Pacific Koel

Overview

The Pacific koel (Eudynamys orientalis), also known as the eastern koel or rainbird, is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It was formerly considered conspecific with the Asian koel and the black-billed koel but is now recognised as a distinct species.

Identification

• Males possess black plumage often tinted with blue and green, alongside distinctive red eyes.
• Females are sexually dimorphic, featuring brown plumage on the back with white spots and a cream underbelly marked with fine black stripes.
• Young birds resemble the female but are distinguished by their dark eyes.

Habitat

This species inhabits forest, woodland, plantations, and gardens. Its range extends from Wallacea east to the Solomon Islands and south to northern and eastern Australia.

Did you know?

Unlike many other brood-parasitic cuckoos, the young Pacific koels do not attempt to kill their host chicks. This trait is shared with the channel-billed cuckoo, a relationship linked to their largely frugivorous adult diet.