Say hello to the Blue Coua! This bird is big, dark, and has a long tail. It’s also quite nosy and likes to move around a lot, just like other couas. The Blue Coua likes to jump and flop from tree to tree, but sometimes it shows off its impressive flight skills by gliding through the air with quick wing movements.
The Blue Coua, also known as Coua caerulea, is a magnificent bird that boasts deep blue feathers covering its entire body. The wings and tail of this bird hold a stunning violet sheen that adds to its overall charm. The brief crest atop its head is visible against its blue plumage. The area around its eye is exposed, showing off cobalt-blue to violet shades of skin. It has a black bill and brown to reddish-brown colored eyes. Furthermore, its legs and feet are tinged with a blackish hue.
Both male and female Blue Couas possess analogous physical features. However, young Blue Couas exhibit dark black feathers on their back, rump, and lower abdomen. Additionally, their wings have a more muted blue hue and do not have the brilliant violet shimmer that is distinctive of grown-up Blue Couas. It’s worth noting that the area around their eyes is covered with feathers instead of being bare.
The Blue Coua can only be found in Madagascar and is commonly spotted in the northwestern and eastern parts of the island.
The bird can be found in various types of forests such as primary rainforests, deciduous forests, secondary growth, and mangroves. Sometimes it can also be seen in plantations like clove and cacao, but it usually avoids dry forests. This bird’s habitat stretches from sea level up to 1,800 meters in elevation, with the majority of sightings occurring below 1,200 meters in southeastern Madagascar.
The menu of this feathered friend includes a diverse range of food such as insects, chameleons, crabs, frogs, fruits, and flowers. This bird is mostly found in trees and is known to hunt for prey both from the treetops and the undergrowth. While it usually resides in the middle part of the forest, it can also be seen alone or in pairs forming small family clusters post-breeding season. The male of this species engages in courtship feeding during the mating ritual, a common behavior seen in Cuculidae birds.
During the rainy season from July to December, the Blue Coua engages in breeding activities. It builds its own nest out of sticks and prefers to place it in thick foliage that is between 3.5 to 10 meters above ground level. The female lays a solitary white egg, which both the male and female take care of by incubating and feeding the chick. There isn’t much detailed information on the specific time periods for incubation and nestling stages.
Even though the Blue Coua is widespread in its appropriate environment, it is not immune to danger. Its population is at risk due to hunting by nearby communities for sustenance and destruction of its habitat, which has caused a reduction in its territory. Nevertheless, it isn’t currently classified as endangered worldwide.
Take a moment to tune in to the sounds of this feathered friend: