The genus
Pycnonotus was introduced by the German zoologist
Friedrich Boie in 1826 with the
Cape bulbul as the
type species. The name of the genus combines the
Ancient Greek words
puknos "thick" or "compact" and
-nōtos "-backed". The genus contains the following 31 species:
Former species In previous circumscriptions the genus
Pycnonotus was considerably larger. Recent taxonomic revisions have seen many species transferred to other genera. In 2010, eighteen former
Pycnonotus species were reclassified into different genera, either directly from
Pycnonotus or from the genus
Andropadus, to which they had already been transferred by some authorities. These changes were as follows: • one species was transferred to genus
Stelgidillas. •
Slender-billed greenbul ( former
Pycnonotus gracilirostri or
Pycnonotus gracilirostris) • twelve species were transferred to genus
Arizelocichla: •
Shelley's greenbul (former
Pycnonotus masukuensis) •
Kakamega greenbul (nominate) (former
Pycnonotus kakamegae) •
Cameroon greenbul (former
Pycnonotus montanus, as
Arizelocichla montana) •
Western greenbul (former
Pycnonotus tephrolaemus) •
Olive-breasted greenbul (former
Pycnonotus tephrolaema) •
Mountain greenbul (former
Pycnonotus nigriceps) •
Uluguru greenbul (former
Pycnonotus neumanni) •
Black-browed greenbul (former
Pycnonotus fusciceps) •
Yellow-throated greenbul (former
Pycnonotus chlorigula) •
Stripe-cheeked greenbul (former
Pycnonotus milanjensis) •
Olive-headed greenbul (former
Pycnonotus olivaceiceps) •
Stripe-faced greenbul (former
Pycnonotus strifacies) • five species were transferred to genus
Eurillas: •
Little greenbul (former
Pycnonotus virens) •
Little grey greenbul (former
Pycnonotus gracilis) •
Ansorge's greenbul (former
Pycnonotus ansorgei) •
Plain greenbul (former
Pycnonotus curvirostris) •
Yellow-whiskered greenbul (former
Pycnonotus latirostris) In 2020, a further 17 species were transferred to other genera: •
Black-and-white bulbul (former
Pycnonotus melanoleucos, moved to the monotypic genus
Microtarsus) •
Puff-backed bulbul (former
Pycnonotus eutilotus, moved to the monotypic genus
Eutilotus) •
Yellow-wattled bulbul (former
Pycnonotus urostictus, moved to monotypic genus
Poliolophus) • Two species to genus
Alcurus: •
Striated bulbul (former
Pycnonotus striatus) •
Spot-necked bulbul (former
Pycnonotus tympanistrigus) • Four species to genus
Brachypodius: •
Grey-headed bulbul (former
Pycnonotus priocephalus) •
Black-headed bulbul (former
Pycnonotus atriceps, as
Brachypodius melanocephalos; the species epithet
melanocephalos has priority over
atriceps •
Yellow-throated leaflove (former
Haematornis flavicollis or
Pycnonotus flavicollis, now
Atimastillas flavicollis) •
Hairy-backed bulbul (former
Brachypodius criniger, now
Tricholestes criniger) •
Bare-faced bulbul (former
Pycnonotus hualon, now
Nok hualon) •
Cream-striped bulbul (former
Pycnonotus leucogrammicus, now
Hemixos leucogrammicus) ==References==