Asian Koel
Eudynamys scolopaceus
Summary 4
The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus ) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related Black-billed and Pacific Koels which are sometimes treated as subspecies. The Asian Koel is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other hosts, who raise its young. They are unusual among the cuckoos in being largely frugivorous as adults.
It is a common breeding resident.
It is known to parasitize House Crows in Singapore.
The male is a glossy black bird with red eyes and a pale bill. The female is brown with pale spots and bars. The juvenile is like the female, but with dark eyes.
Its morning call of ko-el is familiar to many Singaporeans, but is unfortunately irritating to some.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Tan Kok Hui, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tan Kok Hui
- (c) Tan Kok Hui, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://picasaweb.google.com/107386319100895694067/SingaporeBirds?authkey=Gv1sRgCNOfi6bkxuHlVg#5757511035748569474
- (c) Tan Kok Hui, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://picasaweb.google.com/107386319100895694067/SingaporeBirds?authkey=Gv1sRgCNOfi6bkxuHlVg#5757511056358381682
- Adapted by Tan Kok Hui from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudynamys_scolopaceus
