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MADAGASCAR BIRD CHECKLIST

Accessible Species

AFRICA
MADAGASCAR

Altitude ():I
# Species:296
# Excl Vagrants:257
# Endemics:119
# Near Endemics:3

OTHER COUNTRIES
IN AFRICA

BIRDING LOCALES

PRESENCE CODES

CodeDescription##
//Boreal Visitor20
\\Austral Visitor0
||Transient2
##Non-breeding Dispersal17
<>Erratic/Irregular1
()Breeding Season Only5
{}Casual/Vagrant33
[]Accidental6

STATUS CODES

CodeDescription##
NTNear Threatened17
VVulnerable21
ENEndangered17
CRCritically Endangered2

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.

List of all species in the country occurring in locales typically visited by birding tours. 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 bicolorMany
3White-backed DuckThalassornis leuconotusANP,AP,MJBD,TA,TM
4Knob-billed DuckSarkidiornis melanotosMany
5African Pygmy-GooseNettapus auritusMany
6Blue-billed TealSpatula hottentotaMany
7Meller's DuckAnas melleriMany
8Red-billed DuckAnas erythrorhynchaMany
9Bernier's TealAnas bernieriMany
10Madagascar PochardAythya innotataAP,MJBD

 
Guineafowl: Numididae

11Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisMany

 
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae

12Madagascar PartridgeMargaroperdix madagarensisMany
13Common QuailCoturnix coturnixMany
14Harlequin QuailCoturnix delegorgueiMany

 
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae

15#Greater Flamingo#Phoenicopterus roseusMany
16#Lesser Flamingo#Phoenicoparrus minorANP,IF,ISP,MJBD
NVI

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

17Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisMany
18Madagascar GrebeTachybaptus pelzelniiMany

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

19Rock PigeonColumba liviaMany
20Malagasy Turtle-DoveNesoenas picturataMany
21Namaqua DoveOena capensisMany
22Madagascar Green-PigeonTreron australisMany
23Madagascar Blue-PigeonAlectroenas madagascariensisMany

 
Mesites: Mesitornithidae

24White-breasted MesiteMesitornis variegatusANP,AP,IF,MJBD
25Brown MesiteMesitornis unicolorAMNP,AP,MR,Pr,RNP
26Subdesert MesiteMonias benschiIF,INP,ISP,TA

 
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae

27Madagascar SandgrousePterocles personatusMany

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

28{Lesser Cuckoo}Cuculus poliocephalus 
29(Madagascar Cuckoo)Cuculus rochiiMany
30Giant CouaCoua gigasMany
31Coquerel's CouaCoua coquereliMany
32Red-breasted CouaCoua serrianaMany
33Red-fronted CouaCoua reynaudiiMany
34Red-capped CouaCoua ruficepsMany
35Green-capped Coua**Coua olivaceicepsIF
36Running CouaCoua cursorMany
37Crested CouaCoua cristataMany
38Verreaux's CouaCoua verreauxiIF,NVI,TA,ZVNP
39Blue CouaCoua caeruleaMany
40Malagasy CoucalCentropus toulouMany
41{Thick-billed Cuckoo}Pachycoccyx audebertiTA

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

42Collared NightjarGactornis enarratusMany
43Madagascar NightjarCaprimulgus madagascariensisMany

 
Swifts: Apodidae

44Madagascar SpinetailZoonavena grandidieriMany
45Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaMany
46Malagasy SwiftApus balstoniMany
47Little SwiftApus affinisAP,TM
48Malagasy Palm SwiftCypsiurus gracilisMany

 
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

49Madagascar RailRallus madagascariensisMany
50White-throated RailDryolimnas cuvieriMany
51Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropusMany
52Red-knobbed CootFulica cristataMany
53Allen's GallinulePorphyrio alleniANP,AP,MJBD,TA
54African SwamphenPorphyrio madagascariensisANP,IF,INP,TM
55Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusillaMany
56Sakalava RailZapornia olivieriMJBD,TA

