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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
Song
Soft, descending whistled phrase; pure notes dropping gently in musical sequence from dense forest cover.
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
Least Concern
Chestnut-bellied 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
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
Plumage
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: olive-brown above; white below; yellow bill; rufous wing patches; white-spotted dark tail; North American
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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Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo (Coccyzus pluvialis) — 45–50 cm. Large island cuckoo; brown above; rich chestnut-orange belly; long broad tail. Endemic to Jamaica in forest and woodland. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; eats large insects, lizards, and berries. The largest cuckoo in the Caribbean.
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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