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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Western Koel	Red-billed Malkoha
Scientific Name	Eudynamys scolopaceus	Zanclostomus javanicus
Order	Cuculiformes	Cuculiformes
Family	Cuculidae	Cuculidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	—	—
Wingspan	39.3 cm (15.5 in)	28.8 cm (11.3 in)
Weight	230.0 g (8.11 oz)	115.5 g (4.07 oz)
Diet	--	--
Clutch Size	2-3	--
Population Trend	—	—

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌲 Forest

Western Koel only

None

Red-billed Malkoha only

None

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Song & Call Comparison

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.

Red-billed Malkoha

Song

Sharp, staccato chip note; clean emphatic sound repeated rhythmically from dense tropical scrub habitat.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Western Koel

Least Concern

Red-billed Malkoha

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How to Tell Them Apart

Western Koel

Plumage

Shining Bronze-cuckoo: brilliant iridescent golden-green above; white barred below; bronze-green head; reddish eye; small size

Red-billed Malkoha

Plumage

Olive-capped Coua: olive-green crown; gray body; white below; bare blue facial skin; long graduated tail; Madagascar species; olive cap

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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 Malkoha

Red-billed Malkoha (Zanclostomus javanicus) — 38–44 cm. Blue-green above with a rufous belly; bright red bill and bare red orbital skin; long white-tipped tail. Inhabits primary and tall secondary forest of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java. Non-parasitic. Insectivore feeding on large caterpillars and invertebrates.

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