Giant Coua (Coua gigas)

The Giant Coua (Coua gigas) is a bird species from the Coua genus in the cuckoo family that is endemic to the dry forests of western and southern Madagascar. It is suggested that Couas probably originated from a particular Asian ground-cuckoo (Dinets 2007). Genus Coua contains 10 species, more than any other genus in Madagascar (Moreau 1966).

I took these photos in Ankarafantsika National Park.

IMG_5505 IMG_5503 IMG_5419Giant Couas have a very large range and are one of 10 members of the Madagascar endemic Coua family.  You can find various Couas all over Madagascar.  I saw them several times in Ankarafantsika NP.

MFC rangeLEARN MORE ABOUT GIANT COUAS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Xeno Canto

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Unlike the ones I saw, this Giant Coua has no aspirations to lead a birding group and was content to stay still and be filmed.