Birds
MADAGASCAN Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forest

In the right national park, the birds of the Madagascan woodlands are easily seen and include spectacular endemic species...

Family Mesitornithidae: 'Mesites'

The Mesites are a family of birds only found in Madagascar. They are shy and difficult to see.

'White-breasted Mesite'.

Family Cuculidae: Cuckoos and 'Couas'

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Coua spp.

Coua are only found in Madagascar. They are related to the ground-cuckoos, and typically have a patch of blue skin around the face. Of the nine species in Madagascar, six are found in the woodlands.

Coua ruficeps, 'Red-capped Coua'.

'Crested Coua'.

Centropus spp. 'Coucals'

Madagascan Coucal (Ankarafantsika National Park).

Family Phalacrocoracidae: Cormorants

'Reed Cormorant'.

Family Ardeidae: Herons

Cattle Egret, in breeding plumage.

Ardea humbloti, 'Humblot's Heron', 'Madagascar Heron'.

Family Accipitridae: Eagles

This family contains the Eagles and Hawks. They are all diurnal predatory birds.

'Frances Sparrowhawk'.

Haliaeetus vociferoides, 'Madagascar Fish Eagle', 'Madagascar Sea-eagle'.

Family Leptosomidae: Cuckoo-Roller

An endemic family to Madagascar that only includes one species! It is in a different family from the 'true rollers'.

'Cuckoo-Roller'. A strange looking bird that is not related to Cuckoos or Rollers.

Family Upupidae: Hoopoes

'Madagascan Hoopoe'.

Family Meropidae: Bee-eaters

'Olive Bee-eater'.

Family Alcedinidae: Kingfishers

There are two species of Kingfisher in Madagascar, and both are endemic to Madagascar and some surrounding islands.

Corythornis vintsioides, 'Madagascan Malachite Kingfisher'. Endemic to the forests of Madagascar and surrounding islands.

Corythornis madagascariensis, 'Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher'. Endemic to the dry forests of Madagascar.

Family Coraciidae: Rollers

'Broad-billed Roller'.

Family Falconidae: 'Falcons'

Falco newtoni, 'Malagasy Kestrel'. Endemic to Madagascar and surrounding islands.

Family Philepittidae: Asities

A small family restricted to Madagascar.

When Asity build their nest, they just weave a ball, then poke a hole in it afterwards to make an entrance; sort of like building a house and forgetting to put a door in. 

Philepitta schlegeli, 'Schlegels Asity'.

Family Vangidae

The biggest family of birds in Madagascar are the Vanga. They once made up their own group endemic to Madagascar, but this family has been expanded to include species in Africa and Asia. Within Madagascar, this fascinating group of related birds has exploded into a range of niches, and thus there are many very different looking species.

Schetba rufa, 'Rufous Vanga'.

Cyanolanius madagascarinus, 'Madagascan Blue Vanga'.

Leptopterus chabert, 'Chabert Vanga'.

Falculea palliata, 'Sickle-bill Vanga'.

Family Dicruridae: 'Drongoes'

Dicrurus forficatus, 'Crested Drongo'.

Family Bernieridae: 'Malagasy Warblers'

A small family birds endemic to Madagascar.

Bernieria madagascariensis, 'Long-billed Tetraka'.

Family Pycnonotidae: Bulbuls

This family is most obvious in tropical Asia, with other species found across the Old World. There is the one native species found in Madagascar.

Hypsipetes madagascariensis, 'Malagasy Bulbul'.  This species was split from the Asian  'Black Bulbul', of which is appear similar. This Bulbul is found in various closed  and open habitats in Madagascar. There are various subspecies found on the surrounding south-west Indian Ocean islands.

Family Monarchidae: 'Flycatchers'

Terpsiphone mutata, 'Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher'.

'Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher' white form.

Family Muscicapidae: 'Old World Flycatchers'

Copsychus albospecularis, 'Madagascan Magpie-Robin'.

Family Nectariniidae: 'Sunbirds'

Cinnyris sovimanga, 'Souimanga Sunbird'.

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