Photo: Doug Janson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Cuckoos & Turacos

Asian Koel

Eudynamys scolopaceus

Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Indonesia Birds of India Birds of Japan Birds of Malaysia Birds of the Philippines Birds of Thailand Birds of Western Australia

By family

Cuckoos of Australia Cuckoos of Indonesia Cuckoos of India Cuckoos of Malaysia Cuckoos of the Philippines Cuckoos of Thailand Cuckoos of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 195 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
Genus Eudynamys
Species scolopaceus

Where it lives

Widespread; also Lesser Sundas

South & Southeast Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 195 g
Diet: Fruit-eaters
Family: Cuculidae
Order: Cuculiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Asian Koel is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Asian Koel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread; also Lesser Sundas.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 195 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 18 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.7 million km².

Songs & calls

Asian Koel — Call

Recorded by Albert Noorlander Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Asian Koel?

The Asian Koel is a large bird that weighs around 195 g.

Where does the Asian Koel live?

The Asian Koel is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread; also Lesser Sundas, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Asian Koel belong to?

The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.

What does the Asian Koel eat?

The Asian Koel is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.

Does the Asian Koel migrate?

The Asian Koel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Asian Koel endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Asian Koel make?

1 real field recording of the Asian Koel — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Asian Koel's range?

The Asian Koel has a mapped global range of about 9.7 million km².