 
Flufftails: Sarothruridae

57Madagascar Forest RailMentocrex kioloidesMany
58Madagascar FlufftailSarothrura insularisMany
59Slender-billed FlufftailSarothrura watersiAF,AMNP,AP,MJBD,TM

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

60Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopusMany
61{Pied Avocet}Recurvirostra avosetta 

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

62/Black-bellied Plover/Pluvialis squatarolaMany
63{Pacific Golden-Plover}Pluvialis fulvaTA
64/Common Ringed Plover/Charadrius hiaticulaMany
65Three-banded PloverCharadrius tricollarisMany
66Madagascar Three-banded Plover**Charadrius bifrontatus 
67/Tibetan Sand-Plover/Anarhynchus atrifronsAP,IF,MJBD,TA
68/Greater Sand-Plover/Anarhynchus leschenaultiiMany
69Madagascar PloverAnarhynchus thoracicusIF,ISP,MJBD,NVI,TA
70Kittlitz's PloverAnarhynchus pecuariusMany
71White-fronted PloverAnarhynchus marginatusMany

 
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

72Greater Painted-SnipeRostratula benghalensisMany

 
Jacanas: Jacanidae

73Madagascar JacanaActophilornis albinuchaANP,AP,MJBD,RNP,TA

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

74/Whimbrel/Numenius phaeopusMany
75/Eurasian Curlew/Numenius arquataMany
76/Bar-tailed Godwit/Limosa lapponicaMany
77{Black-tailed Godwit}Limosa limosa 
78Madagascar SnipeGallinago macrodactylaMany
79{Red-necked Phalarope}Phalaropus lobatusTA
80/Terek Sandpiper/Xenus cinereusMany
81/Common Sandpiper/Actitis hypoleucosMany
82{Green Sandpiper}Tringa ochropusTA
83/Marsh Sandpiper/Tringa stagnatilisAP,IF,ISP,MJBD,TA
84/Wood Sandpiper/Tringa glareolaISP,MJBD,TA,TM
85/Common Greenshank/Tringa nebulariaMany
86/Ruddy Turnstone/Arenaria interpresMany
87[Ruff]Calidris pugnaxISP,TA
88{Sharp-tailed Sandpiper}Calidris acuminata 
89/Curlew Sandpiper/Calidris ferrugineaMany
90{Buff-breasted Sandpiper}Calidris subruficollisTA
91/Sanderling/Calidris albaMany
92/Little Stint/Calidris minutaMany
93[Pectoral Sandpiper]Calidris melanotos 

 
Buttonquail: Turnicidae

94Madagascar ButtonquailTurnix nigricollisMany

 
Crab Plover: Dromadidae

95Crab-PloverDromas ardeolaMany

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

96Madagascar PratincoleGlareola ocularisMany

 
Skuas and Jaegers: Stercorariidae

97#Long-tailed Jaeger#Stercorarius longicaudus 
98#Brown Skua#Stercorarius antarcticus 

 
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

99[Sabine's Gull]Xema sabini 
100Gray-hooded GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalusAP,IF,MJBD,TA,TM
101[Sooty Gull]Ichthyaetus hemprichiiNVI
102Kelp GullLarus dominicanusIF,ISP,MJBD,NVI,TA
103White TernGygis alba 
104Brown NoddyAnous stolidusAMNP,AP,MJBD,TA
105Lesser NoddyAnous tenuirostrisAP,MJBD,TA
106Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatusAP,MJBD,NVI,TA
107Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusAP,MJBD,NVI,TA
108#Saunders's Tern#Sternula saundersiIF,MJBD,NVI,TA
109{Australian Fairy Tern}Sternula nereis 
110{Gull-billed Tern}Gelochelidon nilotica 
111Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaMany
112Whiskered TernChlidonias hybridaMany
113{Black Tern}Chlidonias nigerMJBD
114{White-winged Tern}Chlidonias leucopterusMJBD,TA
115Roseate TernSterna dougalliiAP,MJBD,NVI,TA
116[Antarctic Tern]Sterna vittata 
117/Common Tern/Sterna hirundoMany
118{Black-naped Tern}Sterna sumatrana 
119#Lesser Crested Tern#Thalasseus bengalensisMany
120{Sandwich Tern}Thalasseus sandvicensis 
121Great Crested TernThalasseus bergiiMany

