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Red-breasted Coua - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 15:45, 11 December 2017 by Deliatodd-18346 (talk | contribs) (Gallery started. References updated)
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Alternative name: Rufous-breasted Madagascar Coucal

Photo by Peter Day
Andasibe-Mantadia National Forest, Madagascar, November 2016
Coua serriana

Identification

42cm.

  • Dark green-brown upperparts
  • Long blue-black tail glossed blue
  • Dark rufous-chest, blackish-brown rest of underparts
  • Blue bare skin around eye, boardered black
  • Black throat
  • Black bill

Sexes alike. Juveniles have rufous edged wing-coverts, a brown-olive throat, an olive belly and a dull black tail without blue gloss.

Distribution

Endemic to north-eastern Madagascar.
Fairly common but has a very small range.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Humid forest. More in open areas and at lower levels than Red-fronted Coua.
Occurs from sea-level up to 1000m.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on berries and fruits, takes also seeds and insects.
Forages mainly on the ground by walking or running. Seldom seen flying. Often feeds beneath flocks of other frugivorous birds on fruits fallen from trees.

Breeding

The nest is a bowl made of interwined branches. It's placed 2 to 4m above the ground in a fern or a pandanus tree. Lays 2 white eggs.

Movements

This is a resident species.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221

Recommended Citation

External Links

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