Birds of Madagascar

Madagascar has "only" 258 bird species, although 115 of these are endemic (with 36 endemic genera, Madagascar has more unique genera than any other African country. Madagascar also possesses five endemic families of birds).

Madagascar was once home to giant land birds, the largest of which weighed over 1,100 pounds (500 kg) and stood ten feet (3m) tall. Elephant birds (Aepyornis) were driven to extinction in the past couple of hundred years by human hunting, introduced species, and habitat loss. You can still see remnants of their existence in their giant eggs which are reassembled and offered for sale in parts of the country. It is estimated that the 20-pound egg of Aepyornis maximus could make an omelette to feed 150 people (Brown 1978).

Madagascar bird photos

ANGAP bird lists for the following parks:
Andasibe | Ankarana | Masoala | Marojejy | Montagne d'Ambre | Ranomafana

Bird species counts for selected parks:

Ambohijanahary	57
Ambohitantely	74
Andasibe Mantadia	112
Andringitra	106
Ankarana	92
Bay de baly	122
Bemaraha	140
Bemarivo	73
Bora	48
Isalo	82
Kasijy	67
Maningoza	73
Marojejy	116
Marotandrano	85
Masoala	90
Montagne d'Ambre	75
Namoroka	81
Pic d'Ivohibe	77
Ranomafana	114
Tsimanampetsotsa	72
Zahamena	61
Zombitse-Vohibasia	85

