Red-whiskered Bulbul

Red-whiskered Bulbul aka. Crested Bulbul
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia, California, USA
July 2018
Member of the Bulbul Family

Native to:  India, Pakistan, Southern China, Southeast Asia

{Etymology Corner} Bulbul translates to Nightingale in Arabic or Persian. These birds are actually in a different family than Nightingales, which are Thrushes. But like, come on, it's pretty similar.

~True Bird Fact~ The Red-whiskered Bulbul in another non-native bird. They have stable, but fairly limited populations in certain cities in South Florida and Southern California, which have enough exotic plants and a similar enough climate to their home. They were also released in Hawaii and there have taken off like gangbusters, to the frustration of native bird fans. Like many non-natives, Red-whiskered Bulbul was brought to the states first as a pet. They were and are popular cagebirds in Indian and Southeast Asia, apparently being fairly easy to domesticate/train. Not a great song though, so I guess it's a wash.

Loves hugs
Goes to lots of nerd culture conventions
(Justifiably) annoyed when people ask her where she's really from