Western Koel vs Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
Eudynamys scolopaceus compared with Neomorphus pucheranii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Western Koel | Red-billed Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eudynamys scolopaceus | Neomorphus pucheranii |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) | 33.7 cm (13.3 in) |
| Weight | 230.0 g (8.11 oz) | 330.0 g (11.64 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Western Koel
Loud, far-carrying nasal call; distinctive penetrating notes audible through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
Loud, harsh cackling call; piercing raucous notes carrying well across tall dense tropical forest habitat.
Conservation Status
Western Koel
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Western Koel
Shining Bronze-cuckoo: brilliant iridescent golden-green above; white barred below; bronze-green head; reddish eye; small size
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
Goliath Coucal: very large; dark brown above; rich rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; impressive large size
About These Birds
Western Koel
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.
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus pucheranii) — 46–50 cm. Greenish-brown above; rufous-buff below; bright red decurved bill; bare blue orbital patch. Inhabits dense lowland forest of western Amazonia in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Non-parasitic; terrestrial; follows army ants for flushed prey. Insectivore. Secretive and rarely observed.