Question

Song Ku-oo of Eudynamys is produced by
A. Female only
B. Male only
C. Both the sexes
D. Only young female birds

Answer 1

Hint: Eudynamys is the generic name for true koels. This genus belongs to the order Cuculiformes under the Class Aves of phylum Chordata. It is very vocal during the breeding season and produces a different range of sounds. Both female and male have their specific vocal to call their opposite sex during the breeding season.

Complete step by step answer:
-Option (A) is incorrect. The female Eudynamys makes a shrill i.e., kik-kik-kik-….. call.
-Option (B) is correct. Song Ku-oo of Eudynamys is produced by males only.
-Option (C) is incorrect. Both the sexes of Eudynamys do not produce the song Ku-oo because the female bird produces a kik-kik-kik-… call and only the male bird produces this familiar song i.e., Ku-oo.
-Option (D) is incorrect. The vocals are produced by the mature male and female Eudynamys during the breeding season. The song Ku-oo is produced by only male Eudynamys to call for female birds to breed. Hence, it is not produced by young female birds.

Hence, the correct option is (B).

Additional Information:
Eudynamys scolopaceus is the scientific name for the Asian koel. It has a breeding season from March to August in the Indian Subcontinent. It is a brood parasite i.e., relies on other organisms to raise their young ones. Thus, koel lays its single egg in the nest of a variety of birds, including the jungle crow and the house crow because its egg is small and very similar in appearance to that of crow’s eggs

Note: Eudynamys or koel is the most familiar bird not because of its appearance but because of its call that it produces during the breeding season. The male bird produces the Ku-oo sound while the female bird produces kik-kik-kik sound.