Asian Koel
Eudynamys scolopaceus
Aves › Cuculiformes › Cuculidae › Eudynamys
Conservation status: least_concern
This bird is a member of the cuckoo family. It is notable for being largely frugivorous as an adult. It is also a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other hosts, who raise its young.
How To Identify
A medium-sized cuckoo featuring mostly uniform slate-gray plumage across the back and wings, contrasting sharply with its lighter underparts; males are often identifiable by their conspicuously deep black bill.
Habitat
It inhabits open woodlands, gardens, cultivated areas, and urban environments across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Behaviour
Males produce a loud, distinctive 'ko-el' call during breeding season, particularly at dawn and dusk, which gives the species its common name.
Native Range
The Asian koel is native to the Indian subcontinent China and Southeast Asia.
Did You Know?
The Asian Koel is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other birds, tricking them into raising its chicks. The chicks often grow larger than their foster parents, yet the hosts continue feeding them.
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