Crested coua

Crested coua
At Anjajavy Forest, Madagascar
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Cuculiformes
Family:	Cuculidae
Genus:	Coua
Species:	C. cristata
Binomial name
Coua cristata (Linnaeus, 1766)

The crested coua (Coua cristata) is a medium-sized, approximately 44 cm long, greenish-grey coua with grey crest, blue bare orbital skin, rufous breast, brown iris, black bill and legs, white belly and long white-tipped purplish-blue tail feathers. They are very attractive birds.

The crested coua is distributed and endemic to forests, savanna and brushland of Madagascar. It is found from sea-level to altitude of 900 metres. The diet consists mainly of various insects, fruits, berries, seeds, snails and chameleons. The female usually lays two white eggs in nest made from twigs.

Widespread and a common species throughout its large habitat range, the crested coua is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Gallery

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  At San Diego Zoo
• 
  At San Diego Zoo
• 
  At Weltvogelpark Walsrode, Germany

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet