Among the resident birds in the Maldives, Asian Koel or Dhivehi koveli is a familiar bird which lives on the Islands. You can identify the gender through their feature easily, the male is bluish-black, with a pale green bill, rich red eyes, and grey legs and feet, which is locally known as “kaalhu koveli”. The female koels are brownish above and whitish below, but is heavily striped and spotted brown on the under parts and white on the upperparts. She has an olive or green beak and red eyes. Female koels are known as “Din din koveli”. Both sexes of baby koels are in black color. Asian Koel is a large, long-tailed, cuckoo at 45 cm.
Asian Koel is a shy bird, more heard than seen. When it is quiet, not alarmed, it adopts a typical stance with long tail held downwards, hunched back, head and bill uptilted. But often hidden in dense vegetation, it is difficult to see it. It is an arboreal species.
During their breedingf season (March to August), These birds will have different calls, The male will sing koo-Ooo, while The female makes a shrill kik-kik-kik... call. Calls vary across populations.
