Microtarsus


Microtarsus is a genus of passerine birds in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae, that are found in South and Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy

The genus Microtarsus was introduced in 1839 by the English naturalist Thomas [Campbell Eyton] to accommodate a single species, Microtarsus melanoleucos Eyton, the black-and-white bulbul. This is the type species. The species now placed in this genus were formerly included in the genus Pycnonotus. A molecular phylogenetic study of the bulbul family published in 2017 found that Pycnonotus was polyphyletic. In the revision to create monophyletic genera Microtarsus was resurrected to contain the black-headed bulbul that was previously placed in Pycnonotus. In 2025 AviList adopted more inclusive genera and merged Brachypodius, Euptilotus and Poliolophus into Microtarsus.
The genus contains seven species:
ImageCommon nameScientific nameDistribution
Puff-backed bulbulMicrotarsus eutilotusMalay Peninsula, Sumatra, Bangka Island, and Borneo
Black-and-white bulbulMicrotarsus melanoleucossouthern Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Siberut Island, and Borneo
Yellow-wattled bulbulMicrotarsus urostictusPhilippines
Grey-headed bulbulMicrotarsus priocephalussouthwestern peninsular India
Black-headed bulbulMicrotarsus melanocephaloseast Bangladesh and northeast India through south China, Vietnam, Borneo, Java and Bali
Andaman bulbulMicrotarsus fuscoflavescensAndaman Islands
Blue-wattled bulbulMicrotarsus nieuwenhuisiiSumatra and Borneo