Coua
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Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Subfamily: Phaenicophaeinae

[Photo] Crested Coua (Coua cristata). Source: Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/36207186@N00/513364235/). Date: Taken on April 14, 2007. Author: coracii (www.flickr.com/photos/36207186@N00/).

Couas are large, mostly terrestrial birds in the cuckoo family, endemic to the island of Madagascar. Their name Coua is an onomatopoeic rendering of the call note of some species.

They are reminiscent of African Turacos when walking along tree branches, and like them feature brightly coloured fleshy areas around the eyes. Some resemble Coucals in their habit of clambering through plant tangles while foraging. The arboreal species move between tree canopies with gliding flight. Four species occur(red) in rainforests while the remaining six are found in the dry forests of western and southern Madagascar.

They have large feet, with a reversible third toe like all cuckoos. Their long tibia suggest a relationship with the Carpococcyx Ground-Cuckoos of Asia, a genus with similar nestlings. Consequently they are sometimes united in the subfamily Couinae. Couas build their own nests and lay white eggs. Couas' calls are short series of evenly spaced notes, which are sometimes answered by other individuals.

Systematics
Ancient Coua, Coua primaeva - prehistoric
Bertha's Coua, Coua berthae - prehistoric
Running Coua, Coua cursor
Giant Coua, Coua gigas
Delalande's Coua, Coua delalandei - extinct (late 19th century)
Coquerel's Coua, Coua coquereli
Red-breasted Coua, Coua serriana
Red-fronted Coua, Coua reynaudii
Red-capped Coua, Coua ruficeps
Crested Coua, Coua cristata
- Greater Crested Coua, Coua cristata maxima - probably extinct (late 20th century)
Verreaux's Coua, Coua verreauxi
Blue Coua, Coua caerulea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coua

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