 
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae

122#White-tailed Tropicbird#Phaethon lepturusAP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA
123{Red-billed Tropicbird}Phaethon aethereus 
124(Red-tailed Tropicbird)Phaethon rubricaudaAP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA

 
Penguins: Spheniscidae

125{Southern Rockhopper Penguin}Eudyptes chrysocome 
126{Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin}Eudyptes moseleyi 

 
Albatrosses: Diomedeidae

127Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross**Thalassarche carteri 
128<Salvin's Albatross>Thalassarche salvini 
129{Black-browed Albatross}Thalassarche melanophris 

 
Southern Storm-Petrels: Oceanitidae

130#Wilson's Storm-Petrel#Oceanites oceanicusMJBD,NVI,TA
131{White-faced Storm-Petrel}Pelagodroma marina 
132{White-bellied Storm-Petrel}Fregetta grallaria 
133#Black-bellied Storm-Petrel#Fregetta tropicaMJBD,TA

 
Shearwaters and Petrels: Procellariidae

134#Southern Giant-Petrel#Macronectes giganteus 
135#Cape Petrel#Daption capenseTA
136#Great-winged Petrel#Pterodroma macropteraTA
137{Soft-plumaged Petrel}Pterodroma mollisTA
138{Barau's Petrel}Pterodroma barauiTA
139#Antarctic Prion#Pachyptila desolata 
140(Slender-billed Prion)Pachyptila belcheri 
141|Bulwer's Petrel|Bulweria bulwerii 
142|Jouanin's Petrel|Bulweria fallax 
143Cory's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea 
144{Flesh-footed Shearwater}Ardenna carneipes 
145#Wedge-tailed Shearwater#Ardenna pacificusAP,IF,MJBD
146#Tropical Shearwater#Puffinus bailloniMJBD

 
Storks: Ciconiidae

147African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerusANP,MJBD,TA,TM
148Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibisANP,AP,IF,MJBD,TA

 
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae

149#Lesser Frigatebird#Fregata arielAP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA
150#Great Frigatebird#Fregata minorAP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA

 
Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae

151Red-footed BoobySula sulaAP,MJBD,TA
152Brown BoobySula leucogasterAP,MJBD,TA
153{Masked Booby}Sula dactylatraAP,MJBD,TA

 
Anhingas: Anhingidae

154African DarterAnhinga rufaMany

 
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae

155Long-tailed CormorantMicrocarbo africanusMany

 
Pelicans: Pelecanidae

156Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescensMJBD

 
Hamerkop: Scopidae

157HamerkopScopus umbrettaMany

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

158Little BitternIxobrychus minutusMany
159Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticoraxMany
160Black HeronEgretta ardesiacaMany
161Little EgretEgretta garzettaMany
162Striated HeronButorides striataMany
163Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesMany
164(Malagasy Pond-Heron)Ardeola idaeMany
165Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibisMany
166Great EgretArdea albaMany
167Gray HeronArdea cinereaMany
168Purple HeronArdea purpureaMany
169Humblot's HeronArdea humblotiMany
170{Black-headed Heron}Ardea melanocephala 
171{Goliath Heron}Ardea goliath 

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

172Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusMany
173Madagascar IbisLophotibis cristataMany
174Malagasy Sacred IbisThreskiornis bernieriMany
175African SpoonbillPlatalea albaANP,MJBD,TA,TM

 
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

176Madagascar Harrier-HawkPolyboroides radiatusMany
177Madagascar Serpent-EagleEutriorchis asturAMNP,MJBD
178Madagascar Cuckoo-HawkAviceda madagascariensisMany
179Bat HawkMacheiramphus alcinusMany
180Malagasy HarrierCircus macroscelesMany
181Frances's SparrowhawkAccipiter francesiaeMany
182Madagascar SparrowhawkAccipiter madagascariensisMany
183Henst's GoshawkAccipiter henstiiMany
184Black KiteMilvus migransMany
185Yellow-billed Kite**Milvus aegyptiusMany
186Madagascar Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vociferoidesMany
187Madagascar BuzzardButeo brachypterusMany

