Data on Breeding the Red-whiskered Bulbul

Having little experience with breeding bulbuls, I searched the net to see what I could find. Below is information that I found. My comments from my limited experience accompany the notes.

# It is not too difficult to breed the Red-whiskered Bulbul. The level of difficulty is classified as “intermediate”.

# Breeding season is January to August with 2 to 3 broods per season.

# Bulbul chicks are fed almost exclusively on insects and a plentiful supply should be available in the aviary when the chicks hatch. Comment: Insects are lacking in calcium and supplementation of this mineral in some form will probably be necessary.

# Average clutch size is 2 to 4 eggs.

# The nest is cup-shaped and usually constructed at the fork of plants or trees.

# The incubation period is about 12 days. Comment: In my first attempt at breeding, the period was about 10 days.

# It will take about 12 days for the chicks to fledge i.e. emerge from the nest. Comment: The chick emerged from the nest in 9 days in my first breeding attempt.

# Nesting hens are easily disturbed.

# The parents will usually raise 2 young per nest even if more than 2 eggs are laid. Comment: Three to four chicks per nest have been seen from free-ranging Jambuls in Singapore.

# The aviaries of breeding pairs should not be close to each other. Otherwise only 1 pair will be successful and raise young.

# It can be difficult to get a pair to breed on a regular basis. If possible, a successful pair should not be split or transferred to a new aviary as it may take a long time before they start to breeding again.

# When the young leave the nest, they are small compared to the adults but able to fly.