Species	Common name	Order	Family	Malagasy name	Endemic
Accipiter henstii	Henst's Goshawk	Falconiformes	Accipitridae	hindry	Yes
Accipiter madagascariensis	Sparrowhawk of Madagascar	Falconiformes	Accipitridae	firasambalala	Yes
Acridotheres tristis	Common Myna	Passeriformes	Sturnidae	tserikamena
Acrocephalus newtoni	Madagascar Swamp-Warbler	Passeriformes	Sylvidae	tretreka
Agapornis cana	Madagascar Lovebird	Charadriiformes	Psittacidae		Yes
Agapornis Cana madagascariensis	Madagascar Lovebird	Charadriiformes	Psittacidae		Yes
Alcedo vintsioides	Malagasy kingfisher	Coraciiformes	Alcedinidae	famakiakora	No
Alectroenas madagascariensis	Madagascar Blue Pigeon	Ciconiiformes	Columbidae	vintsiala	Yes
Anas erythrorhyncha	Red-billed Duck (Teal)	Anseriformes	Anatidae
Anas melleri	Meller's duck	Ansertiformes	Accipitridae	akaka
Anhinga melanogaster	Oriental darter	Pelecaniformes	Anhingidae
Apus barbatus	African swift	Apodiformes	Apodidae		No
Apus Melba	African black Trip hammer	Apodiformes	Apodidae	tsidintsidina
Ardea cinerea	Grey heron	Apodiformes	Apodidae
Ardea humbloti		Ciconiformes	Ardeidae	vorompotsy	Yes
Ardea purpurea		Ciconiformes	Ardeidae	vano	No
Ardea purpurea madagascariensis		Ciconiformes	Ardeidae	vano	No
Ardeola idae	Heron white crabier	Ciconiformes	Ardeidae	will takatra
Ardeola ralloides		Ciconiformes	Ardeidae	vano
Asio madagascariensis	Marsh Owl	Strigidae	Strigidae		Yes
Atelornis crossleyi	Rufous-headed Ground-Roller	Coraciiformes	Brachypteraciidae	vorondreo	Yes
Atelornis pittoides	Pitta-like Ground-Roller	Columbiformes	Brachypteraciidae	harakaraka	Yes
Aviceda madagascariensis	Madagascar cuckoo-Falcon	Cuculiformes	Estrididae	hitsikitsikala
Brachypteracias leptosomus	Short-legged Ground-Roller	Columbiformes	Brachypteraciidae	tsakoko	Yes
Brachypteracias squamiger		Columbiformes	Brachypteraciidae		Yes
Bubulcus ibis	Cattle egret	Coraciiformes	Ardeidae	vano	No
Buteo brachypterus	Madagascar Buzzard	Falconiformes	Accipitridae	tsiparahorovana	Yes
Butorides striatus		Coraciiformes	Ardeidae	fony maitso	No
Calicalicus madagascariensis	Red-tailed Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	hankana	Yes
Canirallus kioloides	Madagascar Wood Rail	Gruiformes	Rallidae	tsikirity	Yes
Canirallus kioloides insularis	Madagascar Wood Rail	Gruiformes	Rallidae	tsikirity	Yes
Caprimulgus enarratus	Collared Nightjar	Caprimulgiformes	Caprimulgidae	tataro	Yes
Caprimulgus madagascariensis	Madagascar Nightjar	Caprimulgiformes	Caprimulgidae	vikiviky	No
Casmerodius albus	Great Egret	Ciconiiformes	Ardeidae	domoina	No
Centropus toulou	Madagascar Coucal	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae	taitoaka	No
Cisticola chernia	Madagascar Cisticola	Passeriformes	Sylvidae	vorombararata	No
Copsychus albospecularis	Madagascar Magpie-Robin	Passeriformes	Turdidae	voromasiaka	Yes
Coracina cinerea	Ashy Cuckoo-Shrike	Passeriformes	Campephagidae	firirina	No
Coracina sp	Cuckoo-Shrike	Cuculiformes	Campephagidae		No
Coracopsis nigra	Lesser Vasa Parrot	Psittaciformes	Psittacidae		No
Coracopsis vasa	Greater Vasa Parrot	Psittaciformes	Psittacidae		No
Coracopsis vasa vasa	Greater Vasa Parrot	Psittaciformes	Psittacidae		No
Corvus albus	Pied crow	Passeriformes	Corvidae	firirinabe	No
Coturnix coturnix	Japanese quail	Galliformes	Phasianidae		No
Coua caerulea	Blue Coua	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae	fandrasa	Yes
Coua cristata	Crested Coua	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae	tsipara	Yes
Coua gigas	Giant Coua	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae		Yes
Coua reynandii	Red-fronted Coua	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae	taitso	Yes
Coua reynaudii	Red-fronted Coua	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae	taitso	Yes
Coua ruficeps	Red-capped Coua	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae		Yes
Coua serriana	Red-breasted Coua	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae		Yes
Crossleyia xanthophrys	Yellow-browed Oxylabes	Passeriformes	Sylvidae
