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Blue Coua
Coua caerulea (Linnaeus, C 1766)
Related taxa:
Species distribution
Geographical range
Value: Resident, forest: E Madagascar.
Source: africanbirdclub.org
Value: Rainforests of nw and e Madagascar
Source: Clements 2021
Value: Forests of northwestern and eastern Madagascar from Anorontsanga and Maromandia to Manombo.
Source: Peter's Checklist of the Birds of the World
Value: rainforest of northwestern and eastern Madagascar
Source: Clements, version 2024
Value: rainforest of northwestern and eastern Madagascar
Source: Avilist 2025
Maximum latitude of breeding range
Value: -12.76
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Minimum latitude of breeding range
Value: -25.19
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Centroid latitude
Value: -18.91
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: -18.91
Units: degrees
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Centroid longitude
Value: 47.61
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Breeding restricted to island(s)
Value: 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Latitudinal range
Value: Tropical-Temperate
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Migration strategy
Value: Sedentary
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: Not a Migrant
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Total range size
Value: 529000
Units: km2
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 333697.61
Units: km2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: > 50000
Units: km2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Realm
Value: Madagascar & islands
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: Madagascar
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Sedentary, largely does not migrate
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Range and population size
Has restricted range?
Value: N
Source: Birdlife's Worldbird Database
Habitat
Altitude
Value:
Range: 0 - 1800
Units: m
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value:
Range: 0 - 2000
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Altitude range
Value: 2000
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Number of major habitats used
Value: 3
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Habitat density (1-3)
Value: Dense habitats
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Habitat description
Value: Forest
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: FOREST
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Primary lifestyle
Value: DIURNAL
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: Terrestrial
Source: Bird et al. 2020
First habitat
Value: F: Forest, secondary forest, swamp forest, tree-fall gaps, taiga, igapo, varzea
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Second habitat
Value: A: Artificial, agricultural, farms, plantations, suburban, quarry, mine, excavation, dams and man-made lakes
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Third habitat
Value: C: Sea coast, mangrove, estuary, bays, shores, fjords (only sea coast), coastal dune
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Food and feeding habits
Number of major food types consumed
Value: 3
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Source used for diet data
Value: 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Main food source
Value: Invertebrate
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: Invertebrate
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Ecological Specialization Index
Value: 1.04576
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Foraging niche
Value: Invertivore glean arboreal
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Trophic level
Value: Carnivore
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Carnivore
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Trophic niche
Value: Invertivore
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Invertivore
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Weight of fish in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of fruits in diet
Value: 2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of invertebrates in diet
Value: 6
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of land vertebrates in diet
Value: 2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of miscellaneous in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of nectar in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of plant material in diet
Value: Trace
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of scavenging in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of seeds in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Sum of the weighted diets
Value: 10
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body measurements
Bill depth (females)
Value: 1.055
Range: 1.02 - 1.09
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill depth (males)
Value: 0.97
Range: 0.95 - 0.99
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill depth (sex unknown)
Value: 1.0125
Range: 0.95 - 1.09
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (females) - Culmen
Value: 3.03
Range: 2.92 - 3.14
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (males) - Culmen
Value: 2.92
Range: 2.9 - 2.94
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (females) - Nares to tip
Value: 1.6
Range: 1.55 - 1.65
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (males) - Nares to tip
Value: 1.5
Range: 1.49 - 1.51
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (sex unknown) - Nares to tip
Value: 1.55
Range: 1.49 - 1.65
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (sex unknown) - Culmen
Value: 2.975
Range: 2.9 - 3.14
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (females)
Value: 0.77
Range: 0.72 - 0.82
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (males)
Value: 0.81
Range: 0.78 - 0.84
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (sex unknown)
Value: 0.79
Range: 0.72 - 0.84
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Body mass
Value: 245.75
Range: 244 - 247.5
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 244
Units: g
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 244
Units: grams
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 247.5
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (females)
Value:
Range: 240 - 268
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (males)
Value:
Range: 225 - 257
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (sex unknown)
Value:
Range: 225 - 270
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 245.75
Range: 244 - 247.5
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Tail length (females)
Value: 24.56
Range: 24.41 - 24.71
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tail length (males)
Value: 24.415
Range: 24.31 - 24.52
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tail length (sex unknown)
Value: 24.4875
Range: 24.31 - 24.71
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (females)
Value: 5.645
Range: 5.37 - 5.92
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (males)
Value: 5.815
Range: 5.56 - 6.07
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (sex unknown)
Value: 5.73
Range: 5.37 - 6.07
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (females)
Value: 19.3
Range: 19.3 - 19.3
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (females)
Value: 183.3
Range: 182.2 - 184.4
Units: %
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (males)
Value: 188.85
Range: 187.5 - 190.2
Units: %
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (unknown)
Value: 186.075
Range: 182.2 - 190.2
Units: %
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (females)
Value: 0.97
Range: 0.86 - 1.08
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (males)
Value: 0.965
Range: 0.95 - 0.98
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (unknown)
Value: 0.9675
Range: 0.86 - 1.08
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (males)
Value: 19.85
Range: 19.7 - 20
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (females) - secondary1
Value: 18.33
Range: 18.22 - 18.44
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (males) - secondary1
Value: 18.885
Range: 18.75 - 19.02
Units: cm
Sample: 2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (unknown) - secondary1
Value: 18.6075
Range: 18.22 - 19.02
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (sex unknown)
Value: 19.575
Range: 19.3 - 20
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Nest characteristics
Description of physical nest (shape, etc.)
