Park's driest months, with about 45 mm of rain against 250 mm in June.

What time of day is best to see a Common Bulbul?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Bulbul sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Kakum National Park the best place to see a Common Bulbul?

33rd of 55

Of the 55 parks where we can rate Common Bulbul sightings, Kakum National Park ranks 33rd at about 50%. The best odds are in uMkhuze Game Reserve (South Africa, about 80%), Arusha National Park (Tanzania, about 70%) and Nairobi National Park (Kenya, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the Common Bulbul live in Kakum National Park?

Same family: Pycnonotidae

The closest relatives of the Common Bulbul that you can see in Kakum National Park (family Pycnonotidae, Bulbuls) are Slender-billed Greenbul (about 50%), Little Greenbul (about 50%) and Golden Greenbul (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Common Bulbul sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Bulbul is recorded against all the birds logged in Kakum National Park (292 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Kakum National Park

Common Bulbul

About the Common Bulbul

Sounds

Recent sightings of Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Kakum National Park

Slender-billed Greenbul

Little Greenbul

Golden Greenbul

Honeyguide Greenbul

Yellow-whiskered Greenbul

Gray Greenbul

Swamp Greenbul

Plain Greenbul

Simple Greenbul

Spotted Greenbul

Red-tailed Greenbul

Gray-headed Bristlebill

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park?

When is the best time to see a Common Bulbul in Kakum National Park?

What time of day is best to see a Common Bulbul?

Is Kakum National Park the best place to see a Common Bulbul?

Which relatives of the Common Bulbul live in Kakum National Park?

Where does the Common Bulbul sighting chance come from?