Crested Coua

Coua cristata

Range

• Madagascar

Habitat

• Forests

Diet

• Insects
• Fruits
• Berries
• Seeds
• Snails
• Chameleons

Crested couas spend much of their time walking through trees using a third toe that can be pointed backward for better grip.

Though brightly colored, this bird’s blue skin helps hide it in the shadows of trees and bushes.  Unable to fly very far, these cuckoos from Madagascar will use flight to get from the ground into a tree. Juvenile couas have a ‘bullseye’ pattern in their mouth that shows parents where to put the food.