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:

Ambohijanahary57
Ambohitantely74
Andasibe Mantadia112
Andringitra106
Ankarana92
Bay de baly122
Bemaraha140
Bemarivo73
Bora48
Isalo82
Kasijy67
Maningoza73
Marojejy116
Marotandrano85
Masoala90
Montagne d'Ambre75
Namoroka81
Pic d'Ivohibe77
Ranomafana114
Tsimanampetsotsa72
Zahamena61
Zombitse-Vohibasia85


SpeciesCommon nameOrderFamilyMalagasy nameEndemic
Accipiter henstiiHenst's GoshawkFalconiformesAccipitridaehindryYes
Accipiter madagascariensisSparrowhawk of MadagascarFalconiformesAccipitridaefirasambalalaYes
Acridotheres tristisCommon MynaPasseriformesSturnidaetserikamena
Acrocephalus newtoniMadagascar Swamp-WarblerPasseriformesSylvidaetretreka
Agapornis canaMadagascar LovebirdCharadriiformesPsittacidaeYes
Agapornis Cana madagascariensisMadagascar LovebirdCharadriiformesPsittacidaeYes
Alcedo vintsioidesMalagasy kingfisherCoraciiformesAlcedinidaefamakiakoraNo
Alectroenas madagascariensisMadagascar Blue PigeonCiconiiformesColumbidaevintsialaYes
Anas erythrorhynchaRed-billed Duck (Teal)AnseriformesAnatidae
Anas melleriMeller's duckAnsertiformesAccipitridaeakaka
Anhinga melanogasterOriental darterPelecaniformesAnhingidae
Apus barbatusAfrican swiftApodiformesApodidaeNo
Apus MelbaAfrican black Trip hammerApodiformesApodidaetsidintsidina
Ardea cinereaGrey heronApodiformesApodidae
Ardea humblotiCiconiformesArdeidaevorompotsyYes
Ardea purpureaCiconiformesArdeidaevanoNo
Ardea purpurea madagascariensisCiconiformesArdeidaevanoNo
Ardeola idaeHeron white crabierCiconiformesArdeidaewill takatra
Ardeola ralloidesCiconiformesArdeidaevano
Asio madagascariensisMarsh OwlStrigidaeStrigidaeYes
Atelornis crossleyiRufous-headed Ground-RollerCoraciiformesBrachypteraciidaevorondreoYes
Atelornis pittoidesPitta-like Ground-RollerColumbiformesBrachypteraciidaeharakarakaYes
Aviceda madagascariensisMadagascar cuckoo-FalconCuculiformesEstrididaehitsikitsikala
Brachypteracias leptosomusShort-legged Ground-RollerColumbiformesBrachypteraciidaetsakokoYes
Brachypteracias squamigerColumbiformesBrachypteraciidaeYes
Bubulcus ibisCattle egretCoraciiformesArdeidaevanoNo
Buteo brachypterusMadagascar BuzzardFalconiformesAccipitridaetsiparahorovanaYes
Butorides striatusCoraciiformesArdeidaefony maitsoNo
Calicalicus madagascariensisRed-tailed VangaPasseriformesVangidaehankanaYes
Canirallus kioloidesMadagascar Wood RailGruiformesRallidaetsikirityYes
Canirallus kioloides insularisMadagascar Wood RailGruiformesRallidaetsikirityYes
Caprimulgus enarratusCollared NightjarCaprimulgiformesCaprimulgidaetataroYes
Caprimulgus madagascariensisMadagascar NightjarCaprimulgiformesCaprimulgidaevikivikyNo
Casmerodius albusGreat EgretCiconiiformesArdeidaedomoinaNo
Centropus toulouMadagascar CoucalCuculiformesCuculidaetaitoakaNo
Cisticola cherniaMadagascar CisticolaPasseriformesSylvidaevorombararataNo
Copsychus albospecularisMadagascar Magpie-RobinPasseriformesTurdidaevoromasiakaYes
Coracina cinereaAshy Cuckoo-ShrikePasseriformesCampephagidaefiririnaNo
Coracina spCuckoo-ShrikeCuculiformesCampephagidaeNo
Coracopsis nigraLesser Vasa ParrotPsittaciformesPsittacidaeNo
Coracopsis vasaGreater Vasa ParrotPsittaciformesPsittacidaeNo
Coracopsis vasa vasaGreater Vasa ParrotPsittaciformesPsittacidaeNo
Corvus albusPied crowPasseriformesCorvidaefiririnabeNo
Coturnix coturnixJapanese quailGalliformesPhasianidaeNo
Coua caeruleaBlue CouaCuculiformesCuculidaefandrasaYes
Coua cristataCrested CouaCuculiformesCuculidaetsiparaYes
Coua gigasGiant CouaCuculiformesCuculidaeYes
Coua reynandiiRed-fronted CouaCuculiformesCuculidaetaitsoYes
Coua reynaudiiRed-fronted CouaCuculiformesCuculidaetaitsoYes
