The red-capped coua is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is endemic to northwest Madagascar.
Region
Northwest Madagascar
Typical Environment
Inhabits dry deciduous forests, scrubby thickets, and forest edges on sandy or lateritic soils. It favors areas with dense understory and leaf litter where it can run and forage for invertebrates. It will also use secondary growth and degraded woods if cover remains. Proximity to watercourses within dry forest mosaics is common. It is largely a lowland species within the northwest of the island.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The red-capped coua is a ground-dwelling cuckoo that prefers to run through leaf litter rather than fly. Its striking rufous crown and vivid blue facial skin make it one of Madagascar’s most distinctive couas. It forages quietly in dry forests, often singly or in pairs. Some authorities have split the olive-capped form as a separate species, leaving this taxon confined to the northwest.
Temperament
shy and terrestrial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; reluctant flier
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, moving methodically through understory cover. Nests are shallow platforms placed low in shrubs or small trees. Both parents are thought to share incubation and chick-rearing duties. Breeding coincides with the rainy season when food is most abundant.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of mellow, descending hoots and cooing notes that carry through dry forest. Calls are often delivered from within cover and can be heard at dawn and dusk.
