Coquerel's Coua

Overview

Coua coquereli is a species of cuckoo endemic to Madagascar. It inhabits the dry deciduous and gallery forests in the western part of the island.

Identification

• Approximately 40 cm in length with silky plumage.
• Black crown and light brown or greyish-brown upper parts and tail.
• Lower breast and belly suffused with red.
• Large blue patch of bare skin around the eye, red iris, and slaty grey bill and legs.

Habitat

Endemic to Madagascar, where it resides in subtropical or tropical dry forests, specifically dry deciduous and gallery forests in the west of the island.

Diet

Predominantly a ground-dwelling bird that feeds mainly on insects and other arthropods, with seeds also forming part of the diet. Foraging strategies vary by season and include gleaning, probing the litter, chasing prey, and leaping or sallying into the air to catch insects.

Did you know?

Unlike most other cuckoos, this species builds its own nest, incubates its eggs, and rears its young rather than practising brood parasitism. Observations show males sometimes approach females with gifts of caterpillars or grasshoppers but consume the insect themselves after mating.