Coua ruficepsRed-capped CouaCuculiformesCuculidaeYes
Coua serrianaRed-breasted CouaCuculiformesCuculidaeYes
Crossleyia xanthophrysYellow-browed OxylabesPasseriformesSylvidae
Cuculus rochiiThick-billed CuckooCuculiformesCuculidaehambosangaYes
Cyanolanius madagascarinusBlue vangaPasseriformesVangidaebolokibeNo
Cypsiurus parvusAfrican palm-swiftApodiformesApodidaetsidintsidinaNo
Dendrocygna viduataWhite faced whistling duckAnseriformesDendrocygnidae
Dicrurus forficatusCrested DrongoPasseriformesDicruridaetsingetryNo
Dromaeocercus brunneusBrown EmutailPasseriformesSylvidaejijimaitso
Dromaeocercus seebohmiGrey EmutailPasseriformesSylvidae
Dryolimans cuvieriWhite-throated RailGruiformesRallidaevorotrandrakaNo
Dryolimnas cuvieriWhite-throated RailGruiformesRallidaevorotrandrakaNo
Egretta ardesiacaBlack heronCiconiiformesArdeidae
Euryceros prevostiiHelmet vangaPasseriformesVangidaepatsatsatralaYes
Eurystomus glaucurusBroad-billed RollerCoraciiformesCoraciidaekirioNo
Eutriorchis asturMadagascar Serpent-EagleFalconiformesAccipitridaepapangoYes
Falco concolorSooty falconFalconiformesFalconidaetsipoy
Falco eleonoraeEleonora's falconFalconiformesFalconidaetsikoza
Falco newtoniMadagascar kestrelFalconiformesFalconidaeroateloNo
Falco peregrinusPeregrine falconFalconiformesFalconidaeNo
Falco zoniventrisBanded kestrelFalconiformesFalconidaeakanga
Falculea palliataSickle-billed vangaPasseriformesVangidae
Foudia madagascariensisMadagascar Red FodyPasseriformesPloceidaehorovanaYes
Foudia omissaForest FodyPasseriformesPloceidaedroadroakaYes
Gallinago macrodactylaMadagascar SnipeCharadriiformesRallidaevano
Gallinula chloropusCommon moorhenGruiformesMonarchidaekikimavo
Glareola ocularisMadagascar PratincolePasseriformesGlareolidaekekakekaYes
Haliaeetus vociferoidesMadagascar fish-eagleFalconiformesAccipitridae
Hartertula flavoviridisWedge-tailed JerryPasseriformesSylvidaevangamena
Hartlaubius auratusMadagascar StarlingPasseriformesSturnidaeporetikaYes
Hypositta corallirostrisNuthatch VangaPasseriformesVangidaebolokikelyYes
Hypossita corallirostrisNuthatch VangaPasseriformesVangidaebolokikelyYes
Hypsipetes madagascariensisMadagascar Black BubulPasseriformesPycnonotidaetretreka, tsikatekatekaNo
Ipsidina madagascariensisMadagascar Pygmy KingfisherCoraciiformesAlcedinidaetsakoko mangaYes
Ispidina madagascariensisMadagascar Pygmy KingfisherCoraciiformesAlcedinidaetsakoko mangaYes
Leptopterus chabertChabert's VangaPasseriformesVangidaetorotorokaYes
Leptopterus viridisWhite-headed VangaPasseriformesVangidaevivy, kiboranoYes
Leptosomus discolorCuckoo RollerCoraciiformesLeptosomatidaetolohoNo
Lonchura nanaMadagascar MannikinPasseriformesEstrildidaetserikalamboYes
Lophotibis cristataMadagascar crested ibisCiconiiformesThreskiornithidaeNo
Margaroperdrix madagascariensisCoraciiformesMeropidae
Merops superciliosusMadagascar Bee-eaterCoraciiformesMeropidaetaotaonkafoNo
Mesitornis unicolorBrown MesiteGruiformesMesitomithidaemanganahitraYes
Mesitornis variegataWhite-breasted mesiteGruiformesMesitomithidae
Milvus migransBlack KiteFalconiformesAccipitridaehitsikitsikaNo
Mirafra hovaMadagascar LarkPasseriformesAlaudidae
Motacilla flaviventrisMadagascar WagtailPasseriformesMotacillidaeasityYes
Mystacornis crossleyiCrossley's BabblerPasseriformesTimaliidaemokazavonamavoYes
Nectarinia notataLong-billed green sunbirdPasseriformesNectariniidaefodialaNo
Nectarinia souimangaSouimanga sunbirdPasseriformesNectariniidaezafindrasityNo
Neodrepanis coruscansSunbird-AsityPasseriformesPhilepittidaefarifotramaintyYes
Neodrepanis hypoxanthusYellow-bellied Sunbird-AsityPasseriformesPhilepittidaefodimenaYes
