MADAGASCAR BIRD CHECKLIST

AFRICA
MADAGASCAR

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

OTHER COUNTRIESIN AFRICA

Angola
Botswana
Egypt
Ethiopia
Kenya
Malawi
Morocco
Namibia
Rwanda
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

BIRDING LOCALES

PRESENCE CODES

Code	Description	##
//	Boreal Visitor	20
\\	Austral Visitor	0
\|\|	Transient	2
##	Non-breeding Dispersal	17
<>	Erratic/Irregular	1
()	Breeding Season Only	5
{}	Casual/Vagrant	33
[]	Accidental	6

STATUS CODES

Code	Description	##
NT	Near Threatened	17
V	Vulnerable	22
EN	Endangered	17
CR	Critically Endangered	2

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 known to occur in the country. 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
1	White-faced Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna viduata	Many
2	Fulvous Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor	Many
3	White-backed Duck	Thalassornis leuconotus	Many
4	Knob-billed Duck	Sarkidiornis melanotos	Many
5	African Pygmy-Goose	Nettapus auritus	Many
6	Blue-billed Teal	Spatula hottentota	Many
7	Meller's Duck	Anas melleri	Many
8	Red-billed Duck	Anas erythrorhyncha	Many
9	Bernier's Teal	Anas bernieri	Many
10	Madagascar Pochard	Aythya innotata	AP,MJBD
Guineafowl: Numididae
11	Helmeted Guineafowl	Numida meleagris	Many
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae
12	Madagascar Partridge	Margaroperdix madagarensis	Many
13	Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix	Many
14	Harlequin Quail	Coturnix delegorguei	Many
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae
15	Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Many
16	Malagasy Turtle-Dove	Nesoenas picturata	Many
17	Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis	Many
18	Madagascar Green-Pigeon	Treron australis	Many
19	Madagascar Blue-Pigeon	Alectroenas madagascariensis	Many
Mesites: Mesitornithidae
20	White-breasted Mesite	Mesitornis variegatus	ANP,AP,IF,MJBD
21	Brown Mesite	Mesitornis unicolor	Many
22	Subdesert Mesite	Monias benschi	IF,INP,ISP,TA
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae
23	Madagascar Sandgrouse	Pterocles personatus	Many
Cuckoos: Cuculidae
24	{Lesser Cuckoo}	Cuculus poliocephalus
25	(Madagascar Cuckoo)	Cuculus rochii	Many
26	Giant Coua	Coua gigas	Many
27	Coquerel's Coua	Coua coquereli	Many
28	Red-breasted Coua	Coua serriana	Many
29	Red-fronted Coua	Coua reynaudii	Many
30	Olive-capped Coua	Coua olivaceiceps	IF
31	Red-capped Coua	Coua ruficeps	Many
32	Running Coua	Coua cursor	Many
33	Crested Coua	Coua cristata	Many
34	Verreaux's Coua	Coua verreauxi	IF,NVI,TA,ZVNP
35	Blue Coua	Coua caerulea	Many
36	Malagasy Coucal	Centropus toulou	Many
37	{Thick-billed Cuckoo}	Pachycoccyx audeberti	TA
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae
38	Collared Nightjar	Gactornis enarratus	Many
39	Madagascar Nightjar	Caprimulgus madagascariensis	Many
Swifts: Apodidae
40	Madagascar Spinetail	Zoonavena grandidieri	Many
41	Alpine Swift	Tachymarptis melba	Many
42	Malagasy Swift	Apus balstoni	Many
43	Little Swift	Apus affinis	AP,TM
44	Malagasy Palm Swift	Cypsiurus gracilis	Many
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae
45	Madagascar Rail	Rallus madagascariensis	Many
46	White-throated Rail	Dryolimnas cuvieri	Many
47	Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Many
48	Red-knobbed Coot	Fulica cristata	Many
49	Allen's Gallinule	Porphyrio alleni	ANP,AP,MJ,MJBD,TA
50	African Swamphen	Porphyrio madagascariensis	Many
51	Baillon's Crake	Zapornia pusilla	Many
52	Sakalava Rail	Zapornia olivieri	MJBD,TA
Flufftails: Sarothruridae
53	Madagascar Forest Rail	Mentocrex kioloides	Many
54	Tsingy Forest Rail	Mentocrex beankaensis	TBNP
