High up in the sheltering boughs of a Banyan tree, a group of thirsty birds watches over an inviting pool of water. None of the birds dares to drink from it, however, for fear of inciting the wrath of Old Viper, a vicious snake. Beautiful Peacock wagers that if he can manage to rid them of the reptile, he will then be deemed "king" of the watering hole. Highly skeptical of his success, the other birds readily agree. When Peacock wins the wager, however, the birds find themselves in the hands of an even worse oppressor than Old Viper. Help comes in the form of the unlikeliest of sources when Koel, the plainest bird among them, hatches a plan to teach Peacock a lesson in humility that will have his feathers trailing behind him for the rest of his days.