Asian Koel
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| Eudynamys scolopacea Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), or Common Koel, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin. It is found from southern Asia, China, and into Australia. Like many cuckoos, it lays its eggs in other birds' nests for them to rear koel offspring.
The word koel also means nightingale in India because of the Indian Koel's mellifluous call. It is also colloquially known as the Rainbird or Stormbird in eastern Australia, as its call is supposed to foreshadow rain.
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[edit] Description
The Asian Koel is a large, long-tailed, cuckoo at 45 cm. The male is bluish-black, with a pale green bill, rich red eyes, and grey legs and feet. The female is brownish above and whitish below, but is heavily striped and spotted brown on the underparts and white on the upperparts. She has an olive or green beak and red eyes.
Koels are very vocal, with a number of different calls. The most recogisable Koel call can be heard here Song of the Indian Koel
[edit] Distribution and habitat
The Asian Koel is a bird of light woodland and cultivation. It is a mainly resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka to south China and Australasia. Birds at the fringes of the range, such as much of Eastern Australia, and on high ground are summer visitors, migrating to warmer areas in winter.
[edit] Behaviour
It is a brood parasite, and lays its single egg in the nests of a variety of birds, including House Crows and honeyeaters. The young Koel does not always evict its host's chicks, and initially calls like a crow.
[edit] Diet
The Asian Koel is omnivorous, consuming a variety of insects, caterpillars, eggs and small vertebrates. It occasionally eats fruit.
[edit] Reference
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
- Slater P. (1970) Field Guide to Australian Birds (Non-passerines) ISBN 0-85179-102-6
[edit] External links
- Asian Koel videos on the Internet Bird Collection
