Crested Coua
Crested CouaCrested CouaCrested CouaCrested Coua

Crested Coua

Coua cristata

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
90–100% · Very likely
overall probability at Berenty Reserve
135 Verified records at Berenty Reserve
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The crested coua (Coua cristata) is a common medium-sized bird member of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. It is endemic to Madagascar, mainly found in the coastal regions of the island. The crested coua is a weak flyer, so it will often be observed hopping from branch to branch in high canopies. It is distinguished mainly by its greenish-grey back, its prominent grey head crest, rufous-coloured breast, white abdomen and bright turquoise and blue patches of bare skin around the eyes. Wikipedia →

90–100% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Coua sighting in Berenty Reserve, based on 135 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Berenty Reserve

Giant Coua
VU Endemic

Giant Coua

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coua gigas

60–70% · Likely
Running Coua
LC Endemic

Running Coua

Bird

Coua cursor

5–10% · With luck
Red-capped Coua
LC

Red-capped Coua

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Coua ruficeps

Insufficient data
Verreaux's Coua
LC Endemic

Verreaux's Coua

Bird

Coua verreauxi

Insufficient data
Blue Coua
LC Endemic

Blue Coua

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coua caerulea

Insufficient data
Madagascar Coucal
LC

Madagascar Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus toulou

70–80% · Very likely
Madagascar Cuckoo
LC

Madagascar Cuckoo

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Cuculus rochii

20–30% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

90–100
Jan
90–100
Feb
90–100
Mar
90–100
Apr
90–100
May
90–100
Jun
90–100
Jul
90–100
Aug
90–100
Sep
90–100
Oct
90–100
Nov
80–90
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Berenty Reserve 🇲🇬 Madagascar
90–100%
2 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
70–80%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Crested Coua in Berenty Reserve?

About 93% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Coua sighting in Berenty Reserve, based on 135 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Crested Coua in Berenty Reserve?

July has the highest sighting rate for Crested Coua in Berenty Reserve in our monthly data.

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