While visiting Japan, I saw a number of examples of this medium-sized bird native to Eastern Asia. It is extremely common within the northern parts of its range and its noisy squeaking calls are a familiar sound in most areas of Japan.
Reaching a length of about 11 inches, Brown-eared Bulbuls are grayish-brown, with brown cheeks (the “brown ears” of their common name) and a long tail. While they prefer forested areas, they readily adapt to urban and rural environments.
These migratory birds move to the southern parts of their range in Winter, but they have taken advantage of changes in crops and farming practices in recent decades to overwinter in areas farther north.
Brown-eared Bulbuls primarily feed on insects during warmer weather, while they mainly take fruits and seeds in the Fall and Winter. In Japan, they can usually be seen in towns, parks and bird feeders. In Spring, they often eat the nectar of cherry blossoms.
Its loud cry isn’t the only trait that makes it easy to recognize in rural and suburban habitats. Along with its shrill vocalizations, this songbird has an undulating flight pattern, which makes it easy to distinguish from other species.
The Brown-eared Bulbul normally occurs in groups outside of the breeding season, which is generally April to July. Females usually lay four eggs in a sturdy, cup-shaped nest, placed in the lower branches of a tree.
It was nice to see this interesting bird just about wherever I went on my visit.