English: DID YOU KNOW

Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae Genus: Eudynamys Species: E. scolopaceus Binomial name: Eudynamys scolopaceus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The female has glossed brown upperparts, heavily spotted with white, and a black crown. The underparts are generally buff-cream with numerous fine black bars. Young birds resemble the adult female, but have considerably more buff and a dark eye. The Common Koel is a member of the cuckoo family. Adults are rather shy and they are heard much more than seen. In contrast to the adults, fledglings can be very conspicuous as they beg loudly for food from their foster parents

Habitat: Common Koels are found in tall forests and are common in suburban areas. Female has smooth brown upperparts, heavily speckled with creamy white. Underparts are cream to whitish, finely barred with dark brown bars. Tail is barred dark grey and white. Crown is darker brown. Bill is pale greenish. Eyes are red. Juvenile resembles female but it has dark eyes.

VOICE: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO Asian Koel is very vocal. Often heard before seen, it gives its typical insistent call “ko-eeul”, two syllables uttered at intervals or repeated in rapid series, increasing in pitch. Male utters other calls such as “kuhu, kuhu, kuhu”, and loud, harsh whistles. Female has a rhythmic “wook-wook”, and short, shrill whistles.

HABITAT: Asian Koel lives mainly in dense thickets of trees or bamboos, scattered in the country. It is also found in coastal mangroves’ edges, shrubby areas with tall trees, gardens and woods, towns and villages.

RANGE: Asian Koel lives in Australia, India, from south-eastern Asia to New Guinea, and Salomon Islands.

BEHAVIOUR: Asian Koel is a shy bird, more heard than seen. When it is quiet, not alarmed, it adopts a typical stance with long tail held downwards, hunched back, head and bill uptilted. But often hidden in dense vegetation, it is difficult to see it. It is an arboreal species. Asian Koel, as other cuckoos, lays its eggs, usually one single egg, in the nest of other birds’ species. They often choose crows’ nest. When a male finds a good crow’s nest, it utters its very loud call “ko-eeul”, in order to attract a female Koel, to come lay her egg into this nest. Young Koel may, or not, eject host’s chicks or eggs. It is raised by other parents, often crows, and initially, young Koel calls as a crow! During courtship display period, Asian Koel is very vocal and agitated. If excited male sees a female, both initiate spectacular chases along large branches and among trees. Breeding season depends on the place where the pair is living. Asian Koel can be seen alone or in a pair. It feeds mainly in the canopy of trees. It takes fruits (mainly figs) directly from the tree. FLIGHT:

Asian Koel performs direct flight as other cuckoos. They have a straight and swift flight with rapid wing beats.