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This is a bird of dry scrub, open forest, plains and cultivated lands.<ref name=rasmussen/> In its native range it is rarely found in mature forests. A study based on 54 localities in India concluded that vegetation is the single most important factor that determines the distribution of the species.<ref>{{cite book|author=Vijayan, VS|year=1975|title= The ecological isolation of Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) with special reference to ''Pycnonotus cafer cafer'' and ''P. luteolus luteolus'' at Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Bombay}}</ref>
It has been introduced into Hawaii, Fiji and New Zealand. They were introduced to Samoa in 1943 and became common on Upolu by 1957. Red-vented Bulbuls were introduced to Fiji around 1903 by indentured labourers from India.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Watling, D|year=1978|title=Observations on the naturalized distribution of the Red-vented Bulbul in the Pacific, with special reference to the Fiji islands|url=http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_25-1978/Notornis_25_2.pdf|format=PDF|journal=Notornis|volume=25|pages=109–117}}</ref> They established on the Tongan islands of Tongatapu and Niuafo'ou. They were introduced into Melbourne around 1917 but were not seen after 1942.<ref>{{cite book |title=Introduced Birds of the World: The worldwide history, distribution and influence of birds introduced to new environments |last=Long |first=John L. |year=1981 |publisher=Reed |location=Terrey Hills, Sydney |isbn=0-589-50260-3|pages=300}}</ref> They established in Auckland in the 1950s but were exterminated.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Gill, BJ, GR Hunt & S Sirgouant |title=Red-vented Bulbuls (''Pycnonotus cafer'') in New Caledonia.|pages=214–215|url=http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_42-1995/Notornis_42_3_214.pdf|format=PDF|journal=Notornis|volume=42|issue=3}}</ref> and again in 2006<ref>Red Vented Bulbul, Ministry for Primary Industry Pests and Diseases http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/red-vented-bulbul accessed 2013</ref>. They prefer the dry lowland regions in these introduced regions.<ref>{{cite journal|year=1984|title=Differential expansion and population growth of bulbuls in Hawaii|url=http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/wilson/v096n04/p0647-p0655.pdf|format=PDF|issue=4 |journal= Wilson Bulletin|volume=96|pages=647–655|author1=Williams, R.N|author2=Giddings, L.V}}</ref> <ref>{{cite journal|journal=Notornis|year=2005|volume=52|pages=16–20|title=The further spread of introduced birds in Samoa|author=McAllan, Ian AW and Hobcroft, D. |url=http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_52-2005/Notornis_52_1_16.pdf|format=PDF}}</ref> They are considered as pests because of their habit of damaging fruit crops. Methiocarb and ziram have been used to protect cultivated ''Dendrobium'' orchids in Hawaii from damage by these birds. These birds learn to avoid the repellent chemicals.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Evaluation of methiocarb, ziram, and methyl anthranilate as bird repellents applied to Dendrobium orchids|journal=Wildl.Soc. Bull.|volume=22|pages=633–638|year=1994|url=http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/94pubs/94-9.pdf|author1=Cummings, JL|author2=Mason, J.R.|author3=Otis, D.L.|author4=Ohashi, J.E. Davis T.J.}}</ref> They can also disperse the seeds of invasive plants like ''[[Lantana camara]]''<ref name=forktail/> and ''[[Miconia calvescens]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pdf/melastome97.pdf|format=PDF|author=Medeiros, A. C.; Loope, L. L.; Conant, P. and McElvaney, S. |year=1997|title=Status, ecology, and management of the invasive plant, Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) in the Hawaiian Islands|journal= Bishop Mus. Occas. Pap.|volume=48|pages=23–36}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Berger, A. J.|year=1975|title= Red-whiskered and Red-vented Bulbuls on Oahu|journal=Elepaio |volume=36|pages=16–19}}</ref><!-- strangely Berger states that RV bulbuls are larger than RW bulbuls-->
==Behaviour and ecology==
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