Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Common Koel

This post is for World Bird Wednesday.

The Common Koel (Eudynamis scolopacea) is a cuckoo that migrates from Asia down to Australia for the summer. It lays its eggs in cup-shaped nests of large honeyeaters. This is a photo of the male. The female is barred brown and so far hasn't come anywhere close for me to take a photo. Although this bird is often hard to see as it hides among the foliage it is certainly not hard to hear! From a distance the call is not unpleasant but close up - like just outside my bedroom window at night!!! - it is loud and raucous. You can hear its call here.
I took this photo in the late afternoon and the bird's feathers were picking up the golden tones of the sunset sky.
This is a full crop of the above photo showing the bird's beautiful eye.

23 comments:

  1. gorgeous bird with those dark feathers and bright red eye! the call sounds neat (although while trying to sleep might be a bit much!) :)

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  2. Another wonderful bird to see..
    Lovely images.

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  3. you did get close enough for a good shot though. They are here also but never a photo opportunity like you got; well done

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  4. Great eyes!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  5. It is a pretty bird and I love that red eye. Great sighting and photos.

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  6. a bird I never heard of. I listened to the call and I can understand it is not a favourite call when you are in bed. :)

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  7. Great shots of that red-eyed bird! I love his call.

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  8. That is a very distinctive call and the bird has beautiful eyes...

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  9. Hi there - crazy looking red eye!

    Must have been a challenge to get the exposure right.

    Cheers - Stewart M

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  10. He is a handsome chap but I quite understand your issue with his call which certainly is beautiful . . . at a distance.

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  11. wow, a different kind of bird. Nice... Thanks for dropping by.

    His Unfailing Love

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  12. Beautiful, Mick! Love the red eyes!

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  13. That...is a great bird picture. Perfect. And that eye, what a focal point. There is no curse worse than loud neighbors!
    ;-)WBW!

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  14. That's a beautiful bird -- but I hear you on the noise outside the window in the morning. We have mockingbirds here in Florida that can just go crazy sometimes.

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  15. Oh, what an eye! Beautiful, mysterious bird, kinda 007 ;)

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  16. Love his red eye against his black feathers. Great shots!

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  17. It does have a very striking eye and a loud call. The call reminds me of the broad tailed grackle which is currently entertaining us in many parking lots in town.

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  18. What a gorgeous fellow! Those red eyes are stunning! I never would have though that this is a cuckoo :D

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  19. I do love that eye color -- very striking. :)

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  20. Wonderful images!! I love the red around his eyes.

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  21. ... An interesting post and great photos.
    I really like your header.
    Greetings Karin

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