Endemic to Madagascar, the giant coua (Coua gigas) name comes from koa, which is the Malagasy word for these birds. The word gigas means "giant" in Latin. It is a large, ground-dwelling cuckoo endemic to Madagascar, known for its striking blue eye patch and long tail. It is not a brood parasite like many other cuckoos, as it builds its own nests and raises its own young. Primarily terrestrial, it prefers to run quickly through its dry, deciduous forest habitat, though it can climb as high as ten meters to forage on seeds, insects, and small vertebrates like chameleons.
See also: Blue Coua