The status of this rarely seen bird is not known, primarily because it is not clear whether it is in fact a distinct species, or a natural hybrid between the Black-headed Bulbul (P. atriceps) and the Grey-bellied Bulbul (P. cyaniventris) or other Pycnonotus.
The Pale-faced Bulbul is a distinctive subspecies of the Flavescent Bulbul which is sometimes considered a full species, Pycnonotus leucops.