↑MADAGASCAR
MADAGASCAR↑

↑BIRDING TOURS
BIRDING TOURS↑

DESCRIPTION
TARGETS

MADAGASCAR STANDARD BIRDING TOUR

Bird Checklist for Tour

MADAGASCAR
BIRDING TOUR
ANY TIME*

Duration:25 days, 23 nights
Group Size:2-6
Anytime Price:€8350
Group Price:€8050
Single Suppl:€1150
Est #Species:160-190
Pace:Moderate
Difficulty:Moderate
* This tour is available for any dates of your choosing provided guide services and accommodations are available.

List of species found in some or all areas included on the tour. List may be incomplete. The table indicates whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the IUCN and also whether it is migratory, very rare, or accidental in the country. See sidebar for meaning of location codes and symbols associated with common names.*

color codes

 
Ducks: Anatidae

1White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduataMany
2Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorANP,IF,TA,ZVNP
3White-backed DuckThalassornis leuconotusANP,BD,LA,TA
4Knob-billed DuckSarkidiornis melanotosMany
5African Pygmy-GooseNettapus auritusMany
6Blue-billed TealSpatula hottentotaMany
7Meller's DuckAnas melleriAMNP,RNP,TA
8Red-billed DuckAnas erythrorhynchaMany
9Bernier's TealAnas bernieriANP,BD,IF,RNP,TA

 
Guineafowl: Numididae

10Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisMany

 
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae

11Madagascar PartridgeMargaroperdix madagarensisMany
12Common QuailCoturnix coturnixMany
13Harlequin QuailCoturnix delegorgueiMany

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

14Rock PigeonColumba liviaMany
15Malagasy Turtle-DoveNesoenas picturataMany
16Namaqua DoveOena capensisMany
17Madagascar Green-PigeonTreron australisMany
18Madagascar Blue-PigeonAlectroenas madagascariensisMany

 
Mesites: Mesitornithidae

19White-breasted MesiteMesitornis variegatusANP,IF,LA
20Brown MesiteMesitornis unicolorAMNP,MR,RNP
21Subdesert MesiteMonias benschiIF,INP,ISP,TA

 
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae

22Madagascar SandgrousePterocles personatusMany

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

23Madagascar CuckooCuculus rochiiMany
24Giant CouaCoua gigasMany
25Coquerel's CouaCoua coquereliMany
26Red-breasted CouaCoua serrianaAMNP,ANP,MR,RNP
ZVNP
27Red-fronted CouaCoua reynaudiiMany
28Red-capped CouaCoua ruficepsMany
29Olive-capped CouaCoua olivaceicepsIF,TNP
30Running CouaCoua cursorMany
31Crested CouaCoua cristataMany
32Verreaux's CouaCoua verreauxiIF,NVI,TA,TNP,ZVNP
33Blue CouaCoua caeruleaMany
34Malagasy CoucalCentropus toulouMany
35Thick-billed CuckooPachycoccyx audebertiTA

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

36Collared NightjarGactornis enarratusMany
37Madagascar NightjarCaprimulgus madagascariensisMany

 
Swifts: Apodidae

38Madagascar SpinetailZoonavena grandidieriMany
39Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaMany
40Malagasy SwiftApus balstoniMany
41Malagasy Palm SwiftCypsiurus gracilisMany

 
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

42Madagascar RailRallus madagascariensisAMNP,BD,MR,RNP,TA
43White-throated RailDryolimnas cuvieriMany
44Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropusMany
45Red-knobbed CootFulica cristataMany
46Allen's GallinulePorphyrio alleniANP,BD,TA
47African SwamphenPorphyrio madagascariensisANP,BD,IF,INP,TNP
48Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusillaMany
49Sakalava RailZapornia olivieriTA

 
Flufftails: Sarothruridae

50Madagascar Forest RailMentocrex kioloidesAMNP,INP,MR,RNP
51Madagascar FlufftailSarothrura insularisAMNP,BD,MR,RNP,TA
52Slender-billed FlufftailSarothrura watersiAMNP

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

53Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopusMany

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

54Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarolaMany
55Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaTA
56Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaMany
57Three-banded PloverThinornis tricollarisMany
58Tibetan Sand-PloverAnarhynchus atrifronsIF,TA
59Greater Sand-PloverAnarhynchus leschenaultiiMany
60Madagascar PloverAnarhynchus thoracicusMany
61Kittlitz's PloverAnarhynchus pecuariusMany
62White-fronted PloverAnarhynchus marginatusMany

