# Crested Coua (*Coua cristata*) The Crested Coua is a beautiful bird with a bright blue color and a fancy crest on its head. It loves to hop around in trees and is often found in the forests of Madagascar. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Crested Coua](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coua_cristata_-Toledo_Zoo%252C_Ohio%252C_USA-8a_%281%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: LadyDragonflyCC -New,,,Toledo Zoo Pictures!!! from Michigan, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coua_cristata_-Toledo_Zoo%252C_Ohio%252C_USA-8a_%281%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Crested Coua is a striking bird with a prominent blue-grey crest and a distinctive bright blue patch around its eyes. Its body is mostly grey-brown, fading to white on its belly, and it possesses a remarkably long, graduated tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Cuculiformes - **Family:** Cuculidae - **Genus:** Coua ## Interesting facts - Their name, 'Coua,' comes from the sound they make! - Their vibrant blue eye patches look like painted masks! - They often run along branches and rarely fly long distances! - This unique bird is found only on the island of Madagascar! ## Special abilities - **Forest Leaper:** Crested Coua can expertly navigate dense forest undergrowth by hopping and climbing, using its strong legs and long tail for balance. - **Vocal Communicator:** Crested Coua has a unique array of guttural and 'coua' calls that help them communicate across their dense forest habitat. - **Natural Camouflage:** Crested Coua's grey-brown plumage helps them blend seamlessly into the dappled light of the forest canopy, making them hard to spot. - **Home Builder:** Crested Coua builds its own sturdy nest and raises its young, unlike many cuckoo relatives who are brood parasites. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 42-44 cm - **Wingspan:** 45-50 cm - **Weight:** 0.15-0.18 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 14-18 days ## Diet & Feeding Crested Couas enjoy a varied diet of juicy fruits and crunchy insects found in the forest. - **Primary Foods:** caterpillars, grasshoppers, wild fruits, small lizards - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Tobacco Hornworm (*Manduca sexta*) — eats them from leaves - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Ground Boa (*Boa madagascariensis*) — can prey on eggs or chicks - **Eats:** African Wild Fig (*Ficus polita*) — eats its fruits, dispersing seeds ## Traits - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Crested Coua? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Crested Coua? 42-44 cm ### What is Crested Coua's wingspan? 45-50 cm ### How much does Crested Coua weigh? 0.15-0.18 kg ### How long does Crested Coua live? 5-10 years ### What does Crested Coua eat? Crested Couas enjoy a varied diet of juicy fruits and crunchy insects found in the forest. ### Where is Crested Coua usually found? Forests ### How does Crested Coua hunt? Foraging ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Crested Coua: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crested-coua)