Unlike many endemic birds, Seychelles Bulbul Hypsipetes crassirostris or the Merl in Creole, are not in any immediate danger of becoming extinct.
You can see them on all the largest islands from sea level to high altitudes in gardens and scrub, although they are particularly common in old woodland. They are noisy and aggressive birds, usually seen in small groups, with a range of chattering or squawking calls. Adults are the only Seychelles land birds with orange beaks and legs, but in young birds, the beaks and legs are dull grey-brown.
Facts
Scientific name: Hypsipetes crassirostris
Population in Seychelles: At least 20,000 birds
Distribution in Seychelles: Mahe, Praslin, Silhouette, La Digue and a few smaller islands
Habitat: Forests, scrub and gardens
Nest: Nest in trees and scrubs, circular, built of grass and twigs. Two eggs laid
Diet: Fruits, insects, lizards and bird eggs
Identification: A brown bird with a shaggy black crest, orange beak and legs
See more
Species Fact Sheet at BirdLife Data Zone
(Photo Credit: Peter Chadwick)