EASTERN KOEL

 Eastern Koel Eudynamis orientalis

 

For several years now, we have been visited in early Summer, by this very noisy black bird. He sits atop tall trees, calling incessantly, hour after hour, midday and midnight. He, and it is a male bird whose call we hear, Cooo-eeeee, Cooo-eeeee, Cooo-eeees , for hour after hour.

 

 

 

 

I feel very sorry for those who might live under the tree he has chosen to roost in. The calling goes on and on, 2.00am, 6.00am, 10.00, 6.00pm and 11.pm. Many a person has had their sleep disrupted by their all night calling, If you are unsure of what the call sounds like, then try this link.

https://xeno-canto.org/295239

 

 

 

 

 

 

It had been only for the last four or five years that this bird has been visiting. Never in  over forty years of living in Kilmore, have I heard it. Not until several years ago, and now every year in this early Summer period, he visits. Perching high in trees amongst the foliage, heis often difficult to see. This is a male, a black bird with a red eye, about the size of a small crow. The female is a gentle brown colouring with fine dark barring. Despite the constant calling I have not seen nor heard a response from a female bird.

 

The bird I have been following over several days is quite easy to identify. His upper and lower beaks are slightly out of alignment, never quite meeting together, I do wonder if this affects his ability to feed himself.

The Koel is a parasitic cuckoo and like all cuckoos will lay its eggs in the nest of other birds. I pity the small bird who will spend the next months raising the chick.