Indian Cuckoo Bird

Koel Bird is considered one of the cleverest birds. Their scientific name is EUDYNAMYS SCOLOPACEUS and they belong to the cuckoo family the Cuculiform. Their life span is for about 4 to 6 years.

More than 100 species around the world can be found in koel birds. Mostly they are found in the Asian and African regions. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. It forms a superspecies with the closely related black-billed koels, and Pacific koels which are sometimes treated as subspecies.

This koyal bird is the national bird of Jharkhand, India 

They have a very sweet and melodious voice which can easily attract someone. Koel birds are mostly hidden under the branches of dense trees, but from their singing, we can come to know about their existence. In Indian culture, we can see the usage of the cuckoo birds in different mythological poems and short stories.

We can hear their singing in the Spring season which is considered as their breeding or reproduction period. You all will be amazed to learn that only, male koyal birds can sing the melodious song, whereas, the female bird doesn’t sing songs. Researchers have recorded over 16 different calls by males, while females emit only 2 kinds of calls. When the atmosphere is calm, we can hear the sound of cuckoos at a distance of 2-3 km.  

Koyal bird weighs in, 200-300 grams and the length of their body is from 41-47 cms. The male bird is jet black, with red-colored eyes whereas, female birds have a pattern of grey freckles on their body.

They belong to the omnivorous family, where they eat fruits, vegetables, and various other small and large insects. 

Koel birds are considered to be “Brood Parasites” because they lay their eggs in different bird’s nests. The Asian koel is a familiar brood parasite of, crows and mynas throughout the Indian subcontinent the breeding season of koel coincides with house crow which extends from May to September. The female bird is in the chance of finding a ready-made nest of another bird, where she silently lays her eggs and throws the egg of another bird just to make a space for her eggs. Mostly she lays her eggs in Crow’s nest. When the young ones hatch they mimic the crow. Only when they grow big enough to take their first flight, they start singing and the crow would chase them away. Koels and crows agave common neighborhood over the years,

The entire process of this parasite nesting precedes the rain, that’s when the crows pair and build the nests. The only members of the cuckoo family who build their nests are Greater coucal and Southern coucal.

STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER BIRD

 The Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis, is a tree kingfisher that is broadly however sparsely distributed in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia. Its previous name was Halcyon capensis. This kingfisher is basically resident all through its vary.

Stork-billed Kingfisher is a species of a wide range of well-wooded habitats close to lakes, rivers, or coasts.

Its underparts and neck are buffs. The very massive invoice and legs are vivid red. The flight of the stork-billed kingfisher is labored and flapping, however direct. Sexes are comparable.

There are 13 races or subspecies, differing largely in plumage element, however P. c. gigantea of the Sulu Archipelago within the Philippines has a white head, neck, and underparts.

It perches quietly while looking for meals, and is commonly inconspicuous regardless of its dimension.

It’s territorial and can thrust back eagles and different massive predators. This species hunts fish, frogs, crabs, rodents, and younger birds.

Adults dig their nests in river banks, decaying bushes, or tree termite nests. A clutch of two to 5 spherical white eggs is typical.

Lifespan

The common life span of the kingfisher is 2 years.

Description

The Stork-billed Kingfisher is a big hen, usually measuring 25 to 38 cm in size and weighing between 140 and 200 grams.

Grownup birds have a blue-green again, blue wings and tail, and a gray to brown head. The neck and underparts are orange-yellow colored.

It has a really massive invoice, 18 to 20 cm in size, which together with the small legs, is coral purple.

It has a direct, labored flight and its flight look is dominated by its plain blue wings and purple bill.

There isn’t an apparent sexual dimorphism in grownup birds, though females are usually bigger.

Juvenile birds are comparable in look to the grownup however have slim dusky fringes on the collar, decrease throat, and breast, giving it a scaly look. In addition, they have buff-green fringes on the higher tail coverts. Juveniles even have a duller invoice and fewer distinguished purple eye-ring compared to the grownup.

Size

It is a very massive kingfisher, 35 cm in size.

The grownup has a green again, blue wings and tail, and gray head. Its underparts and neck are buffs. The very massive invoice and legs are vivid purples. The flight of the Stork-billed Kingfisher is labored and flapping, however direct. Women and men look alike.

There are 15 races, largely differing in plumage element, however, P. c. gigantea of the Sulu Islands has a white head, neck, and underparts.

Calls / Vocalizations

The decision of this noisy kingfisher is a low and much-reaching peer-por-por repeated every 5 seconds or in order properly cackling ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke.

Range

The Stork-billed Kingfisher is discovered all through the South Asia subcontinent and Southeast Asia from India to Indonesia.

It’s resident all through its range broadly however sparsely distributed. It’s fairly sedentary, with some restricted native motion.

Diet / Feeding

It perches quietly while looking for meals, and is commonly inconspicuous regardless of its dimension. It’s territorial and can thrust back eagles and different massive predators. This species hunts frogs, crabs, rodents, and younger birds; however, they’re predominantly fish-eaters.

Like different kingfishers, it is ready to hover above the water whereas trying to find fish.

Their heavy bodyweight offers them sufficient energy to swoop down quickly on a fish that is near the water floor.

       An average family of 6 kingfishers eats as much as 100 fish a day!

Nesting / Breeding

Stork-billed Kingfisher digs its nest in a river financial institution, decaying tree, or a tree termite nest.