Birds of Madagascar – 115 Species Are Endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar is home to many special birds that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. In fact, 115 bird species only live on this large island off the coast of Africa. Let’s explore the amazing birds of Madagascar!
Table of Contents
ToggleWhy Madagascar’s Birds Are So Special
Madagascar split off from other land masses millions of years ago. This allowed the birds there to evolve in isolation, resulting in many one-of-a-kind species. Some key things that make Madagascar’s birds special:
- 5 bird families are only found on Madagascar
- Over 100 species live nowhere else
- Many have odd features not seen in other birds
- Some are very rare and hard to spot
Endemic Bird Families of Madagascar
Madagascar has 5 bird families that live only on the island:
Mesites
Mesites are small ground-dwelling birds. There are 3 species:
- Brown Mesite
- White-breasted Mesite
- Subdesert Mesite
They have long legs and short wings. Mesites eat insects on the forest floor.
Ground-Rollers
Ground-rollers are colorful birds that spend time on the ground. The 5 species are:
- Short-legged Ground-Roller
- Scaly Ground-Roller
- Pitta-like Ground-Roller
- Rufous-headed Ground-Roller
- Long-tailed Ground-Roller
They have big heads and strong bills for catching insects and small animals.
Asities
Asities are small, brightly colored birds. The 4 species are:
- Velvet Asity
- Common Sunbird-Asity
- Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity
- Schlegel’s Asity
Male asities have bright wattles around their eyes to attract females.
Malagasy Warblers
This family has 11 species of small songbirds, including:
- Gray Emu-tail
- Wedge-tailed Jery
- Cryptic Warbler
They hop through bushes and trees looking for insects to eat.
Vangas
Vangas are a diverse family with 22 species of different shapes and sizes. Some examples:
- Sickle-billed Vanga
- Helmet Vanga
- Nuthatch Vanga
- Hook-billed Vanga
Vangas have evolved to fill many different feeding niches in Madagascar’s forests.
Other Notable Endemic Birds
Besides the 5 special families, Madagascar has many other birds found nowhere else. Here are some of the most interesting:
Cuckoo Roller
This odd bird is the only member of its family. It has a large head, hooked bill, and long tail. Cuckoo rollers eat insects and small animals.
Couas
Couas are related to cuckoos. The 9 species in Madagascar include:
- Giant Coua
- Running Coua
- Red-breasted Coua
They have long tails and strong legs for walking on the ground.
Madagascar Fish Eagle
This large bird of prey lives near water and catches fish. Fewer than 250 are left in the wild.
Madagascar Serpent Eagle
Another rare bird of prey, it hunts snakes and lizards in the rainforest.
Madagascar Pochard
This diving duck was thought extinct until rediscovered in 2006. Only about 25 remain in the wild.
Habitats for Madagascar’s Birds
Madagascar has several types of habitat where birds live:
Rainforest
The eastern part of the island has thick, wet forests. Many endemic birds live here, like:
- Short-legged Ground-Roller
- Red-fronted Coua
- Madagascar Blue Pigeon
Dry Deciduous Forest
The western side has forests that lose leaves in the dry season. Birds here include:
- White-breasted Mesite
- Coquerel’s Coua
- Sickle-billed Vanga
Spiny Forest
The southwest has odd-looking spiny plants. Special birds found here:
- Long-tailed Ground-Roller
- Subdesert Mesite
- Lafresnaye’s Vanga
Wetlands
Lakes, rivers, and coastal areas host water birds like:
- Madagascar Plover
- Sakalava Rail
- Madagascar Sacred Ibis
Threats to Madagascar’s Birds
Many of Madagascar’s special birds are in danger. The biggest threats are:
- Cutting down forests for farming
- Hunting birds for food
- Climate change affecting habitats
- Introduced animals like rats eating eggs
Over 40 endemic species are at risk of dying out. Protecting forests and educating people about birds can help save them.
