Coua delalandei
The Snail-eating Coua (*Coua delalandei*) was a striking, relatively large cuckoo endemic to the lowland evergreen rainforests of eastern Madagascar, now sadly extinct. Measuring approximately 50 cm (20 inches) in length, it was adorned with brilliant, iridescent green upperparts, a glossy purplish-blue crown and nape, and rich chestnut-brown underparts. Its most distinctive field mark was the vivid bare blue skin around the eye, bordered by black, along with a prominent red orbital ring. Lik...
Primary lowland evergreen rainforests, favoring the understory and lower canopy of dense coastal forests in eastern Madagascar, at low elevations.
Highly specialized, primarily feeding on large arboreal snails (e.g., *Ampelita* species), supplemented with other invertebrates like insects and potentially small fruits.
Little is definitively known about the Snail-eating Coua's behavior due to its early extinction and rarity. It was believed to be primarily arboreal but also foraged terrestrially, clambering through dense vegetation in search of its specialized prey. Its non-parasitic nature, typical of all Coua...
The Snail-eating Coua was endemic to the eastern coastal lowland evergreen rainforests of Madagascar. Its historical distribution was highly restricted, primarily known from the immediate vicinity of Toamasina (Tamatave) on the east coast, and possibly extending southwards along a narrow strip of...
Extinct
- The Snail-eating Coua was once considered one of the rarest birds on Earth even before its extinction, known from very few specimens. - Its scientific name, *Coua delalandei*, honors French naturalist Pierre Antoine Delalande, who collected the first specimen in 1827. - This bird possessed a hi...