 
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

63Greater Painted-SnipeRostratula benghalensisMany

 
Jacanas: Jacanidae

64Madagascar JacanaActophilornis albinuchaANP,BD,LA,RNP,TA

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

65WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusMany
66Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataBD,IF,ISP,NVI,TA
67Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaMany
68Madagascar SnipeGallinago macrodactylaAMNP,INP,RNP,TA
69Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusTA
70Terek SandpiperXenus cinereusMany
71Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosMany
72Green SandpiperTringa ochropusTA
73Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisBD,IF,ISP,TA,TNP
74Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaBD,ISP,TA
75Common GreenshankTringa nebulariaMany
76Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresMany
77RuffCalidris pugnaxISP,TA
78Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaMany
79Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisTA
80SanderlingCalidris albaMany
81Little StintCalidris minutaBD,IF,ISP,NVI,TA

 
Buttonquail: Turnicidae

82Madagascar ButtonquailTurnix nigricollisMany

 
Crab Plover: Dromadidae

83Crab-PloverDromas ardeolaBD,IF,NVI,RNP,TA

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

84Madagascar PratincoleGlareola ocularisMany

 
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

85Gray-hooded GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalusBD,IF,TA
86Sooty GullIchthyaetus hemprichiiNVI
87Kelp GullLarus dominicanusIF,ISP,NVI,TA,TNP
88Brown NoddyAnous stolidusAMNP,TA
89Lesser NoddyAnous tenuirostrisTA
90Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatusNVI,TA
91Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusNVI,TA
92Saunders's TernSternula saundersiBD,IF,NVI,TA
93Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaMany
94Whiskered TernChlidonias hybridaANP,BD,ISP,NVI,TA
95White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusTA
96Roseate TernSterna dougalliiBD,NVI,TA
97Common TernSterna hirundoBD,IF,ISP,NVI,TA
98Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensisMany
99Great Crested TernThalasseus bergiiBD,IF,ISP,NVI,TA

 
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae

100Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusMany
101Lesser FlamingoPhoenicoparrus minorMany

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

102Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisMany
103Madagascar GrebeTachybaptus pelzelniiMany

 
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae

104White-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon lepturusIF,NVI,TA
105Red-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon rubricaudaIF,NVI,TA,TNP

 
Southern Storm-Petrels: Oceanitidae

106Wilson's Storm-PetrelOceanites oceanicusNVI,TA
107Black-bellied Storm-PetrelFregetta tropicaTA

 
Shearwaters and Petrels: Procellariidae

108Pintado PetrelDaption capenseTA
109Great-winged PetrelPterodroma macropteraTA
110Soft-plumaged PetrelPterodroma mollisTA
111Barau's PetrelPterodroma barauiTA
112Wedge-tailed ShearwaterArdenna pacificusIF

 
Storks: Ciconiidae

113African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerusANP,BD,TA
114Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibisANP,BD,IF,TA

 
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae

115Lesser FrigatebirdFregata arielBD,IF,NVI,TA
116Great FrigatebirdFregata minorIF,NVI,TA,TNP

 
Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae

117Red-footed BoobySula sulaTA
118Brown BoobySula leucogasterTA
119Masked BoobySula dactylatraTA

 
Anhingas: Anhingidae

120African DarterAnhinga rufaAMNP,ANP,BD,RNP,TA

 
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae

121Reed CormorantMicrocarbo africanusAMNP,ANP,BD,RNP,TA

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

122Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusMany
123Madagascar IbisLophotibis cristataMany
124Malagasy Sacred IbisThreskiornis bernieriAMNP,ANP,BD,RNP
ZVNP
125African SpoonbillPlatalea albaANP,BD,TA

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

126Little BitternBotaurus minutusMany
127Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticoraxMany
128Black HeronEgretta ardesiacaMany
129Little EgretEgretta garzettaMany
130Striated HeronButorides striataMany
131Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesMany
132Malagasy Pond-HeronArdeola idaeMany
133Western Cattle-EgretBubulcus ibisMany
134Great EgretArdea albaMany
135Gray HeronArdea cinereaMany
136Purple HeronArdea purpureaMany
137Humblot's HeronArdea humblotiMany

