structure with an entrance at one end, hidden in dense vegetation within a few metres off the ground. It is composed of grasses, leaves, stems and tendrils and the female may start laying her eggs before it is completed. A clutch of two to three (occasionally four or five) smooth white eggs is laid at intervals of several days. Each egg hatches after about 15 days of incubation, which is performed mostly by the male. The chicks grow rapidly and fledge about 19 days later. Status The Malagasy coucal has a wide range and is quite common in Madagascar and the island of Aldabra. It is believed to be extirpated on Assumption Island in the Seychelles, where it has not been recorded since 1906. In the other parts of its range the population seems stable and, although the exact number of these birds is not known, it is likely that there are more than 10,000 mature individuals; the IUCN thus lists the bird as being of "least concern". References Malagasy couca Birds of Madagascar Malagasy couca Taxonomy articles created by Polbot