Birding in Madagascar
Birdwatchers from around the world come to see Madagascar’s special birds. Some top spots for birding include:
- Andasibe-Mantadia National Park – great for ground-rollers and rainforest birds
- Ranomafana National Park – home to many rare species
- Berenty Reserve – good for seeing lemurs and dry forest birds
- Ifaty spiny forest – to find birds of the southwest
The best time to visit is September to December when many birds are breeding. Hiring a local guide can help find hard-to-spot species.
Fun Facts About Madagascar’s Birds
- The elephant bird, which went extinct around 1000 AD, was the largest bird ever at 10 feet tall!
- Male vangas sing duets with their mates, taking turns singing parts of the song.
- The long-tailed ground-roller can run very fast on its long legs.
- Couas make their nests out of saliva and plant fibers.
- The hook-billed vanga uses its curved bill to pry insects out of tree bark.
Conclusion
Madagascar’s birds are truly special. With so many species found nowhere else, the island is a treasure trove for bird lovers. Protecting these amazing birds and their habitats is important to make sure future generations can enjoy them too.
Here is a table summarizing some key facts about Madagascar’s endemic birds:
Bird Group | Number of Species | Interesting Features |
Mesites | 3 | Ground-dwelling, long legs |
Ground-Rollers | 5 | Colorful, catch prey on ground |
Asities | 4 | Bright wattles on males |
Malagasy Warblers | 11 | Small insect-eaters |
Vangas | 22 | Wide variety of shapes/sizes |
Couas | 9 | Long tails, walk on ground |
Madagascar’s birds show how isolation can lead to amazing diversity. From the odd cuckoo roller to the colorful ground-rollers and vangas, the island’s birds are unlike any others on Earth. Seeing these special birds in their natural habitats is an unforgettable experience for any bird lover.
FAQs:
Q: What are some of the bird species endemic to Madagascar?
A: Some bird species endemic to Madagascar include the Madagascar Fish Eagle, the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, and the Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher. These species are unique to the island and aren’t found anywhere else in the world.
Q: Can you provide product details for a good field guide on the Birds of Madagascar?
A: A recommended field guide for birding Madagascar is “Field Guide to the Birds of Madagascar” by Hawkins, Sinclair, and Langrand. This guide features detailed descriptions and photographs of various species, including endemic ones, making it an essential resource for birdwatchers.
Q: Are there any customer reviews for “Field Guide to the Birds of Madagascar” available online?
A: Yes, customer reviews for “Field Guide to the Birds of Madagascar” can be found on platforms like Amazon.com. Many reviewers appreciate the comprehensive species coverage and high-quality photographs.
Q: What is special about birding in Madagascar compared to other Indian Ocean islands like Mauritius or Seychelles?
A: Birding in Madagascar is unique because over 50% of the bird species on the island are endemic. Unlike Mauritius and Seychelles, Madagascar’s diverse habitats support a higher number of unique species, making it a prime destination for birding enthusiasts.
Q: Are any of Madagascar’s birds globally threatened?
A: Yes, some of the bird species in Madagascar, such as the Madagascar Fish Eagle and the Madagascar Pochard, are considered globally threatened. Due to habitat loss and other factors, these species are at risk of extinction.
Q: What types of seabirds can be found around Madagascar?
A: Seabirds such as frigatebirds, terns, and boobies can be found around Madagascar. These birds are often gregarious and can be spotted along the island’s extensive coastline.
Q: Are elephant birds from Madagascar still alive?
A: No, elephant birds, which were once endemic to Madagascar, are now extinct. These gigantic, flightless birds went extinct several centuries ago due to human activity and environmental changes.
Q: What is the significance of the Madagascar Sunbird?
A: The Madagascar Sunbird is an important species endemic to Madagascar. Known for its vibrant plumage, this bird plays a crucial role in pollination within its habitat.
Q: Can drongos be found in Madagascar?
A: Yes, the Crested Drongo is a common bird species found in Madagascar. Known for its glossy black plumage, this bird is often seen in the island’s forests.
Q: Why is the Madagascar Pochard significant in terms of conservation?
