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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Crested Coua
Song
Loud, far-carrying melodic call with resonant quality; clear rich notes audible through dense humid forest.
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
Crested Coua
Least Concern
Western Koel
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Crested Coua
Plumage
Bengal Coucal: dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; common Asian coucal; widespread
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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Crested Coua (Coua cristata) — 42–44 cm. Grey-brown above; whitish below with vinous breast; prominent erect crest; vivid bare blue orbital patch. Common in western and southern Madagascar in dry deciduous forest, scrub, and spiny thickets. Non-parasitic; builds a small open nest. Omnivore; eats insects, chameleons, fruits, and seeds.
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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