Whilst birding Jubail in
July I found a White-eared Bubul a species not commonly seen there although
Phil Roberts saw one in early June. The birds in the Eastern province of Saudi
Arabia appear to be of the subspecies mesopotamia
found in Iraq and Kuwait as they have very yellow eye rings and a bigger white
ear patch. The subspecies that occurs elsewhere in Saudi Arabia including
Riyadh, Tabuk, Wadi Dawasir, Sakaka and other areas in central and central
western Saudi Arabia appear to be the Indian subspecies leucotis as birds are believed to have been introduced in these
places. The species is widespread through much of the country although does not
occur in the southwest around Jizan where the similar White-spectacled Bulbul
is common. They are mainly a common resident breeding species where they occur.
