Crested Coua - Coua cristata

The Crested Coua is endemic to Madagascar. They are greenish-grey with a grey crest, blue bare orbital skin, rufous breast, brown iris, black bill and legs, white belly and long white-tipped purplish-blue tail feathers.

Crested Coua are not great fliers but they mostly fly and glide between trees and shrubs.

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Adult

02/15/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 02/15/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA	02/15/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 02/15/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA	03/26/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 03/26/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA
03/26/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 03/26/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA	03/26/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 03/26/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA

Diet: Crested Coua mainly eat insects, fruits, berried, snails, etc.

Courtship: No information.

Nesting: The nest is built in a tree or bush and is made from twigs. The female lays usually 2-3 white eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks when hatched.

Habitat and Range: Crested Coua are endemic to Madagascar and are quite common. They are found in forests, savannas and brushlands from sea level to 3,000 feet.

Vocalization: Utters a loud, descending 'koa-koa-koa', mainly before sunset. They respond to each others calls creating a chorus effect.

Plumage/Molt No alternative or breeding plumage.

Migration: Not migratory.

Tongue/feet:

Bibliography:

• http://en.wikipedia.org The Free Encyclopedia, Accessed July, 2012
• http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/ San Diego Zoo, Accessed July, 2012
• http://www.avianweb.com/ Avian Web, Accessed July, 2012
• Sinclair, Ian and Langrand, Olivier, Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands,Struik Publishers, 2003

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