 
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

188Barn OwlTyto albaMany
189Red OwlTyto soumagneiAMNP,AP,MJBD,TA

 
Owls: Strigidae

190Madagascar Scops-OwlOtus rutilusMany
191White-browed OwlAthene superciliarisMany
192Madagascar OwlAsio madagascariensisMany
193Marsh OwlAsio capensisMany

 
Cuckoo-Roller: Leptosomidae

194Cuckoo-rollerLeptosomus discolorMany

 
Hoopoes: Upupidae

195Madagascar HoopoeUpupa marginataMany

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

196Malagasy KingfisherCorythornis vintsioidesMany
197Madagascar Pygmy KingfisherCorythornis madagascariensisMany

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

198Madagascar Bee-eaterMerops superciliosusMany
199{European Bee-eater}Merops apiaster 

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

200(Broad-billed Roller)Eurystomus glaucurusMany

 
Ground-Rollers: Brachypteraciidae

201Scaly Ground-RollerGeobiastes squamigerAMNP,AP,Pr,RNP
202Short-legged Ground-RollerBrachypteracias leptosomusAMNP,AP,MR,Pr,RNP
203Long-tailed Ground-RollerUratelornis chimaeraIF,INP,TA
204Pitta-like Ground-RollerAtelornis pittoidesMany
205Rufous-headed Ground-RollerAtelornis crossleyiMany

 
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

206Malagasy KestrelFalco newtoniMany
207Banded KestrelFalco zoniventrisMany
208/Eleonora's Falcon/Falco eleonoraeMany
209/Sooty Falcon/Falco concolorMany
210Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusMany

 
Parrots: Psittaculidae

211Greater Vasa ParrotMascarinus vasaMany
212Lesser Vasa ParrotMascarinus nigerMany
213Gray-headed LovebirdAgapornis canusMany

 
Asities: Philepittidae

214Velvet AsityPhilepitta castaneaMany
215Schlegel's AsityPhilepitta schlegeliANP,AP,MJBD,RNP,TA
216Common Sunbird-AsityNeodrepanis coruscansMany
217Yellow-bellied Sunbird-AsityNeodrepanis hypoxanthaMany

 
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae

218Madagascar CuckooshrikeCoracina cinereaMany

 
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

219{Eurasian Golden Oriole}Oriolus oriolusIF,TA

 
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae

220Archbold's NewtoniaNewtonia archboldiMany
221Common NewtoniaNewtonia brunneicaudaMany
222Dark NewtoniaNewtonia amphichroaMany
223Red-tailed NewtoniaNewtonia fanovanaeMany
224Tylas VangaTylas eduardiMany
225Red-tailed VangaCalicalicus madagascariensisMany
226Red-shouldered VangaCalicalicus rufocarpalisIF,NVI,RNP,TA,ZVNP
227Nuthatch-VangaHypositta corallirostrisMany
228Chabert VangaLeptopterus chabertMany
229Crossley's BabblerMystacornis crossleyiMany
230Madagascar Blue VangaCyanolanius madagascarinusMany
231Hook-billed VangaVanga curvirostrisMany
232Ward's FlycatcherPseudobias wardiMany
233Rufous VangaSchetba rufaMany
234Helmet VangaEuryceros prevostiiAMNP,AP,Pr
235Bernier's VangaOriolia bernieriAP,MR,Pr
236Sickle-billed VangaFalculea palliataMany
237White-headed VangaArtamella viridisMany
238Pollen's VangaXenopirostris polleniMany
239Lafresnaye's VangaXenopirostris xenopirostrisIF,TA,ZVNP
240Van Dam's VangaXenopirostris damiiANP,AP,MJBD

