Asian Koel

Key identifiable features

• General: Large cuckoo with a long tail and red eyes. Males are glossy blue-black; females brown with white streaks.
• Male vs Female: Males uniform black; females patterned brown and cream. Both have crimson eyes.
• Juvenile: Similar to females but duller and less streaked.

Movement & migration

Mainly resident across South Asia but may move seasonally following fruit availability.

General information

A familiar brood-parasitic cuckoo known for its loud ‘ko-el’ call. Common in gardens and tree-lined areas, it feeds on fruits and berries. Breeds during warm months, laying eggs in crows’ nests.

Sourced from authorized ornithology references.

Audio recordings