Eudynamys scolopaceus chinensis

(Cabanis & Heine, 1863)

Vernacular names
English : Asian koel
French : Coucou koël

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Cuculiformes
Family : Cuculidae
Notes : 5 other subspecies known

Identification
The species grows to 46 cm in length for a weight of 222 g. Males are glossy black, females are brown with cream spotting on breast and barring on belly. For this subspecies, both sexes look darker, male has blue iridescence.

Range and habitat
This subspecies is found in southern China, south to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Species found in India, China, south to Greater Sundas and east to Philippines. It lives in all kinds of open woodlands, plantations, gardens, up to 1800 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a large range and is very adaptable, often found in parks within big cities. It doesn’t seem to suffer from any immediate threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Kadoorie Farm (Hong Kong), Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity (Cambodia)

 

Back to “Cuckoos and relatives” page