Neomixis striatigulaStripe-throated jeryPasseriformesSylvidaefitadrorangaYes
Neomixis tenellaCommon JeryPasseriformesTimaliidaesiketribeYes
Neomixis viridisGreen JeryPasseriformesTimaliidaefarifotramenaYes
Nesillas typicaMadagascar Brush-WarblerPasseriformesStrigidaejijimaintyNo
Newtonia amphichroaDark newtoniaPasseriformesSylvidaevangasoratraYes
Newtonia brunneicaudaCommon newtoniaPasseriformesSylvidaeYes
Newtonia fanovanaeRed-tailed newtoniaPasseriformesSylvidae
Ninox superciliarisWhite-browed boobookStrigiformesStrigidaeYes
Numida maleagrisHelmeted guineafowlGalliformesNumididaeakohon-drano, otrikaNo
Numida meleagrisHelmeted guineafowlGalliformesNumididaeakohon-drano, otrikaNo
Nycticorax nycticoraxBlack crowned night-heronCiconiiformesArdeidaeNo
Oena capensisNamaqua doveColumbiformesColumbidae
Oriolia bernieriBernier's vangaPasseriformesCorvidaeYes
Otus ratilusMalagasy Scops-OwlStrigiformesStrigidaeNo
Otus rutilusMalagasy Scops-OwlStrigiformesStrigidaeNo
Oxylabes madagascariensisWhite-throated OxylabesPasseriformesTimaliidaevangamaintilohaYes
Oxylabes madagascariensis inexpectatusWhite-throated OxylabesPasseriformesTinaliidaevangamaintilohaYes
Phalacrocorax africanusLong-tailed cormorantPelecaniformesPhalacrocoracidaevorondoloNo
Phedina borbonicaMascarene MartinPasseriformesHirundinidaeolioly
Philepitta castaneaVelvet asityPasseriformesPhilepittidaefody sahyYes
Philepitta casteneaVelvet asityPasseriformesPhilepittidaefody sahyYes
Phyllastrephus cinereicepsGrey-crowned GreenbulPasseriformesPycnonotidaeYes
Phyllastrephus madagascariensisLong-billed GreenbulPasseriformesPycnonotidaemarotainaYes
Phyllastrephus tenebrosusDusky greenbulPasseriformesPycnonotidaevorontainaomby
Phyllastrephus zosteropsSpectacled GreenbulPasseriformesPycnonotidaetsintsinaYes
Ploceus nelicourviNelicourvi WeaverPasseriformesPloceidaefarifotramavoYes
Polyboroides radiatusMadagascar Harrier-HawkFalconiformesAccipitridaefandrasabeYes
Pseudobias wardiWard's shrike-flycatcherPasseriformesPlatysteiridaesohihy mangavolaYes
Pseudocossyphus sharpeiForest Rock-ThrushPasseriformesMuscicapidaezafindrasityYes
Rallus madagascariensisMadagascar RailGruiformesRallidae
Randia pseudozosteropsRand's warblerPasseriformesSylvidaetalapiotanyYes
Riparia paludicolaPlain martinPasseriformesHirundinidaetriotrio
Rostratula benghalensisGreater painted-snipeCiconiiformesRostratulidae
Sarothrura insularisMadagascar flufftailGruiformesRallidaegoaika
Sarothrura watersiSlender-billed flufftailGruiformesRallidaerailovy, dronga
Saxicola torquataCommon stonechatPasseriformesTurdidaevangamanga
Schetba rufaRufous VangaPasseriformesVangidaepatsatsatraYes
Schetha rufaRufous VangaPasseriformesVangidaepatsatsatraYes
Scopus umbrettaHamerkop, HammerheadCiconiiformesScopidaeakoholahinala
Streptopelia picturataMadagascar TurtledoveColumbiformesColumbidaefinengoNo
Tachybaptus pelzelniiMadagascar Lesser GrebePodicipediformesPodicipedidae
Terpsiphone mutataMadagascar Paradise FlycatcherPasseriformesMonarchidaesoimangaNo
Treron australisMadagascar green-pigeonColumbiformesColumbidaevintsiranoNo
Turnix nigricollisMadagascar buttonquailTurniciformesTurnicidaeYes
Tylas eduardiTylas VangaPasseriformesPycnonotidaevano mainty, kinkimavoYes
Tyto albaBarn owlStrigiformesTytonidae
Tyto soumagneiMadagascar red owlStrigiformesTytonidaeYes
Upupa epopsEurasian hoopoeCoraciiformesUpupidae
Vanga curvirostrisHook-billed VangaPasseriformesVangidaetodikarasokaYes
Xenopirostris polleniPollen's vangaPasseriformesCorvidaefotsimaso
Zoonavena grandidieriMadagascar Spine-tailed SwiftApodiformesApodidaematoriandroNo
Zosterops maderaspatanaMadagascar White-eyePasseriformesZosteropidaevorondoloNo