Known for its melodious calls, the straw-headed bulbul has been hunted to extinction across much of its range in Southeast Asia. Once widespread, relentless trapping has resulted in its disappearance in Java, Thailand and possibly Sumatra. The populations of this species in Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia are on a steep decline.

In Singapore, however, the story of the straw-headed bulbul is a much happier one. With an estimated number of 200 remaining in the wild, Singapore is likely the only stronghold of this species. Data gathered from the Annual Bird Census for more than 15 years reveal that its population is showing a healthy growth rate of about 4% on the island of Pulau Ubin while that on mainland Singapore remains stable. Great news, indeed, for a species with a global population estimated at only between 600 and 1,700!