OzAnimals.com
Australian Wildlife

  Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea)





Asian Koel | Eudynamys scolopacea photo
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Image by J.M.Garg - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Asian Koel | Eudynamys scolopacea photo
Asian Koel male portrait

Image by J.M.Garg - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Asian Koel | Eudynamys scolopacea photo
female Asian Koel

Image by Ravivaidya - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)







ASIAN KOEL FACTS

Description
The Koel is a large cuckoo. The male has glossy blue-black plumage and red eye. The female is glossy brown above with white spots and bars. She has a black face and black on top of head, and red eye. The underparts are creamy brown with fine black bars. Young birds are similar to adult female, but have dark eye.

Other Names
Cooee, Rainbird, Indian Koel

Size
39 - 46cm

Habitat
tall forests and are common in suburban areas.

Food
fruit, especially figs

Breeding
lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species. Common hosts are the Red Wattlebird, Friarbirds, Magpie-lark, Figbirds. A single egg is laid in the host nest and once hatched the chick pushes the other eggs and hatchlings out of the nest. The chick soon grows larger than the foster parents who continue to feed it once it leaves the nest.

Range
During breeding season, they are found in northern and eastern Australia down to southern coast of New South Wales.

distribution map showing range of Eudynamys scolopacea in Australia

Credits:
Map is from Atlas of Living Australia website at https://biocache.ala.org.au licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Notes
Koels arrive in Australia in late September and early October from their northern winter homes to breed. The Koels leave southern Australia about March.



Classification
Class:Aves
Order:Cuculiformes
Family:Cuculidae
Genus:Eudynamys
Species:scolopacea
Common Name:Asian Koel

Relatives in same Genus
  Eastern Koel (E. orientalis)