Red-capped Coua (Coua ruficeps) [XC26421]
by Barry Edmonston from Ifaty (Mossa park), ca 26 km N of Toliara, Toliara Prov., Madagascar (call, song)
Red-capped Coua (Coua ruficeps) [XC155060]
by Phil Gregory from Berenty Private Reserve, spiny forest, Madagascar (song)
Subspecies
Traditionally treated as two subspecies, but both ruficeps and olivaceiceps were collected at Mampikohy in Dec, in the breeding season, which, together with notable morphological differences, suggests that they may be distinct species.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
ruficeps G. R. Gray, 1846 - Western Madagascar, from Mahajanga western and south to near Morondava.
olivaceiceps (Sharpe, 1873) - South-western Madagascar, from Morondava south to Anony L. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Olive-capped Coua (Coua olivaceiceps).