Cuculus rochii	Thick-billed Cuckoo	Cuculiformes	Cuculidae	hambosanga	Yes
Cyanolanius madagascarinus	Blue vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	bolokibe	No
Cypsiurus parvus	African palm-swift	Apodiformes	Apodidae	tsidintsidina	No
Dendrocygna viduata	White faced whistling duck	Anseriformes	Dendrocygnidae
Dicrurus forficatus	Crested Drongo	Passeriformes	Dicruridae	tsingetry	No
Dromaeocercus brunneus	Brown Emutail	Passeriformes	Sylvidae	jijimaitso
Dromaeocercus seebohmi	Grey Emutail	Passeriformes	Sylvidae
Dryolimans cuvieri	White-throated Rail	Gruiformes	Rallidae	vorotrandraka	No
Dryolimnas cuvieri	White-throated Rail	Gruiformes	Rallidae	vorotrandraka	No
Egretta ardesiaca	Black heron	Ciconiiformes	Ardeidae
Euryceros prevostii	Helmet vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	patsatsatrala	Yes
Eurystomus glaucurus	Broad-billed Roller	Coraciiformes	Coraciidae	kirio	No
Eutriorchis astur	Madagascar Serpent-Eagle	Falconiformes	Accipitridae	papango	Yes
Falco concolor	Sooty falcon	Falconiformes	Falconidae	tsipoy
Falco eleonorae	Eleonora's falcon	Falconiformes	Falconidae	tsikoza
Falco newtoni	Madagascar kestrel	Falconiformes	Falconidae	roatelo	No
Falco peregrinus	Peregrine falcon	Falconiformes	Falconidae		No
Falco zoniventris	Banded kestrel	Falconiformes	Falconidae	akanga
Falculea palliata	Sickle-billed vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae
Foudia madagascariensis	Madagascar Red Fody	Passeriformes	Ploceidae	horovana	Yes
Foudia omissa	Forest Fody	Passeriformes	Ploceidae	droadroaka	Yes
Gallinago macrodactyla	Madagascar Snipe	Charadriiformes	Rallidae	vano
Gallinula chloropus	Common moorhen	Gruiformes	Monarchidae	kikimavo
Glareola ocularis	Madagascar Pratincole	Passeriformes	Glareolidae	kekakeka	Yes
Haliaeetus vociferoides	Madagascar fish-eagle	Falconiformes	Accipitridae
Hartertula flavoviridis	Wedge-tailed Jerry	Passeriformes	Sylvidae	vangamena
Hartlaubius auratus	Madagascar Starling	Passeriformes	Sturnidae	poretika	Yes
Hypositta corallirostris	Nuthatch Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	bolokikely	Yes
Hypossita corallirostris	Nuthatch Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	bolokikely	Yes
Hypsipetes madagascariensis	Madagascar Black Bubul	Passeriformes	Pycnonotidae	tretreka, tsikatekateka	No
Ipsidina madagascariensis	Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher	Coraciiformes	Alcedinidae	tsakoko manga	Yes
Ispidina madagascariensis	Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher	Coraciiformes	Alcedinidae	tsakoko manga	Yes
Leptopterus chabert	Chabert's Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	torotoroka	Yes
Leptopterus viridis	White-headed Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	vivy, kiborano	Yes
Leptosomus discolor	Cuckoo Roller	Coraciiformes	Leptosomatidae	toloho	No
Lonchura nana	Madagascar Mannikin	Passeriformes	Estrildidae	tserikalambo	Yes
Lophotibis cristata	Madagascar crested ibis	Ciconiiformes	Threskiornithidae		No
Margaroperdrix madagascariensis		Coraciiformes	Meropidae
Merops superciliosus	Madagascar Bee-eater	Coraciiformes	Meropidae	taotaonkafo	No
Mesitornis unicolor	Brown Mesite	Gruiformes	Mesitomithidae	manganahitra	Yes
Mesitornis variegata	White-breasted mesite	Gruiformes	Mesitomithidae
Milvus migrans	Black Kite	Falconiformes	Accipitridae	hitsikitsika	No
Mirafra hova	Madagascar Lark	Passeriformes	Alaudidae
Motacilla flaviventris	Madagascar Wagtail	Passeriformes	Motacillidae	asity	Yes
Mystacornis crossleyi	Crossley's Babbler	Passeriformes	Timaliidae	mokazavonamavo	Yes
Nectarinia notata	Long-billed green sunbird	Passeriformes	Nectariniidae	fodiala	No
Nectarinia souimanga	Souimanga sunbird	Passeriformes	Nectariniidae	zafindrasity	No
Neodrepanis coruscans	Sunbird-Asity	Passeriformes	Philepittidae	farifotramainty	Yes
Neodrepanis hypoxanthus	Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity	Passeriformes	Philepittidae	fodimena	Yes
