Animalia Life
Eudynamys scolopacea
SUBFAMILY
Cuculinae
TAXONOMY
Cuculus scolopaceus Linnaeus, 1758, Malabar. Seventeen subspecies
recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Asian koel, black billed koel, Australian/blue headed
koel; French: Coucou koлl; German: Indischer koel; Spanish:
Koel Comъn.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
15.4–18.1 in (39–46 cm), 0.43–0.65 lb (215–327 g). Subspecies
vary quite a lot, mostly in the plumage of females; males are
glossy black, iris red, bill light green.
DISTRIBUTION
Nepal, Pakistan to India, Sri Lanka, South China and Indochina,
Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Sulawesi, Moluccas,
New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, North and East Australia.
HABITAT
Forests, edge and scrub, plantations, and orchards.
BEHAVIOR
Different voices similar to a loud “ko-el” and “kow-kow.” Resident
or makes irregular movements.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds in tree canopy; fruits such as figs, berries, papayas, and
tamarinds consumed. Also a few insects and snails.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Brood parasitic; hosts include crows, drongos, orioles, and
honeyeaters. May lay more than one egg per nest; chicks do
not always evict host offspring, but still decrease their success.
Females sometimes feed juveniles.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Common throughout much of its range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
Photo Gallery of - Common koel
