This demure brown banded bird hiding in a tree's foliage is the shy female partner of the Asian Koel

The Asian Koel, a brood‑parasitic cuckoo, is often hidden in tree foliage. The female is a demure brown with black bands, while the male sports a ruby‑red eye and blackish plumage. Both sexes emit a bubbly, melodious call that has inspired many songs in India. The male prefers shaded groves before calling loudly, and the female lays her eggs in the nests of other birds, such as crows.