A: The Madagascar Pochard is significant due to its critically endangered status. Conservation efforts are crucial to save this species from the brink of extinction, as there are very few individuals left in the wild.
Table of 115 Species Are Endemic to Madagascar:
No. | Common Name | Scientific Name | Habitat | Status |
1 | Gray Mouse Lemur | Microcebus murinus | Western and southern forests | Least Concern |
2 | Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec | Echinops telfairi | Various habitats, forest edges | Least Concern |
3 | Fossa | Cryptoprocta ferox | Forests | Vulnerable |
4 | Radiated Tortoise | Astrochelys radiata | Southern Madagascar | Critically Endangered |
5 | Greater Bamboo Lemur | Prolemur simus | Bamboo forests | Critically Endangered |
6 | Malagasy Civet | Fossa fossana | Tropical forests | Vulnerable |
7 | Madagascar Fish Eagle | Haliaeetus vociferoides | Northwest coastal regions | Critically Endangered |
8 | Aye-aye | Daubentonia madagascariensis | Various forests | Endangered |
9 | Madagascan Flying Fox | Pteropus rufus | Lowland forests | Vulnerable |
10 | Tomato Frog | Dyscophus antongilii | Northeastern Madagascar | Least Concern |
11 | Darwin’s Bark Spider | Caerostris darwini | Rainforests, along rivers | Least Concern |
12 | Silky Sifaka | Propithecus candidus | Northern rainforests | Critically Endangered |
13 | Panther Chameleon | Furcifer pardalis | Various forests, shrubs | Least Concern |
14 | Golden Mantella | Mantella aurantiaca | Swamps and moist forests | Critically Endangered |
15 | Leaf-tailed Gecko | Uroplatus phantasticus | Rainforests | Least Concern |
16 | Ploughshare Tortoise | Astrochelys yniphora | Dry forests in the northwest | Critically Endangered |
17 | Madagascar Pochard | Aythya innotata | Lakes and marshes | Critically Endangered |
18 | Madagascar Giant Day Gecko | Phelsuma madagascariensis | Rainforests, urban areas | Least Concern |
19 | Blue Coua | Coua caerulea | Various forests | Least Concern |
20 | Madagascar Tree Boa | Sanzinia madagascariensis | Rainforests, dry forests | Least Concern |
21 | Madagascar Periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus | Dry coastal regions, disturbed areas | Least Concern |
22 | Madagascan Fish Eagle | Haliaeetus vociferoides | Northwest coastal regions | Critically Endangered |
23 | Hildebrandt’s Elephant Bird | Aepyornis hildebrandti | Extinct, former forests | Extinct |
24 | Giant Elephant Bird | Aepyornis maximus | Extinct, former forests | Extinct |
25 | Madagascar Tomato Frog | Dyscophus antongilii | Northeastern Madagascar | Least Concern |
26 | Tapia Tree | Uapaca bojeri | Tapia forests | Least Concern |
27 | Malagasy Flying Fox | Pteropus rufus | Subtropical and tropical forests | Vulnerable |
28 | Madagascar Heron | Ardea humbloti | Wetlands and marshes | Endangered |
29 | Fanaloka (Malagasy Civet) | Fossa fossana | Tropical forests | Vulnerable |
30 | Flat-tailed Tortoise | Pyxis planicauda | Dry deciduous forests | Critically Endangered |
31 | Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur | Varecia variegata | Eastern rainforests | Critically Endangered |
32 | Blue-eyed Black Lemur | Eulemur flavifrons | Northwest dry deciduous forests | Critically Endangered |
33 | Claire’s Mouse Lemur | Microcebus mamiratra | Northern Madagascar | Endangered |
34 | Diademed Sifaka | Propithecus diadema | Eastern rainforests | Critically Endangered |
35 | Eastern Voalavo | Voalavo antsahabensis | High-altitude rainforests | Vulnerable |