 
Hamerkop: Scopidae

138HamerkopScopus umbrettaMany

 
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

139Madagascar Harrier-HawkPolyboroides radiatusMany
140Madagascar Serpent-EagleEutriorchis asturAMNP
141Madagascar Cuckoo-HawkAviceda madagascariensisMany
142Bat HawkMacheiramphus alcinusBD,INP,RNP,TA
143Frances's SparrowhawkTachyspiza francesiaeMany
144Madagascar SparrowhawkAccipiter madagascariensisMany
145Henst's GoshawkAstur henstiiMany
146Malagasy HarrierCircus macroscelesMany
147Black KiteMilvus migransMany
148Yellow-billed Kite**Milvus aegyptiusMany
149Madagascar Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vociferoidesANP,BD,LA,RNP,TA
150Madagascar BuzzardButeo brachypterusMany

 
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

151Western Barn OwlTyto albaMany
152Red OwlTyto soumagneiAMNP,TA

 
Owls: Strigidae

153Madagascar Scops-OwlOtus rutilusMany
154White-browed OwlAthene superciliarisMany
155Madagascar OwlAsio madagascariensisMany
156Marsh OwlAsio capensisMany

 
Cuckoo-Roller: Leptosomidae

157Cuckoo-rollerLeptosomus discolorMany

 
Hoopoes: Upupidae

158Madagascar HoopoeUpupa marginataMany

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

159Olive Bee-eaterMerops superciliosusMany

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

160Malagasy KingfisherCorythornis vintsioidesMany
161Madagascar Pygmy KingfisherCorythornis madagascariensisMany

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

162Broad-billed RollerEurystomus glaucurusMany

 
Ground-Rollers: Brachypteraciidae

163Scaly Ground-RollerGeobiastes squamigerAMNP,LA,RNP
164Short-legged Ground-RollerBrachypteracias leptosomusAMNP,MR,RNP
165Long-tailed Ground-RollerUratelornis chimaeraIF,INP,TA
166Pitta-like Ground-RollerAtelornis pittoidesAMNP,MR,RNP,TA
167Rufous-headed Ground-RollerAtelornis crossleyiAMNP,MR,RNP,TA

 
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

168Malagasy KestrelFalco newtoniMany
169Banded KestrelFalco zoniventrisMany
170Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonoraeMany
171Sooty FalconFalco concolorMany
172Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusMany

 
Parrots: Psittaculidae

173Greater Vasa ParrotMascarinus vasaMany
174Lesser Vasa ParrotMascarinus nigerMany
175Gray-headed LovebirdAgapornis canusMany

 
Asities: Philepittidae

176Velvet AsityPhilepitta castaneaAMNP,MR,RNP,TA
177Schlegel's AsityPhilepitta schlegeliANP,LA,RNP,TA
178Common Sunbird-AsityNeodrepanis coruscansMany
179Yellow-bellied Sunbird-AsityNeodrepanis hypoxanthaAMNP,MR,RNP,TA

 
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae

180Madagascar CuckooshrikeCeblepyris cinereaMany

 
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

181Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusIF,TA

 
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae

182Archbold's NewtoniaNewtonia archboldiMany
183Common NewtoniaNewtonia brunneicaudaMany
184Dark NewtoniaNewtonia amphichroaMany
185Red-tailed NewtoniaNewtonia fanovanaeRNP
186Tylas VangaTylas eduardiMany
187Red-tailed VangaCalicalicus madagascariensisMany
188Red-shouldered VangaCalicalicus rufocarpalisMany
189Nuthatch-VangaHypositta corallirostrisAMNP,MR,RNP,TA
190Chabert VangaLeptopterus chabertMany
191Crossley's VangaMystacornis crossleyiAMNP,MR,RNP,TA
192Madagascar Blue VangaCyanolanius madagascarinusMany
193Hook-billed VangaVanga curvirostrisMany
194Ward's FlycatcherPseudobias wardiAMNP,IF,MR,RNP,TA
195Rufous VangaSchetba rufaMany
196Helmet VangaEuryceros prevostiiAMNP
197Bernier's VangaOriolia bernieriMR
198Sickle-billed VangaFalculea palliataMany
199White-headed VangaArtamella viridisMany
200Pollen's VangaXenopirostris polleniMany
201Lafresnaye's VangaXenopirostris xenopirostrisIF,TA,TNP,ZVNP
202Van Dam's VangaXenopirostris damiiANP,LA

