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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Lesser Coucal
Chant
Loud, raucous call with harsh nasal quality; piercing notes carrying far through dense Madagascar forest.
Western Koel
Chant
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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Statut de conservation
Least Concern
Lesser Coucal
Least Concern
Western Koel
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser Coucal
Plumage
Black Coucal: all glossy black; red eye; shorter tail; females have rufous wash; strongly sexually dimorphic plumage
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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Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis) — 33–38 cm. Streaked brown above with a rufous wing panel; pale buff underparts; graduated tail. Widespread from India through Southeast Asia and China; inhabits grassland, scrub, and forest edges. Non-parasitic. Insectivore and small vertebrate predator. Smaller and more grass-dwelling than related species.
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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