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Juvenile Asian Koel Takes an Afternoon Nap

on 10th May 2012

“It was a hot afternoon at half past three yesterday when I kept hearing the familiar harsh calls of a female juvenile Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) LINK coming from the Brown Heart trees (Andira inermis) in front of my apartment. This was rather unusual as birds were normally quiet at this time of the day when the temperature went up. I went down to look for the female but instead found a juvenile male, which was moulting into adult plumage, perching on a branch

“I was disappointed because my previous experience told me that only female juvenile made this kind of harsh calls, and it seemed that my previous observations were not entirely correct. As I watched, occasionally it would close the eyes (at least for the right eye) for a few seconds, showing the pale lower eyelid, as if it was taking a quick nap.

“As time went by the juvenile male stayed silent while the harsh calls continued to be heard from the same tree, as you can hear in the video. Even as I failed to sight the female koel, my observation of only juvenile female makes the harsh calls has not been proven wrong.

“I thought I could have a peaceful time locating the female without being bothered by crows, as they would normally disappear somewhere at this time of the day. However, soon they (presumably the foster parents) were heard and the male juvenile flew away. The female juvenile also was no longer heard, perhaps left without me seeing it. This pair of koels may have come from a nearby nest.”

Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
19th April 2012

Addendum:
“I have stated previously that only female juvenile Asian Koel made the harsh calls. I have now evidence to show that male juv koel makes the same calls too.

“The edited video was made from clips recorded yesterday (20th Apr) at about 9 am at another location in my condo. Two male juvenile koels moulting into adult plumage were seen together in a trumpet tree (Tabebuia rosea). Notice that the irises of both birds have not changed to the adult colour of crimson. At 4″, the juvenile at the top of the screen made its first call. This was followed by two more at 12″ and 29″ respectively, almost drowned out by the roaring noise of an airplane flying overhead. These two were likely to be the same pair (one seen and one heard) that I came across on 18 April.” Sun Chong Hong

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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