 
Drongos: Dicruridae

203Crested DrongoDicrurus forficatusMany

 
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae

204Malagasy Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone mutataMany

 
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

205Pied CrowCorvus albusMany

 
Larks: Alaudidae

206Madagascar LarkMirafra hovaMany

 
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

207Common JeryNeomixis tenellaMany
208Green JeryNeomixis viridisMany
209Stripe-throated JeryNeomixis striatigulaAMNP,MR,NVI,TNP
210Subdesert Jery**Neomixis pallidiorMany
211Madagascar CisticolaCisticola cherinaMany

 
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

212Malagasy Brush-WarblerNesillas typicaMany
213Subdesert Brush-WarblerNesillas lantziiMany
214Madagascar Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus newtoniMany

 
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae

215Gray EmutailBradypterus seebohmiAMNP,INP,RNP,TA
216Brown EmutailBradypterus brunneusAMNP,MR,RNP,TA

 
Malagasy Warblers: Bernieridae

217White-throated OxylabesOxylabes madagascariensisAMNP,MR,RNP,TA
218Long-billed BernieriaBernieria madagascariensisMany
219Cryptic WarblerCryptosylvicola randrianasoloiAMNP,INP,MR,RNP,TA
220Wedge-tailed JeryHartertula flavoviridisMany
221ThamnornisThamnornis chloropetoidesMany
222Madagascar YellowbrowCrossleyia xanthophrysAMNP,MR,RNP,TA
223Dusky TetrakaCrossleyia tenebrosaAMNP
224Spectacled TetrakaXanthomixis zosteropsMany
225Appert's TetrakaXanthomixis appertiIF,INP,TNP,ZVNP
226Gray-crowned TetrakaXanthomixis cinereicepsAMNP,MR,RNP,TA
227Rand's WarblerRandia pseudozosteropsAMNP,MR,RNP,TA

 
Swallows: Hirundinidae

228Mascarene MartinPhedina borbonicaMany
229Madagascar MartinRiparia cowaniMany
230Bank SwallowRiparia ripariaTA
231Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaMany

 
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

232Malagasy BulbulHypsipetes madagascariensisMany

 
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae

233Malagasy White-eyeZosterops maderaspatanusMany

 
Starlings: Sturnidae

234Wattled StarlingCreatophora cinereaTA
235Common MynaAcridotheres tristisMany
236Madagascar StarlingHartlaubius auratusMany

 
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

237Madagascar Magpie-RobinCopsychus albospecularisMany
238Pelzeln's Magpie-Robin**Copsychus picaMany
239Littoral Rock-ThrushMonticola imerinaIF,INP,NVI,TA,TNP
240Forest Rock-ThrushMonticola sharpeiMany
241Benson's Rock-Thrush**Monticola bensoniINP,ZVNP
242African StonechatSaxicola torquatusMany

 
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

243Souimanga SunbirdCinnyris sovimangaMany
244Malagasy SunbirdCinnyris notatusMany

 
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

245Nelicourvi WeaverPloceus nelicourviAMNP,ANP,MR,RNP,TA
246Sakalava WeaverPloceus sakalavaMany
247Red FodyFoudia madagascariensisMany
248Forest FodyFoudia omissaMany

 
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

249Madagascar MuniaLepidopygia nanaMany

 
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

250House SparrowPasser domesticusMany

 
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

251Madagascar WagtailMotacilla flaviventrisMany

 

 *Nomenclature and taxonomic affinities are based on Clements 6th Edition published 2007 with updates through 2021 maintained by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, which relies largely on the AOU and SACC nomenclature committees. IUCN status may reflect splits not currently recognized by Clements.
**Species not accepted by Clements, AOU, or SACC that we recognize based on the IOC, field observations along with geographical separation, consensus opinions of field guide authors, and other sources. These species are potential splits in future Clements updates.

 

TOUR NOTES

Price does not include internal flights (€520) or lunches and dinners except at Bemanevika (estimated at €50/day for 23 days). Tour is priced in euros with exchange rate to dollars applied at time of payment.

 

ADDITIONAL INFO
(Not on Menu Above)

BIRDING LOCALES

 

PRESENCE CODES

CodeDescription##
//Boreal Visitor20
\\Austral Visitor0
||Transient0
##Non-breeding Dispersal12
<>Erratic/Irregular0
()Breeding Season Only4
{}Casual/Vagrant12
[]Accidental2

STATUS CODES

CodeDescription##
NTNear Threatened14
VVulnerable17
ENEndangered14
CRCritically Endangered1

Species counts in code tables depend on completeness of the data. For some countries or locales, data may not include all species or information on species presence may be incomplete.