The blue coua (Coua caerulea) name comes from koa, which is the Malagasy word for these birds. It is is not a brood parasite; it builds its own nest and raises its own chicks, which is different from the behaviour of many other cuckoo species. It has deep blue feathers, a bare, bright blue oval patch of skin around its eye, and a long tail that can have a more purple hue. Baby blue couas have a unique defense mechanism: when they open their mouths, they reveal a bright red, monstrous-looking interior, which may startle predators. The blue coua is endemic to eastern and northwestern Madagascar, inhabiting subtropical or tropical dry or moist lowland forests, mangroves, and plantations.
See also: Giant coua
See also: Giant coua
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