55	Madagascar Flufftail	Sarothrura insularis	Many
56	Slender-billed Flufftail	Sarothrura watersi	AF,AMNP,AP,MJBD,TM
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae
57	Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Many
58	{Pied Avocet}	Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae
59	/Black-bellied Plover/	Pluvialis squatarola	Many
60	{Pacific Golden-Plover}	Pluvialis fulva	TA
61	/Common Ringed Plover/	Charadrius hiaticula	Many
62	Madagascar Three-banded Plover**	Charadrius bifrontatus
63	Three-banded Plover	Thinornis tricollaris	Many
64	/Tibetan Sand-Plover/	Anarhynchus atrifrons	AP,IF,MJBD,TA
65	/Greater Sand-Plover/	Anarhynchus leschenaultii	Many
66	Madagascar Plover	Anarhynchus thoracicus	Many
67	Kittlitz's Plover	Anarhynchus pecuarius	Many
68	White-fronted Plover	Anarhynchus marginatus	Many
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae
69	Greater Painted-Snipe	Rostratula benghalensis	Many
Jacanas: Jacanidae
70	Madagascar Jacana	Actophilornis albinucha	Many
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae
71	/Whimbrel/	Numenius phaeopus	Many
72	/Eurasian Curlew/	Numenius arquata	Many
73	/Bar-tailed Godwit/	Limosa lapponica	Many
74	{Black-tailed Godwit}	Limosa limosa
75	Madagascar Snipe	Gallinago macrodactyla	Many
76	{Red-necked Phalarope}	Phalaropus lobatus	TA
77	/Terek Sandpiper/	Xenus cinereus	Many
78	/Common Sandpiper/	Actitis hypoleucos	Many
79	{Green Sandpiper}	Tringa ochropus	TA
80	/Marsh Sandpiper/	Tringa stagnatilis	Many
81	/Wood Sandpiper/	Tringa glareola	ISP,MJBD,TA,TM
82	/Common Greenshank/	Tringa nebularia	Many
83	/Ruddy Turnstone/	Arenaria interpres	Many
84	[Ruff]	Calidris pugnax	ISP,TA
85	{Sharp-tailed Sandpiper}	Calidris acuminata
86	/Curlew Sandpiper/	Calidris ferruginea	Many
87	{Buff-breasted Sandpiper}	Calidris subruficollis	TA
88	/Sanderling/	Calidris alba	Many
89	/Little Stint/	Calidris minuta	Many
90	[Pectoral Sandpiper]	Calidris melanotos
Buttonquail: Turnicidae
91	Madagascar Buttonquail	Turnix nigricollis	Many
Crab Plover: Dromadidae
92	Crab-Plover	Dromas ardeola	Many
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae
93	Madagascar Pratincole	Glareola ocularis	Many
Skuas and Jaegers: Stercorariidae
94	#Long-tailed Jaeger#	Stercorarius longicaudus
95	#Brown Skua#	Stercorarius antarcticus
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae
96	[Sabine's Gull]	Xema sabini
97	Gray-hooded Gull	Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus	Many
98	[Sooty Gull]	Ichthyaetus hemprichii	NVI
99	Kelp Gull	Larus dominicanus	Many
100	White Tern	Gygis alba
101	Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus	AMNP,AP,MJBD,MNP TA
102	Lesser Noddy	Anous tenuirostris	AP,MJBD,MNP,TA
103	Sooty Tern	Onychoprion fuscatus	AP,MJBD,NVI,TA
104	Bridled Tern	Onychoprion anaethetus	AP,MJBD,MNP,NVI,TA
105	#Saunders's Tern#	Sternula saundersi	Many
106	{Australian Fairy Tern}	Sternula nereis
107	{Gull-billed Tern}	Gelochelidon nilotica
108	Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Many
109	Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida	Many
110	{Black Tern}	Chlidonias niger	MJBD
111	{White-winged Tern}	Chlidonias leucopterus	MJBD,TA
112	Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii	AP,MJBD,MNP,NVI,TA
113	[Antarctic Tern]	Sterna vittata
114	/Common Tern/	Sterna hirundo	Many
115	{Black-naped Tern}	Sterna sumatrana
116	#Lesser Crested Tern#	Thalasseus bengalensis	Many
117	{Sandwich Tern}	Thalasseus sandvicensis
118	Great Crested Tern	Thalasseus bergii	Many
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae
119	#Greater Flamingo#	Phoenicopterus roseus	Many
120	#Lesser Flamingo#	Phoenicoparrus minor	Many
Grebes: Podicipedidae
