BioInvasions Records (2019) Volume 8, Issue 4: 947–952 Nowakowski and Dulisz (2019), BioInvasions Records 8(4): 947–952, https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2019.8.4.24 947 CORRECTED PROOF Rapid Communication The Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) – a new invasive bird species breeding in Europe Jacek J. Nowakowski* and Beata Dulisz Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn 10-727, Plac Lodzki 3, Poland *Corresponding author E-mail: jacek.nowakowski@uwm.edu.pl Abstract The Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) is an Asian bird species classified as one of the hundred most invasive species in the world. The breeding of the species (adults feeding the fledglings) was observed in 2018 in Costa Calma (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Macaronesia). This is the first breeding record for Europe of this species. The first observation of the species was made in Corralejo (Fuerteventura) in 2003. In the period 2013–2018, an important range expansion of the species was recorded in Fuerteventura. In 2018, the species was also recorded in Valencia (Spain) for the first time. Key words: alien birds, animal invasion, introduced species, introduced birds, global invasive species, Canary Islands avifauna Introduction The occurrence of bird species outside their natural range may be an accidental natural occurrence, resulting from widening their geographical range and adaptation to new environments, or it may be the result of escape from breeding places (zoological and botanic gardens, wildfowl collection, pets in captivity) or an intentional introduction (Shieh et al. 2006; Brochier et al. 2010; Fàbregas et al. 2010; Cassey and Hogg 2015; Canning-Clode 2015). Accidental escapees and single individuals usually survive in the environment quite briefly, and they are not likely to breed in the wild. Local populations, fairly persistent and increasing in number, may be formed in the case of pairs or groups of birds, in favorable circumstances that allow nesting and feeding young to reproductive age. Sol et al. (2002) indicated that the urban environment is conducive to the success of introduced species, and the features of this species often include larger brains. Innovation and plasticity of behavior allows species to adapt to new environmental conditions, develop new food-acquiring techniques and use various food resources. In European cities and natural habitats of Europe, there are more than a dozen introduced species that have developed breeding populations, e.g. waterfowl (Canada Goose Branta canadensis Citation: Nowakowski JJ, Dulisz B (2019) The Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) – a new invasive bird species breeding in Europe. BioInvasions Records 8(4): 947–952, https://doi.org/10. 3391/bir.2019.8.4.24 Received: 23 March 2019 Accepted: 9 August 2019 Published: 27 September 2019 Thematic editor: Stelios Katsanevakis Copyright: © Nowakowski and Dulisz This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0). OPEN ACCESS.