16.6.11

Asian Koel

This bird may look like a crow but it is actually an Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus).
It is bigger and its tail is much longer compared to a crow.
It has glossy bluish-black feathers with bright red eyes.



Both the photos above are of a male Asian Koel.


The female looks quite different.
This couple has been hanging around for a few months because of the delicious 'fig' tree that I grow.


The Asian Koel is a brood parasite that lays its eggs on the nest of crows or other hosts.
Today, we feel very excited to see at least 5 young Koels, consisting both male and female.
They were out with the father hanging around the fig tree.

The Asian Koel are largely frugivorous.
(A frugivore is a fruit eater.)
Although the adult feed mostly on fruit, the young do consume insects, eggs and caterpillars.


So far, my hubby and I haven't manage to get any great shots of these birds yet.
Tomorrow we may try disguising ourselves as a bush and hopefully capture more acceptable photos than these.

Note : This vigorous growing tree was purchased from the nursery without a name but I believe it is a fig tree.

30 comments:

  1. Yes it looks more streamlined also. Those eyes are too strange in the shot. :)
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  2. you have the coolest looking birds, insects and plants....wonderful

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  3. It could only look like a crow from a distance. Up close the blue feathers and red eyes aren't like any crow I've ever seen. And the female doesn't look like a crow at all.
    Looking forward to photos of the young ones, if you can get them. In the meantime, I'll be dreaming of having a fig tree.
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  4. Ha ha....I can't wait to see you and your hubby disguised as a bush....;-)

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  5. I'm quite confident you will find a way to get some excellent photos.

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  6. What a beautiful bird - I think the photos are great!!!

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  7. I was so ignorant to assume both the crow and the Asian Koel are the same two years back.

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  8. Gosh the male and female do look different - i love the long tail! do they leave any figs for you?

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  9. They look similar! You grow fig? wow!

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  10. Those red eyes are out of a horror movie--I love them.

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  11. They are a pretty bird, better looking than a crow. The female especially. I hope they leave you some figs.

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  12. I always learn so much from you.

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  13. So much prettier than our crows, which are ugly black sassy things!

    That shrub looks like it might be about to bloom? If so, maybe we can help you figure it out from the blooms.

    Anyway, terrific post... I enjoy learning about your country through your blog!

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  14. I've never seen this bird before - that red eye is incredible!

    Thanks for sharing these images from your part of the world.

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  15. We dont have this bird in our property, but i saw some blacks with red eyes once in another province, however they are much smaller than your koels. They will become nuances in the future, i hope not. Please don't forget to take your photos as bushes, with a timer in a tripod. haha. That fig tree can also grow so big!

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  16. Would have thought it's a crow if you have said its a Asian koel. So are they part of the crow family? Oh they lay its eggs on the nest of crows or other hosts? That means the crows would hatch the eggs for them? That's interesting. tQ.

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  17. These birds are not regular visitors here but I liked the pictures. Wow, the female is so different from the male! Waiting for more pictures because I know you'll be disguising as a bush!:D

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  18. I probably think it is gagak at first. So dressing up all greenlah tomorrow to take pictures...hehehe...how fun.

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  19. I can understand your struggle for good wildlife photos. I keep thinking I must invest in one of those camouflaged enclosures one sees on the National Geographic shows where the photographer camps out to get those excellent shots. A great and interesting post!

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  20. Fascinating as usual. Am painting finally...please send your email address to me at art@cindymichaud.com. Have a grasshopper that has a ? so you will need to see it! Thanks.

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  21. Interesting species!!! And my goodness, I must say I think the female is more colorful than the male, which is unusual in the world of birds!!!

    Happy Camera Critter Day. Here is my LINK Hope to see you stop by for a visit!!

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  22. First of all i wanna say... THANK YOU!! For the name of this bird! I thought it was a crow! This is the bird that always come to my pond to curi makan (my fish!- does it eat fish?) and play and pee and poo. But i still welcome them for they can sing so well!

    You know animal and insects so well., salute!

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  23. Both male and female look very pretty! I was looking to comment on your FB page, but it was hidden. Thanks for visiitng my blog and following my Netw.Blog:)

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  24. Hahaha! Can I go watch the two of you disguised as bushes as you attempt to get closer to the birds? I'll be real quiet...you're so funny, I think you can make it to top spot for the Digi Top LOL blo. I'm voting again tonight.All the best, my dear One.
    Rosie

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  25. It's a beautiful bird but it doesn't look like a crow. We have so many crows here in Holland but they are all black, And I cannot tell the difference between male birds and female ones. I had never heard of the Asian Koel. I don't know if we had them in Indonesia.

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