Verreaux's Coua
Coua verreauxi
Long-tailed, tree-dwelling bird with gray upperparts and pale underparts. Bare facial skin is purple and blue. Inquisitive, restless bird that bounces through the trees, often in thick and spiny vegetation. Found locally in southwestern spiny forest at low elevation. Most frequent call is a very dry rasp. Similar to Crested Coua, but unlike the southwestern Crested Coua, has white rather than brick-red undertail. Verreaux’s Coua can also be distinguished by the black tip to its longer and messier crest, and by the lack of orange on the chest.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Coua verreauxi
- Authority
- Grandidier, A, 1867
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Coua
Range and habitat
Verreaux's coua is endemic to the southwestern tip of Madagascar within the spiny forest zone. Its typical habitat is thick scrub on coral rag but it also occurs in other habitat types including within degraded areas.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The bird forages for invertebrates among trees and bushes and on the ground. It also eats Cassia fruit. It occurs from sea-level to 100 metres (330 ft). Little is known of its reproductive habits but males are sometimes seen singing from the tops of trees in November suggesting that this is the breeding season.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-collared Yuhina
Parayuhina diademata
Small brown bird with a flashy white patch on the back of an erect crest. Inhabits broadleaved forests and adjacent second growth, parks, and gardens in hilly and montane regions. Often travels in flocks, sometimes associating with other species. Usually forages at middle levels in the forest. Gives dry trills and buzzy whistles.
Gray-crowned Palm-Tanager
Phaenicophilus poliocephalus
A woodland species that also ventures into parks and gardens. Often found in groups of up to five foraging at middle to upper heights and uncommonly joins mixed-species flocks. Note this species’ black cheek, which is bordered below by broad white moustache stripes and above by a gray crown. The similar Black-crowned Palm-Tanager has an entirely white throat and a black crown. Vocalizations are poorly known, but include a high thin “tseeoo” that is briefer than similar note of Black-crowned.
Small Buttonquail
Turnix sylvaticus
Tiny quail-like bird that is actually more closely related to shorebirds. Intricately patterned above, with a buffy-orange breast and pale belly. Note black spots on the upper sides of the chest. Female is the better-marked of the two sexes. Found in grassy or scrubby areas, where it can be difficult to see; listen for female’s low sonorous moos, most commonly given at dawn and dusk.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.