Coua coquereli
The Coquerel's Coua (*Coua coquereli*) is a strikingly beautiful, medium-sized cuckoo endemic to the dry deciduous forests of Madagascar. Measuring around 42-44 cm (16.5-17.3 inches) in length and weighing 150-180 grams, it is easily identified by its vibrant plumage: a glossy greenish-blue back, wings, and long tail contrasting sharply with a rich chestnut breast and belly, and a clean white throat. Its most distinctive field mark is the large, bare, bright blue patch of skin surrounding its...
Found primarily in Madagascar's dry deciduous forests, spiny thickets, and gallery forests. Typically occurs at low to mid-elevations, from sea level up to approximately 900 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders, supplemented by small reptiles like geckos and chameleons, and fruits.
Coquerel's Coua is a diurnal species, spending a significant portion of its day foraging on the forest floor, where it walks and runs with agility. It roosts in the dense canopy of trees during the night. Foraging involves meticulously searching leaf litter for invertebrates, but it will also cli...
The Coquerel's Coua is endemic to the western and northern regions of Madagascar, with its distribution extending from the dry forests of the Sambirano region in the north, southward along the western coast to the Mangoky River. This resident species is found throughout its range year-round, show...
Least Concern
- Coquerel's Coua is one of nine *Coua* species, all of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. - Unlike most cuckoos found elsewhere in the world, *Coua* species are non-parasitic, meaning they build their own nests and raise their own young. - The genus name 'Coua' is onomatopoeic, deriv...