Value: dome (also oven); cup, bowl
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Reproduction
Age at first breeding
Value: 2.227234021
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Clutch size
Value: 1
Units: n
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 1
Range: 1 - 1
Units: n
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value:
Range: 1 - 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Colonial species
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Leks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
How nests are connected to supporting objects
Value: Basal
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Location where nests are constructed
Value: Tree
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Value: Shrub, Bush, Vine; Tree
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Nest has a 'vegetation' location
Value: unknown
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest structure
Value: Cup
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Nest has a 'cavity' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'clearing' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'cup' structure
Value: unknown
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'dome' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'dome-and-tube' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has an 'excavation' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'excavation-with-nest' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'mound' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'none' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'platform' structure
Value: unknown
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'ring' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'scrape' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Parasitic breeding
Value: False
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Survival
Adult annual survival rate
Value: 0.835326701
Units: annual rate
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Average generation length (years)
Value: 6.073604627
Range: 4.690641315 - 7.299863926
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 5.82
Units: years
Source: Birdlife 2024
Maximum age
Value: 14.93893283
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Population decline over 10 years
Value: 8%
Range: 1% - 16%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Population decline over 3 generation
Value: 14%
Range: 1% - 26%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Social behaviour
Pairs and family groups
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Social flocks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Pairs and family groups
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Solitary
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Behaviour
Inability to fly
Value: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
References
- AviList Core Team. 2025. AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025 https://www.avilist.org/checklist/v2025/
- Bird, Jeremy & Martin, Robert & Akcakaya, H. Resit & Gilroy, James & Burfield, Ian & Garnett, Stephen & Symes, Andy & Taylor, Joe & Sekercioglu, Cagan & Butchart, Stuart. (2020). Generation lengths of the world's birds and their implications for extinction risk. Conservation Biology. 34. 10.1111/cobi.13486. https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cobi.13486
- BirdLife International. 2024. Generation lengths of the world's birds. Version 2 (November 2020). Available from https://datazone.birdlife.org https://datazone.birdlife.org//species/genlength
- Birdlife. 2005. Worldbird Database.
- Catherine Sheard, Sally E. Street, Susan D. Healy, Camille A. Troisi, Andrew D. Clark, Antonia Yovcheva, Alexis Trébaol, Karina Vanadzina, Kevin N. Lala. 2024. Nest traits for the world's birds. Global Ecology and Biogeography 33(2):206-214. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geb.13783
- Chia, Stephanie Yuan, Yi-Ting Fang, Yi-Ting Su, Pei-Yu Tsai, Chia Hsieh, Shu-Han Tsao, Jia-Yang Juang, Chih-Ming Hung, and Mao-Ning Tuanmu. 2023. “A Global Database of Bird Nest Traits.” Scientific Data 10 (1): 923. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02837-1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02837-1
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- P. Myhrvold, Nathan; Baldridge, Elita; Chan, Benjamin; Sivam, Dhileep; L. Freeman, Daniel; Ernest, S. K. Morgan (2016): An amniote life-history database to perform comparative analyses with birds, mammals, and reptiles. Wiley. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3308127.v1 https://figshare.com/collections/An_amniote_life-history_database_to_perform_comparative_analyses_with_birds_mammals_and_reptiles/3308127
- Peter Lack. 2008. African Bird Club List of African Birds. http://africanbirdclub.org/resources/checklist.html
- Peters, J. L. 1931-1987. Check-list of Birds of the World. 15 vols. + Index. Harvard Press. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/14581
- Pigot, A.L., Sheard, C., Miller, E.T. et al. Macroevolutionary convergence connects morphological form to ecological function in birds. Nat Ecol Evol 4, 230–239 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-1070-4
- Şekercioğlu, Ç.H., Kittelberger, K.D., Mota, F.M.M. et al. BIRDBASE: A Global Dataset of Avian Biogeography, Conservation, Ecology and Life History Traits. Sci Data 12, 1558 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05615-3
- Tobias, J. et al. 2022. AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13898 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.13898
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