Sound of Koha in Sinhala New Year time

The sound of Koha ( Asian Koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus) begins to come to our notice somewhere in the period of February to April in every year. It is generally believed that this distinctive sound connects with oncoming Sinhala New Year in April. Hence the author of this sound is popularly known as Avurudu Koha in Sinhala. The familiar sound of the Koha  is the song of male bird, which the males sing to attract their females for breeding.

Asian Koel, male

 

 

Asian Koel, female

 

 

 

The song of Koha:

 

The Koha is one of the few birds in our country (amongst a few other cuckoos), which does not build its own nest for laying eggs. Instead, the females lay eggs in nests of crows. Nests of both House Crows (Corvus splendens) and Large-billed Crows (a.k.a. Jungle or Black Crows) (Corvus macrorhynchos)  are victimized  by the Koels . So, the male Koels begin to sing when the crows start building their nests in an area. The nesting season of the crows is around April and so is the time for male Koels to sing for their mates  to inform to get ready for egg laying.

It’s now Sinhala Avurudu season and so we have started to hear the sound of Avurudu Koha from various parts of the country.

Deepal Warakagoda,  7 April 2015.