36 | Fleurete’s Sportive Lemur | Lepilemur fleuretae | Northwest dry deciduous forests | Endangered |
37 | Gerp’s Mouse Lemur | Microcebus gerpi | Eastern rainforests | Endangered |
38 | Golden Bamboo Lemur | Hapalemur aureus | Southeastern rainforests | Critically Endangered |
39 | Golden-crowned Sifaka | Propithecus tattersalli | Northern dry deciduous forests | Critically Endangered |
40 | Grandidier’s Mongoose | Galidictis grandidieri | Spiny forests of the southwest | Endangered |
41 | Gray-headed Lemur | Eulemur cinereiceps | Southeastern lowland forests | Critically Endangered |
42 | Greater Big-footed Mouse | Macrotarsomys ingens | Western dry forests | Endangered |
43 | Hairy-tailed Antsangy | Brachytarsomys villosa | Eastern rainforests | Vulnerable |
44 | Hawks’ Sportive Lemur | Lepilemur tymerlachsonorum | Northwestern dry deciduous forests | Endangered |
45 | Indri | Indri indri | Eastern rainforests | Critically Endangered |
46 | Isalo Serotine | Neoromicia malagasyensis | Western dry forests | Data Deficient |
47 | James’ Sportive Lemur | Lepilemur jamesorum | Southeastern rainforests | Endangered |
48 | Jenkins’ Shrew Tenrec | Microgale jenkinsae | Eastern rainforests | Data Deficient |
49 | Lac Alaotra Bamboo Lemur | Hapalemur alaotrensis | Wetlands around Lac Alaotra | Critically Endangered |
50 | Madagascar Fish-eagle | Haliaeetus vociferoides | Northwest coastal regions | Critically Endangered |
51 | Madagascar Buzzard | Buteo brachypterus | Various forest habitats | Least Concern |
52 | Madagascar Hoopoe | Upupa marginata | Forests and savannas | Least Concern |
53 | Short-legged Ground-roller | Brachypteracias leptosomus | Forest floor of rainforests | Vulnerable |
54 | Scaly Ground-roller | Geobiastes squamiger | Rainforest undergrowth | Vulnerable |
55 | Long-tailed Ground-roller | Uratelornis chimaera | Dry spiny forests | Vulnerable |
56 | Pitta-like Ground-roller | Atelornis pittoides | Lowland rainforests | Near Threatened |
57 | Rufous-headed Ground-roller | Atelornis crossleyi | Eastern rainforests | Near Threatened |
58 | Madagascar Pygmy-kingfisher | Corythornis madagascariensis | Forested areas near water | Least Concern |
59 | Banded Kestrel | Falco zoniventris | Various open habitats | Least Concern |
60 | Black Parrot | Coracopsis nigra | Forests | Least Concern |
61 | Grey-headed Lovebird | Agapornis canus | Forest edges and clearings | Least Concern |
62 | Velvet Asity | Philepitta castanea | Rainforests | Near Threatened |
63 | Schlegel’s Asity | Philepitta schlegeli | Dry deciduous forests | Near Threatened |
64 | Common Sunbird-Asity | Neodrepanis coruscans | Rainforests | Least Concern |
65 | Yellow-bellied Sunbird-asity | Neodrepanis hypoxantha | Montane forests | Endangered |
66 | Common Newtonia | Newtonia brunneicauda | Various forest habitats | Least Concern |
67 | Red-tailed Newtonia | Newtonia fanovanae | Rainforests | Endangered |
68 | Northern Dark Newtonia | Newtonia amphichroa | Rainforests | Vulnerable |
69 | Tylas Vanga | Tylas eduardi | Rainforests | Least Concern |
70 | Helmet Vanga | Euryceros prevostii | Eastern rainforests | Near Threatened |
71 | Pollen’s Vanga | Xenopirostris polleni | Dry deciduous forests | Near Threatened |
72 | Lafresnaye’s Vanga | Xenopirostris xenopirostris | Dry deciduous forests | Near Threatened |
73 | Van Dam’s Vanga | Xenopirostris damii | Western dry forests | Endangered |
74 | Bernier’s Vanga | Oriolia bernieri | Rainforests | Endangered |
75 | Sickle-billed Vanga | Falculea palliata | Dry forests and spiny forests | Least Concern |