Neomixis striatigula	Stripe-throated jery	Passeriformes	Sylvidae	fitadroranga	Yes
Neomixis tenella	Common Jery	Passeriformes	Timaliidae	siketribe	Yes
Neomixis viridis	Green Jery	Passeriformes	Timaliidae	farifotramena	Yes
Nesillas typica	Madagascar Brush-Warbler	Passeriformes	Strigidae	jijimainty	No
Newtonia amphichroa	Dark newtonia	Passeriformes	Sylvidae	vangasoratra	Yes
Newtonia brunneicauda	Common newtonia	Passeriformes	Sylvidae		Yes
Newtonia fanovanae	Red-tailed newtonia	Passeriformes	Sylvidae
Ninox superciliaris	White-browed boobook	Strigiformes	Strigidae		Yes
Numida maleagris	Helmeted guineafowl	Galliformes	Numididae	akohon-drano, otrika	No
Numida meleagris	Helmeted guineafowl	Galliformes	Numididae	akohon-drano, otrika	No
Nycticorax nycticorax	Black crowned night-heron	Ciconiiformes	Ardeidae		No
Oena capensis	Namaqua dove	Columbiformes	Columbidae
Oriolia bernieri	Bernier's vanga	Passeriformes	Corvidae		Yes
Otus ratilus	Malagasy Scops-Owl	Strigiformes	Strigidae		No
Otus rutilus	Malagasy Scops-Owl	Strigiformes	Strigidae		No
Oxylabes madagascariensis	White-throated Oxylabes	Passeriformes	Timaliidae	vangamaintiloha	Yes
Oxylabes madagascariensis inexpectatus	White-throated Oxylabes	Passeriformes	Tinaliidae	vangamaintiloha	Yes
Phalacrocorax africanus	Long-tailed cormorant	Pelecaniformes	Phalacrocoracidae	vorondolo	No
Phedina borbonica	Mascarene Martin	Passeriformes	Hirundinidae	olioly
Philepitta castanea	Velvet asity	Passeriformes	Philepittidae	fody sahy	Yes
Philepitta castenea	Velvet asity	Passeriformes	Philepittidae	fody sahy	Yes
Phyllastrephus cinereiceps	Grey-crowned Greenbul	Passeriformes	Pycnonotidae		Yes
Phyllastrephus madagascariensis	Long-billed Greenbul	Passeriformes	Pycnonotidae	marotaina	Yes
Phyllastrephus tenebrosus	Dusky greenbul	Passeriformes	Pycnonotidae	vorontainaomby
Phyllastrephus zosterops	Spectacled Greenbul	Passeriformes	Pycnonotidae	tsintsina	Yes
Ploceus nelicourvi	Nelicourvi Weaver	Passeriformes	Ploceidae	farifotramavo	Yes
Polyboroides radiatus	Madagascar Harrier-Hawk	Falconiformes	Accipitridae	fandrasabe	Yes
Pseudobias wardi	Ward's shrike-flycatcher	Passeriformes	Platysteiridae	sohihy mangavola	Yes
Pseudocossyphus sharpei	Forest Rock-Thrush	Passeriformes	Muscicapidae	zafindrasity	Yes
Rallus madagascariensis	Madagascar Rail	Gruiformes	Rallidae
Randia pseudozosterops	Rand's warbler	Passeriformes	Sylvidae	talapiotany	Yes
Riparia paludicola	Plain martin	Passeriformes	Hirundinidae	triotrio
Rostratula benghalensis	Greater painted-snipe	Ciconiiformes	Rostratulidae
Sarothrura insularis	Madagascar flufftail	Gruiformes	Rallidae	goaika
Sarothrura watersi	Slender-billed flufftail	Gruiformes	Rallidae	railovy, dronga
Saxicola torquata	Common stonechat	Passeriformes	Turdidae	vangamanga
Schetba rufa	Rufous Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	patsatsatra	Yes
Schetha rufa	Rufous Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	patsatsatra	Yes
Scopus umbretta	Hamerkop, Hammerhead	Ciconiiformes	Scopidae	akoholahinala
Streptopelia picturata	Madagascar Turtledove	Columbiformes	Columbidae	finengo	No
Tachybaptus pelzelnii	Madagascar Lesser Grebe	Podicipediformes	Podicipedidae
Terpsiphone mutata	Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher	Passeriformes	Monarchidae	soimanga	No
Treron australis	Madagascar green-pigeon	Columbiformes	Columbidae	vintsirano	No
Turnix nigricollis	Madagascar buttonquail	Turniciformes	Turnicidae		Yes
Tylas eduardi	Tylas Vanga	Passeriformes	Pycnonotidae	vano mainty, kinkimavo	Yes
Tyto alba	Barn owl	Strigiformes	Tytonidae
Tyto soumagnei	Madagascar red owl	Strigiformes	Tytonidae		Yes
Upupa epops	Eurasian hoopoe	Coraciiformes	Upupidae
Vanga curvirostris	Hook-billed Vanga	Passeriformes	Vangidae	todikarasoka	Yes
Xenopirostris polleni	Pollen's vanga	Passeriformes	Corvidae	fotsimaso
Zoonavena grandidieri	Madagascar Spine-tailed Swift	Apodiformes	Apodidae	matoriandro	No
Zosterops maderaspatana	Madagascar White-eye	Passeriformes	Zosteropidae	vorondolo	No