The breeding biology of the endemic Coquerel's Coua (Coua coquereli), a non-parasitic cuckoo species for which few ecological data are available, was studied in the dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar. Nestling C. coquereli remain in the nest for only a short time after hatching. At approximately 9 days old and still unable to fly, they were observed to leave the nest and then remained on the ground where they were fed by both parents. This behaviour is probably a strategy used to reduce nestling predation.