76 | White-headed Vanga | Artamella viridis | Rainforests | Least Concern |
77 | Madagascar Lark | Eremopterix hova | Open grasslands | Least Concern |
78 | Green Jery | Neomixis viridis | Rainforests | Least Concern |
79 | Common Jery | Neomixis tenella | Various forests and scrublands | Least Concern |
80 | Stripe-throated Jery | Neomixis striatigula | Rainforests | Least Concern |
81 | Subdesert Jery | Neomixis pallidior | Dry forests and scrublands | Least Concern |
82 | Subdesert Brush-warbler | Nesillas lantzii | Dry deciduous forests | Least Concern |
83 | Madagascar Swamp-warbler | Acrocephalus newtoni | Wetlands | Least Concern |
84 | Brown Emu-tail | Bradypterus brunneus | Forest undergrowth | Least Concern |
85 | Madagascar Grassbird | Amphilais seebohmi | Grasslands and wetlands | Least Concern |
86 | Painted Mantella | Mantella madagascariensis | Eastern and central rainforests | Near Threatened |
87 | Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko | Uroplatus phantasticus | Tropical forests | Vulnerable |
88 | Madagascar Serpent Eagle | Eutriorchis astur | Eastern rainforests | Endangered |
89 | Meller’s Duck | Anas melleri | Freshwater bodies in forested areas | Endangered |
90 | Bernier’s Teal | Anas bernieri | Wetlands and shallow water bodies | Endangered |
91 | Madagascar Fody | Foudia madagascariensis | Various habitats | Least Concern |
92 | Madagascar Hissing Cockroach | Gromphadorhina portentosa | Forest floor | Least Concern |
93 | Madagascar Long-Eared Owl | Asio madagascariensis | Forests | Least Concern |
94 | Lowland Streaked Tenrec | Hemicentetes semispinosus | Lowland tropical rainforests | Least Concern |
95 | Verreaux’s Sifaka | Propithecus verreauxi | Western and southeastern dry forests | Critically Endangered |
96 | Bamboo Lemur | Hapalemur spp. | Bamboo forests | Vulnerable to Endangered |
97 | Madagascar Blue Pigeon | Alectroenas madagascariensis | Northern and eastern Madagascar | Least Concern |
98 | Red Fody | Foudia madagascariensis | Various habitats | Least Concern |
99 | Madagascar Green Pigeon | Treron australis | Subtropical or tropical dry and moist forests | Least Concern |
100 | Crested Drongo | Dicrurus forficatus | Dry and humid lowland forests, savannas | Least Concern |
101 | Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk | Aviceda madagascariensis | Forests and savannas | Vulnerable |
102 | Red-fronted Coua | Coua reynaudii | Forests | Least Concern |
103 | Red-capped Coua | Coua ruficeps | Forests | Least Concern |
104 | Red-breasted Coua | Coua serriana | Forests | Near Threatened |
105 | Yellow-browed Oxylabes | Crossleyia xanthophrys | Forests | Vulnerable |
106 | Madagascar Starling | Hartlaubius auratus | Forests | Least Concern |
107 | Wedge-tailed Jery | Hartertula flavoviridis | Forests | Least Concern |
108 | Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher | Corythornis madagascariensis | Forests | Least Concern |
109 | White-throated Rail | Dryolimnas cuvieri | Wetlands | Least Concern |
110 | Broad-billed Roller | Eurystomus glaucurus | Forests and savannas | Least Concern |
111 | Madagascar Crested Ibis | Lophotibis cristata | Forests | Least Concern |
112 | Madagascar Buttonquail | Turnix nigricollis | Dry forests and scrublands | Least Concern |
113 | Madagascar Partridge | Margaroperdix madagarensis | Various habitats | Least Concern |
114 | Madagascar Sandgrouse | Pterocles personatus | Arid and semi-arid areas | Near Threatened |
115 | Subdesert Mesite | Monias benschi | Dry forests | Vulnerable |