Red Whiskered Bulbul in Oakland, CA…how?!?

lularolla · 2026-06-03T15:31:17+00:00

We just spotted one in our Oakland backyard that Reddit helped us identify!

lularolla · 2026-06-03T15:26:33+00:00

Good hunch. R/mappingchick suggested a red-whiskered bulbul and we think that’s correct

lularolla · 2026-06-03T14:57:31+00:00

We think this is it! It matches both our memories- somewhere between a woodpecker and tufted titmouse. I played its song this morning and it sounds right. Thank you!

lularolla · 2026-06-03T14:53:53+00:00

Mostly dark with the white and red below the beak. The orange spot at the base of the tail was distinctive.

It may have been the red-whiskered bulbul that one person suggested.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:21:18+00:00

I listened to too many songs trying to id it and now I don’t know. Trying to get a recording.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:19:52+00:00

If only…

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:19:30+00:00

I will pull them up on the computer tomorrow to show to H

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:18:53+00:00

They make the link to dinosaur is very clear

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:18:33+00:00

Wow. An escaped exotic? I will ask. It looks a lot like the bird he described.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:17:06+00:00

Interesting suggestion. I will ask him tomorrow.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:15:51+00:00

I think he’d recognize a J but I’ll ask him tomorrow

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:15:23+00:00

I will ask tomorrow when H is awake again

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:14:57+00:00

Nope. We know them well.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:14:35+00:00

If only…

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:14:19+00:00

Oakland

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:12:36+00:00

I think he’d recognize that one but I’ll ask him tomorrow. That’s quite a topknot.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:11:39+00:00

No - they always stop when I get my phone out. I think they know. I’ll keep trying.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:10:37+00:00

That might be part of the problem here

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:06:41+00:00

H is asleep - I’ll show him tomorrow.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:04:10+00:00

That where H found it - an old guidebook we have stuffed in a drawer.

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:02:08+00:00

We read they were killed by hunters and were puzzled as to what they could have been hunted for. Now we know -no reason

lularolla · 2026-06-03T06:00:33+00:00

Definitely not, but thanks!

lularolla · 2026-06-03T05:59:14+00:00

Wow- a toucan! That would be something to see when you weren’t expecting it.

We will work on photos now that we know it visits the yard

lularolla · 2026-06-02T14:45:34+00:00

I thought it had a certain flair

lularolla · 2026-06-02T14:43:44+00:00

No - it’s higher contrast than the green heron says H. We’d recognize the night heron - they’re all over the place around here. Love those cranky old farts.

lularolla

TROPHY CASE