121	Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Many
122	Madagascar Grebe	Tachybaptus pelzelnii	Many
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae
123	#White-tailed Tropicbird#	Phaethon lepturus	AP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA
124	{Red-billed Tropicbird}	Phaethon aethereus
125	(Red-tailed Tropicbird)	Phaethon rubricauda	AP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA
Penguins: Spheniscidae
126	{Southern Rockhopper Penguin}	Eudyptes chrysocome
127	{Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin}	Eudyptes moseleyi
Albatrosses: Diomedeidae
128	Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross**	Thalassarche carteri
129	&Salvin's Albatrossl	Thalassarche salvini
130	{Black-browed Albatross}	Thalassarche melanophris
Southern Storm-Petrels: Oceanitidae
131	#Wilson's Storm-Petrel#	Oceanites oceanicus	MJBD,NVI,TA
132	{White-faced Storm-Petrel}	Pelagodroma marina
133	{White-bellied Storm-Petrel}	Fregetta grallaria
134	#Black-bellied Storm-Petrel#	Fregetta tropica	MJBD,TA
Shearwaters and Petrels: Procellariidae
135	#Southern Giant-Petrel#	Macronectes giganteus
136	#Pintado Petrel#	Daption capense	TA
137	#Great-winged Petrel#	Pterodroma macroptera	TA
138	{Soft-plumaged Petrel}	Pterodroma mollis	TA
139	{Barau's Petrel}	Pterodroma baraui	TA
140	#Antarctic Prion#	Pachyptila desolata
141	(Slender-billed Prion)	Pachyptila belcheri
142	\|Bulwer's Petrel\|	Bulweria bulwerii
143	\|Jouanin's Petrel\|	Bulweria fallax
144	Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris borealis
145	{Flesh-footed Shearwater}	Ardenna carneipes
146	#Wedge-tailed Shearwater#	Ardenna pacificus	AP,IF,MJBD
147	#Tropical Shearwater#	Puffinus bailloni	MJBD
Storks: Ciconiidae
148	African Openbill	Anastomus lamelligerus	Many
149	Yellow-billed Stork	Mycteria ibis	Many
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae
150	#Lesser Frigatebird#	Fregata ariel	Many
151	#Great Frigatebird#	Fregata minor	AP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA
Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae
152	Red-footed Booby	Sula sula	AP,MJBD,TA
153	Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster	AP,MJBD,MNP,TA
154	{Masked Booby}	Sula dactylatra	AP,MJBD,MNP,TA
Anhingas: Anhingidae
155	African Darter	Anhinga rufa	Many
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae
156	Reed Cormorant	Microcarbo africanus	Many
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
157	Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Many
158	Madagascar Ibis	Lophotibis cristata	Many
159	Malagasy Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis bernieri	Many
160	African Spoonbill	Platalea alba	ANP,MJ,MJBD,TA,TM
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae
161	Little Bittern	Botaurus minutus	Many
162	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Many
163	Black Heron	Egretta ardesiaca	Many
164	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Many
165	Striated Heron	Butorides striata	Many
166	Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides	Many
167	(Malagasy Pond-Heron)	Ardeola idae	Many
168	Western Cattle-Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Many
169	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Many
170	Gray Heron	Ardea cinerea	Many
171	Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Many
172	Humblot's Heron	Ardea humbloti	Many
173	{Black-headed Heron}	Ardea melanocephala
174	{Goliath Heron}	Ardea goliath
Hamerkop: Scopidae
175	Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta	Many
Pelicans: Pelecanidae
176	Pink-backed Pelican	Pelecanus rufescens	MJBD
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae
177	Madagascar Harrier-Hawk	Polyboroides radiatus	Many
178	Madagascar Serpent-Eagle	Eutriorchis astur	AMNP,MJBD,MNP
179	Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk	Aviceda madagascariensis	Many
180	Bat Hawk	Macheiramphus alcinus	Many
181	Frances's Sparrowhawk	Tachyspiza francesiae	Many
182	Madagascar Sparrowhawk	Accipiter madagascariensis	Many
183	Henst's Goshawk	Astur henstii	Many
184	Malagasy Harrier	Circus macrosceles	Many
185	Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Many
186	Yellow-billed Kite**	Milvus aegyptius	Many
187	Madagascar Fish-Eagle	Icthyophaga vociferoides	Many
188	Madagascar Buzzard	Buteo brachypterus	Many
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae
189	Western Barn Owl	Tyto alba	Many
190	Red Owl	Tyto soumagnei	AMNP,AP,MJBD,MNP TA
Owls: Strigidae
191	Madagascar Scops-Owl	Otus rutilus	Many
192	White-browed Owl	Athene superciliaris	Many
193	Madagascar Owl	Asio madagascariensis	Many
194	Marsh Owl	Asio capensis	Many
Cuckoo-Roller: Leptosomidae
195	Cuckoo-roller	Leptosomus discolor	Many
Hoopoes: Upupidae
196	Madagascar Hoopoe	Upupa marginata	Many
Bee-eaters: Meropidae
197	Olive Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus	Many
198	{European Bee-eater}	Merops apiaster
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae
199	Malagasy Kingfisher	Corythornis vintsioides	Many
200	Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher	Corythornis madagascariensis	Many
Rollers: Coraciidae
201	(Broad-billed Roller)	Eurystomus glaucurus	Many
Ground-Rollers: Brachypteraciidae
202	Scaly Ground-Roller	Geobiastes squamiger	AMNP,AP,MNP,Pr,RNP
203	Short-legged Ground-Roller	Brachypteracias leptosomus	Many
204	Long-tailed Ground-Roller	Uratelornis chimaera	IF,INP,TA
205	Pitta-like Ground-Roller	Atelornis pittoides	Many
206	Rufous-headed Ground-Roller	Atelornis crossleyi	Many
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae
207	Malagasy Kestrel	Falco newtoni	Many
208	Banded Kestrel	Falco zoniventris	Many
209	/Eleonora's Falcon/	Falco eleonorae	Many
210	/Sooty Falcon/	Falco concolor	Many
211	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Many
Parrots: Psittaculidae
212	Greater Vasa Parrot	Mascarinus vasa	Many
213	Lesser Vasa Parrot	Mascarinus niger	Many
214	Comoro Black Parrot	Mascarinus sibilans
215	Gray-headed Lovebird	Agapornis canus	Many
Asities: Philepittidae
216	Velvet Asity	Philepitta castanea	Many
217	Schlegel's Asity	Philepitta schlegeli	Many
218	Common Sunbird-Asity	Neodrepanis coruscans	Many
219	Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity	Neodrepanis hypoxantha	Many
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae
220	Madagascar Cuckooshrike	Ceblepyris cinerea	Many
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae
221	{Eurasian Golden Oriole}	Oriolus oriolus	IF,TA
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae
222	Archbold's Newtonia	Newtonia archboldi	Many
223	Common Newtonia	Newtonia brunneicauda	Many
224	Dark Newtonia	Newtonia amphichroa	Many
225	Red-tailed Newtonia	Newtonia fanovanae	Many
226	Tylas Vanga	Tylas eduardi	Many
227	Red-tailed Vanga	Calicalicus madagascariensis	Many
228	Red-shouldered Vanga	Calicalicus rufocarpalis	IF,NVI,RNP,TA,ZVNP
229	Nuthatch-Vanga	Hypositta corallirostris	Many
230	Chabert Vanga	Leptopterus chabert	Many
231	Crossley's Babbler	Mystacornis crossleyi	Many
232	Madagascar Blue Vanga	Cyanolanius madagascarinus	Many
233	Hook-billed Vanga	Vanga curvirostris	Many
234	Ward's Flycatcher	Pseudobias wardi	Many
235	Rufous Vanga	Schetba rufa	Many
236	Helmet Vanga	Euryceros prevostii	AMNP,AP,MNP,Pr
237	Bernier's Vanga	Oriolia bernieri	AP,MNP,MR,Pr
238	Sickle-billed Vanga	Falculea palliata	Many
239	White-headed Vanga	Artamella viridis	Many
