Coua gigas
The Giant Coua (Coua gigas) is a magnificent, terrestrial cuckoo endemic to Madagascar, instantly recognizable by its impressive size, reaching 58-62 cm in length and weighing up to 600g, making it the largest species within the Coua genus. Its plumage consists of dull olive-grey upperparts, a contrasting paler greyish-white belly, and a strikingly long, dark tail. Distinctive field marks include a vibrant patch of bare blue skin around the eye, outlined by a thin black line, and a bold red o...
Found primarily in Madagascar's dry deciduous forests, spiny thickets, and gallery forests, from lowlands up to approximately 1000 meters in elevation.
Mainly consumes large insects such as caterpillars, beetles, orthopterans, and cicadas, supplemented by fallen fruits and occasionally small vertebrates, primarily foraging on the ground.
Diurnal and largely terrestrial, the Giant Coua spends most of its time foraging on the forest floor, often in pairs or small family groups. Its foraging strategy involves walking or hopping, meticulously sifting through leaf litter for prey, and it's known to follow groups of lemurs to capitaliz...
The Giant Coua is strictly endemic to Madagascar, with its primary distribution encompassing the western and southern regions of the island. Its range extends from the northwestern dry deciduous forests, such as those found in Ankarafantsika National Park, southward through the western dry forest...
Least Concern
- The Giant Coua is the largest of the nine Coua species, measuring up to 62 cm (24 inches) in length. - Unlike many of its cuckoo relatives, it is not a brood parasite; it builds its own nest and raises its own chicks. - This species is almost entirely terrestrial, preferring to run and hop thro...