 This species is now placed in the genus "Pycnonotus" that was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1826.The Cape bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies along with the Himalayan bulbul, white-eared bulbul, white-spectacled bulbul, African red-eyed bulbul, and the common bulbul.Alternate names for the Cape bulbul include the Cape geelgat and two names used for other species (common and dark-capped bulbul).