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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
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.
Whistling Hawk-Cuckoo
Chant
Loud, raucous call; harsh penetrating notes building in rapid excited sequence from forest perch. 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
Western Koel
Least Concern
Whistling Hawk-Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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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
Whistling Hawk-Cuckoo
Plumage
Whistling Hawk-Cuckoo: gray-brown above; pale below with rufous barring; hawk-mimic; long barred tail; yellow eye-ring; distinctive whistle
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
Whistling Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor) — 28–31 cm. Grey-brown above; pale below with rufous streaking; barred tail. Inhabits montane forest from the eastern Himalayas through Southeast Asia to China. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Named for its loud, persistent whistle.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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