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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo
Song
Loud, raucous call with harsh penetrating quality; rough notes carrying through dense forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Western Koel
Song
Loud, far-carrying nasal call; distinctive penetrating notes audible through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo
Least Concern
Western Koel
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo
Plumage
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo: rusty-rufous breast; gray-brown above; pale belly; long dark tail; red eye-ring; bold rusty breast color
Western Koel
Plumage
Shining Bronze-cuckoo: brilliant iridescent golden-green above; white barred below; bronze-green head; reddish eye; small size
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Rusty-breasted Cuckoo (Cacomantis sepulcralis) — 22–25 cm. Grey above; rich rusty-buff underparts; yellow orbital ring. Inhabits forest, forest edge, and plantations from the Malay Peninsula and Greater Sundas to the Philippines and Sulawesi. Brood parasite. Insectivore.
Western Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) — 39–46 cm. Male glossy black; female brown with white spots and barred underparts; red eye. Widespread from South Asia through mainland Southeast Asia. Brood parasite targeting crows and mynas. Frugivore and insectivore. Its rising wailing call heralds the Indian summer.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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