Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue Coua
Coua caerulea
Blue Coua (Coua caerulea) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.
The Blue Coua (Coua caerulea) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 244 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Coua
- Species caerulea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 244 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue Coua is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Blue Coua is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue Coua (Coua caerulea) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF nw, e Madagascar.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 244 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 24.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 334,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue Coua?
The Blue Coua is a large bird that weighs around 244 g.
Where does the Blue Coua live?
The Blue Coua is found across Africa with a range covering AF nw, e Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Blue Coua belong to?
The Blue Coua (Coua caerulea) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Blue Coua eat?
The Blue Coua is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Blue Coua migrate?
The Blue Coua is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue Coua endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Blue Coua make?
1 real field recording of the Blue Coua — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue Coua's range?
The Blue Coua has a mapped global range of about 334,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Cuculidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
More in Cuckoos & Turacos
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern