Scaly-breasted Bulbul

Scaly-breasted Bulbul

Rubigula squamatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Khao Luang National Park

In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%

212 Verified sightings at Khao Luang National Park From 2019 to 2026
468 In all 7 parks
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Scaly-breasted Bulbul

The scaly-breasted bulbul (Rubigula squamata) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family. It is found from the Malay Peninsula to Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The scaly-breasted bulbul was originally described in the genus Ixos and later moved to Pycnonotus. Pycnonotus was found to be polyphyletic in molecular phylogenetic studies and three bulbul species, including the scaly-breasted bulbul, moved to Ixodia. In 2025 AviList merged Ixodia into a more broadly defined Rubigula.

Found on the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Khao Luang National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~30%
2 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~10%
3 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
4 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
5 Kinabalu Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
6 Gunung Leuser National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
7 Taman Negara National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kuala Lumpur 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Kuala Lumpur Bird Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Scaly-breasted Bulbul in Khao Luang National Park?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Scaly-breasted Bulbul sighting in Khao Luang National Park on a given day, based on 212 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 39th most-seen of the 215 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Scaly-breasted Bulbul in Khao Luang National Park?

March–May and December

In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Scaly-breasted Bulbul in Khao Luang National Park on a given day, against about 10% in January, July–August and October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Scaly-breasted Bulbul?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Scaly-breasted 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 Khao Luang National Park the best place to see a Scaly-breasted Bulbul?

Yes

Of the 7 parks where we can rate Scaly-breasted Bulbul sightings, Khao Luang National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Danum Valley Conservation Area (Malaysia, about 10%) and Kerinci Seblat National Park (Indonesia, about 10%).

Where does the Scaly-breasted Bulbul sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Scaly-breasted Bulbul is recorded against all the birds logged in Khao Luang National Park (212 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.

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