Crested coua bird on a branch
Flights of Fancy

Crested Coua

Coua cristata cristata

About

Crested couas are a kind of cuckoo found in the forests of Madagascar. They are very vocal and easily identified by their alarm call. They also raise their head crest feathers while vocalizing. Couas also make calls to stake their territory, find a mate and communicate with their young.

Couas are social birds and dedicated parents, making a nest of twigs in a tree. Females typically lay two eggs, which take a few weeks to hatch. Young chicks have a bullseye pattern on their tongue! This marking is thought to be an adaptation to help the parents target food to the chick’s mouth. The bullseye fades as the chick grows to be an adult.

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Size
1 foot long
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Live in
Madagascar
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Food
Insects, seeds, fruits, flowers, small animals
IUCN Red List Status
Least Concern
Crested coua bird

Conservation

Crested couas populations are shrinking because of habitat loss and hunting. You can help birds in your area thrive by planting native plants to provide habitat and food for them.

WHERE ARE THEY AT THE ZOO?

cropped zoo map showing chimpanzee location