 
Drongos: Dicruridae

241Crested DrongoDicrurus forficatusMany

 
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae

242Malagasy Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone mutataMany

 
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

243{House Crow}Corvus splendens 
244Pied CrowCorvus albusMany

 
Larks: Alaudidae

245Madagascar LarkMirafra hovaMany

 
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

246Common JeryNeomixis tenellaMany
247Green JeryNeomixis viridisMany
248Stripe-throated JeryNeomixis striatigulaMany
249Subdesert Jery**Neomixis pallidiorMany
250Madagascar CisticolaCisticola cherinaMany

 
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

251Malagasy Brush-WarblerNesillas typicaMany
252Subdesert Brush-WarblerNesillas lantziiIF,ISP,NVI,TA,ZVNP
253Madagascar Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus newtoniMany

 
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae

254Gray EmutailBradypterus seebohmiMany
255Brown EmutailBradypterus brunneusMany

 
Malagasy Warblers: Bernieridae

256White-throated OxylabesOxylabes madagascariensisMany
257Long-billed BernieriaBernieria madagascariensisMany
258Cryptic WarblerCryptosylvicola randrianasoloiMany
259Wedge-tailed JeryHartertula flavoviridisMany
260ThamnornisThamnornis chloropetoidesIF,NVI,RNP,TA,ZVNP
261Yellow-browed OxylabesCrossleyia xanthophrysMany
262Spectacled TetrakaXanthomixis zosteropsMany
263Appert's TetrakaXanthomixis appertiIF,INP,ZVNP
264Dusky TetrakaXanthomixis tenebrosaAMNP,MJBD,Pr
265Gray-crowned TetrakaXanthomixis cinereicepsMany
266Rand's WarblerRandia pseudozosteropsMany

 
Swallows: Hirundinidae

267Mascarene MartinPhedina borbonicaMany
268Madagascar MartinRiparia cowaniMany
269{Bank Swallow}Riparia ripariaTA
270/Barn Swallow/Hirundo rusticaMany
271{Lesser Striped Swallow}Cecropis abyssinica 

 
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

272Malagasy BulbulHypsipetes madagascariensisMany

 
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae

273Malagasy White-eyeZosterops maderaspatanusMany

 
Starlings: Sturnidae

274{Wattled Starling}Creatophora cinereaTA
275Common MynaAcridotheres tristisMany
276Madagascar StarlingHartlaubius auratusMany

 
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

277Madagascar Magpie-RobinCopsychus albospecularisMany
278Pelzeln's Magpie-Robin**Copsychus picaANP,IF,INP,ISP,TA
279Littoral Rock-ThrushMonticola imerinaIF,INP,NVI,TA
280Amber Mountain Rock-ThrushMonticola erythronotusAP
281Forest Rock-ThrushMonticola sharpeiMany
282Benson's Rock-Thrush**Monticola bensoniINP,ZVNP
283African StonechatSaxicola torquatusMany
284[Northern Wheatear]Oenanthe oenanthe 

 
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

285Souimanga SunbirdCinnyris sovimangaMany
286Malagasy SunbirdCinnyris notatusMany

 
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

287Nelicourvi WeaverPloceus nelicourviMany
288Sakalava WeaverPloceus sakalavaMany
289Red FodyFoudia madagascariensisMany
290Forest FodyFoudia omissaMany

 
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

291Madagascar MuniaLepidopygia nanaMany
292Common WaxbillEstrilda astrildAP

 
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

293House SparrowPasser domesticusMany

 
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

294Madagascar 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.

 # SPECIES BY LOCALE

Locale# Species
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park150
Andreba Forest-Anjozorobe/Angavo107
Ankarafantsika National Park145
Antisiranana Province199
Berenty Reserve145
Ifaty Forest159
Ifaty Salt Pans99
Isalo National Park120
Mahajanga130
Mahajanga & Betsiboka Delta217
Maromizaha Reserve97
Masoala National Park136
Nosy Ve Island104
Perinet Reserve154
Ranomafana National Park169
Torotorofotsy Marsh128
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park120
Tulear Mud Flats218
Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park130
Total Species294

Number of species in each locale may be based on incomplete data. Also, some locales are important for specific target species rather than overall bird diversity. Hence, it does not provide an indication of which locales are the best birding sites.