Crested Coua
Coua cristata
Silhouette: Nicolas Huet le Jeune and Jean-Gabriel Prêtre (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCuculiformes (Cuckoos)
- FamilyCuculidae (Cuckoos)
- GenusCoua (Couas)
- SpeciesCoua cristata (Crested Coua)
About the Crested Coua
The crested coua (Coua cristata) is a common medium-sized bird member of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. It is endemic to Madagascar, mainly found in the coastal regions of the island. The crested coua is a weak flyer, so it will often be observed hopping from branch to branch in high canopies. It is distinguished mainly by its greenish-grey back, its prominent grey head crest, rufous-coloured breast, white abdomen and bright turquoise and blue patches of bare skin around the eyes.
The adult crested coua is a medium-sized bird, averaging between 12 and 17 inches (30 to 44 cm) in length. It has a greenish-gray plumage on the back, a white abdomen, rufous-colored chest and brown eyes. Its long tail is purplish-blue with white tips and its bill and beak are black. Its defining characteristics are its prominent grey head crest and, as goes for all couas, its colourful patches of bare skin around the eyes, which is blue and turquoise in crested couas. In flight, it is recognizable from its short rounded wings and long white-tipped tail.
Furthermore, this bird's third toe is reversible, which helps it have a strong grip when hopping around high branches in the... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Crested Coua in Ankarafantsika National Park
LIVEiNaturalist
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berenty Reserve | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | |
| 2 | Ankarafantsika National Park | 🇲🇬 Madagascar |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Crested Coua in Ankarafantsika National Park?
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Coua sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 442 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Crested Coua in Ankarafantsika National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Crested Coua in Ankarafantsika National Park in our monthly data.