Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) ஆசியக் குயில்
Asian Koel Black (Male), and White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
To my wonder, Asian koels are more over here. nearly ten or more Asian Koel are spotted near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI). In Chennai, we used to spot one or two asian koel but here in Medavakkam Marshland it more in numbers. It is more pleasant when we hear their song in the early morning. and there is a bush of trees present near AARI, where you can find koels full day.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Eudynamys
Species: E. scolopaceus
Binomial name: Eudynamys scolopaceus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related black-billed koels, and Pacific koels which are sometimes treated as subspecies. The Asian koel like many of its related cuckoo kin 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. The name koel is echoic in origin with several language variants. The bird is a widely used symbol in Indian and Nepali poetry.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
A large cuckoo, distinctive in all plumages, but usually secretive, keeping to the interior of dense trees in many habitats, even inner cities, and fields. Adult males glossy black with the dull lime-green bill; females and immatures blackish-brown with white dots on the wings and strong streaking on head and throat. Adults have ruby-red eyes. Females lay eggs in the nests of other large birds, including crows, shrikes, and starlings. The song is a loud, persistent “ko-EL!” similar to a peacock’s call.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
It is a brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of medium to large passerines, particularly crows and magpies (Corvidae), mynas and starlings (Sturnidae), orioles (Oriolidae), drongos (Dicruridae), laughingthrushes (Leiothrichidae), and Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach). In contrast to most brood-parasitic cuckoos, nestlings of koels and foster parents usually grow up together.
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
The Indian Subcontinent through east China, the mainland south-east Asia, the Phillippine, and the Sundaic Islands. Also Maldives, Laccadives, Andamans and Nicobars. A rare visitor to the Middle East. Accidental Korea and Japan
Asian Koel Black (Male), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Both resident and breeding migrants occur in secondary forests, mangroves, swamp forests, coastal scrub, forest edges, orchards, plantations, and city parks. Recorded up to 1,800 m in the Himalayas.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel could potentially turn up in any habitat with trees or tall vegetation. Passage birds have been recorded in Phragmites reedbeds and hill forests.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Based on the identification of female birds on plumage, migrant chinensis seemingly favors forests on small islands and coastal areas as they outnumber resident malayanus in such habitats in the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Also winters in the mature evergreen forest. Any areas with trees in locations absent of territory-holding resident birds can perhaps be occupied by winter visitors.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Arboreal. Visits trees with ripe fruits. Usually skulking in dense foliage above middle story and in the canopy. Rarely comes to the ground to feed. Non-breeding visitors often inhabit the canopy of mature evergreen forests where resident birds shun.
Asian Koel White and Black (Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
The hook at the tip of the upper mandible, atypical for cuckoos, is useful in plucking ripe fruits. This may also enable it to opportunistically capture small birds as does Pacific Koel. Nectar, large insects, and snails are also taken. Hops among branches in fruiting trees and takes berries one at a time. Most fruits grasped are small, but up to the size of 41 mm has been reported. Fruits are swallowed whole and large seeds are regurgitated. Females frequently consume eggs of other birds, usually as they lay their own. A total of four eggs was reported taken from a bulbul nest within only 4 seconds.
Asian Koel Black and White(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Fruits of figs (Ficus), mulberries (Morus), jujubes (Zizyphus), Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora), wild cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), java olive tree (Sterculia foetida), large-flowered bay tree (Persea macrantha), sandalwood (Santalum), Pithecellobium dulce, guava (Psidium guajava), nuts of various palms including Chinese fan palm (Livistoma chinensis), oil palm and (Archontophoenix alexandrae), poisonous fruit of Yellow Oleander (Thevatia neriifolia), nectar of Indian coral tree (Erythrina indica), nectar and flower of bluebellvine (Clitoria ternatea), fruit and nectar of papaya (Carica papaya).
Eggs of host species and other passerines such as Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) and Yellow-vented Bulbul (P. goiavier). Large insects, including grasshoppers, mantids, stick-insects, caterpillars. Snails are also occasionally taken.
Asian Koel Black and White(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Usually vocalizing from dense cover in the canopy. In contrast with typical wintering cuckoos, Asian Koel is noisy even as non-breeding visitors, albeit less vocal, and at night. Male has a wide range of repertoire.
Both sexes give repetitive, bubbling koh-koh-koh-koh, with a falling end wuroo-wuroo-wuroo or drawn out wheeoo. The loud, strident kik-kik-kik-kik, is frequently heard given by females both in flight and when perched. Females engaged in a flight usually emit harsh chuck-chuck-chuck.
Asian Koel Black and White(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel Black and White(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel Black and White(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Koel Black and White(Female), (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
