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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Red-crested Malkoha
Song
Sharp, rising whistled phrase; clean ascending notes with emphatic quality from tropical forest perch.
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
Red-crested Malkoha
Least Concern
Western Koel
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Red-crested Malkoha
Plumage
Raffles's Malkoha: green above; pale buff below; red-tipped bill; bare red orbital skin; long graduated dark tail; southeast Asia
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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Red-crested Malkoha (Dasylophus superciliosus) — 40–44 cm. Dark green above; rufous below; prominent red crest; bare red orbital ring; long white-tipped tail. Endemic to the Philippines (Luzon, Samar, Leyte). Inhabits primary and secondary forest. Non-parasitic. 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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