Harbinger of MONSOON

Yes, there is a bird associated with the Monsoon in India: the Pied Crested Cuckoo; may be called the Rain bird. It is called 'Erattatthalachi Kuyil' in Malayalam and 'Kondai Kuyil' in Tamil. It Hindi, it is 'Chatak.'
It's observed that this Cuckoo appears in South India and in North India just before the Monsoon to herald the arrival of rain. It is believed, for instance, its arrival in Mumbai indicates that the first rains will fall within three days! There is a resident population of this bird in the South. However, it appears the visitors to the North are from East Africa.

Some information from Dr. Salim Ali's classic, 'Birds of Kerala':
Its size is about that of a Myna, but with a much longer tail.
It is a slender, long-tailed, crested black and white bird. Black above including prominent pointed crest; white below.
Very noisy when breeding. Calls also during moonlit nights. Its call is loud, rather plaintive, metallic piu-piu-pee-pee-piu… pee-pee-piu, or just a tinkling piu.. piu…

Khushwant Singh's anecdote about this Monsoon bird:
"One very hot and sultry June afternoon. I was at a meeting convened by the Director General of All India Radio, where I happened to be employed at that time. The DG's briefing went on and on till I was forced to switch off my hearing faculties.
All at once, I heard a wailing call. My ears picked up and I went to the window to make sure I had heard right. The DG was upset at my inattentiveness and remarked in an acid tone, "Mr. Singh has obviously found something more interesting than listening to me."
Without thinking I replied: "Yes, I have. I've just heard the Monsoon bird. It will rain tomorrow."
Everyone burst out laughing. My Prestige was at stake. Fortunately for me, the next morning the Monsoon broke over Delhi."

(Text by G Krishnamoorthy, Photograph by S M Jayant)

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