Madagasca's
Birdlife
Madagascar, isolated from the Africa main land, is
the fourth largest island in the World. Although it
does not have as many varieties of birds as found
in some areas in Africa, it harbors some endemic species
which exist nowhere else, about 285 - including non-resident,
distributed within 56 families. Among the 204 breeding
species, 120 species are endemic.
THE VangaS: This family is endemic
to Madagascar and comprises 15 species. Nutach Vanga,
White headed Vanga, Chabert’s Vanga, Blue Vanga,
Sickle billed Vanga, Rufous Vanga, Red shouldered
Vanga, Pollen’s Vanga, Red tailed Vanga, Van
dam’s Vanga, Lafresneye’s Vanga, Hook
billed Vanga, Tylas, Vanga, Hedlmet Vanga and Bernier’s
Vanga.
THE CouaS: Endemic
and comprises 10 species in this family. Blue Coua,
Red fronted Coua, Red breasted Coua, Running Coua,
Green capped Coua, Crested Coua, Verraux’s Coua,
Giant Coua, Coquerel’s Coua and Red capped Coua.
THE GROUND ROLLERSS: Endemic family
to Madagascar, comprising 5 species: Pitta like ground
Roller, Scaly ground Roller, Rufous headed ground
Roller, Short legged ground Roller and Long tailed
ground Roller.
RAINFOREST HABITAT
- PERINET/MANTADIA: The most popular
of the Malagasy birdwatching spots. 110 species can
be seen, including many endemics such as Nutach Vanga,
Blue Vanga, Chabert’s Vanga, Red tailed Vanga,
Hook billed Vanga, Tylas Vanga, Velvet Asity, Sunbird
Asity, Red fronted Coua and Red breasted Coua as wella
s all of the 4 Ground Roller’s except the Long
tailed. Forest rock thrush, Brown and grey emutail...
Raptors: Buzzard, Cuckoo hawk, Sparrowhawk. Little
Grebe, Dusky Greenbull, Grey crowned Greenbull ….
- RANOMAFANA Apart
from those species found in PERINET, some species
seems common here and fairly easy to observe: Pollen’s
Vanga, Brown Mesite, Snipe...
SPINY FOREST HABITAT
- IFATY: the only place where 2 endemic
families are in residence: the Subdesert Mesite and
the Long tailed ground Roller, along with Running
Coua, Green capped Coua, Crested Coua, Thamnornis
warbler, Archbold’s Newtonia, Sickle billed
Vanga andLafresney’s Vanga...
DRY DECIDIOUS FOREST
- AMPIJOROA: This is one of the island's
most rewarding birdwatching spots. It is home to the
White breasted Mesite and Schlegel's Asity along with
the Van Dam's Vanga, Red Capped and Coquerel's Coua,
Pigmy King Fisher, and the endangered Fish Eagle.
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