Red-whiskered Bulbuls are native to southern Asia (India, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia), and were introduced into Sydney in the late 1800s. They’re found mostly around the inhabited areas, rather than in the more remote countryside.

It’s a pretty little bird, with striking black, red, and white markings. In this picture, the tall crest on its head seems to be divided into two parts, a little like horns.

The next photo includes the Banksia bush that the bird is sitting on and the dense vegetation around the bird:

This is the second time I’ve spotted a Red-whiskered Bulbul in this area of Sydney Harbour, on a promontory called Dobroyd Head. The bird has certainly picked a spot with a view! The next video focuses on the bird, then zooms out to show the steep hill descending to Sydney Harbour. In the distance is the opening that leads from the harbour to the ocean.

Common name: Red-whiskered Bulbul
Scientific name: Pycnonotus jocosus
Approximate length: 20 cm
Date spotted: 1 January 2024 (summer)
Location: Dobroyd Head, Sydney Harbour, Australia: 33°48’38.6″S 151°16’05.4″E