240	Pollen's Vanga	Xenopirostris polleni	Many
241	Lafresnaye's Vanga	Xenopirostris xenopirostris	BR,IF,TA,ZVNP
242	Van Dam's Vanga	Xenopirostris damii	ANP,AP,MJBD
Drongos: Dicruridae
243	Crested Drongo	Dicrurus forficatus	Many
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae
244	Malagasy Paradise-Flycatcher	Terpsiphone mutata	Many
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae
245	{House Crow}	Corvus splendens
246	Pied Crow	Corvus albus	Many
Larks: Alaudidae
247	Madagascar Lark	Mirafra hova	Many
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae
248	Common Jery	Neomixis tenella	Many
249	Green Jery	Neomixis viridis	Many
250	Stripe-throated Jery	Neomixis striatigula	Many
251	Subdesert Jery**	Neomixis pallidior	Many
252	Madagascar Cisticola	Cisticola cherina	Many
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae
253	Malagasy Brush-Warbler	Nesillas typica	Many
254	Subdesert Brush-Warbler	Nesillas lantzii	Many
255	Madagascar Swamp Warbler	Acrocephalus newtoni	Many
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae
256	Gray Emutail	Bradypterus seebohmi	Many
257	Brown Emutail	Bradypterus brunneus	Many
Malagasy Warblers: Bernieridae
258	White-throated Oxylabes	Oxylabes madagascariensis	Many
259	Long-billed Bernieria	Bernieria madagascariensis	Many
260	Cryptic Warbler	Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi	Many
261	Wedge-tailed Jery	Hartertula flavoviridis	Many
262	Thamnornis	Thamnornis chloropetoides	Many
263	Madagascar Yellowbrow	Crossleyia xanthophrys	Many
264	Dusky Tetraka	Crossleyia tenebrosa	AMNP,MJBD,MNP,Pr
265	Spectacled Tetraka	Xanthomixis zosterops	Many
266	Appert's Tetraka	Xanthomixis apperti	IF,INP,ZVNP
267	Gray-crowned Tetraka	Xanthomixis cinereiceps	Many
268	Rand's Warbler	Randia pseudozosterops	Many
Swallows: Hirundinidae
269	Mascarene Martin	Phedina borbonica	Many
270	Madagascar Martin	Riparia cowani	Many
271	{Bank Swallow}	Riparia riparia	TA
272	/Barn Swallow/	Hirundo rustica	Many
273	{Lesser Striped Swallow}	Cecropis abyssinica
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae
274	Malagasy Bulbul	Hypsipetes madagascariensis	Many
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae
275	Malagasy White-eye	Zosterops maderaspatanus	Many
Starlings: Sturnidae
276	{Wattled Starling}	Creatophora cinerea	TA
277	Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Many
278	Madagascar Starling	Hartlaubius auratus	Many
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae
279	Madagascar Magpie-Robin	Copsychus albospecularis	Many
280	Pelzeln's Magpie-Robin**	Copsychus pica	Many
281	Littoral Rock-Thrush	Monticola imerina	IF,INP,NVI,TA
282	Amber Mountain Rock-Thrush	Monticola erythronotus	AP
283	Forest Rock-Thrush	Monticola sharpei	Many
284	Benson's Rock-Thrush**	Monticola bensoni	INP,ZVNP
285	African Stonechat	Saxicola torquatus	Many
286	[Northern Wheatear]	Oenanthe oenanthe
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae
287	Souimanga Sunbird	Cinnyris sovimanga	Many
288	Malagasy Sunbird	Cinnyris notatus	Many
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae
289	Nelicourvi Weaver	Ploceus nelicourvi	Many
290	Sakalava Weaver	Ploceus sakalava	Many
291	Red Fody	Foudia madagascariensis	Many
292	Forest Fody	Foudia omissa	Many
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae
293	Madagascar Munia	Lepidopygia nana	Many
294	Common Waxbill	Estrilda astrild	AP
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae
295	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Many
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae
296	Madagascar Wagtail	Motacilla flaviventris	Many

*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 Park	150
Andreba Forest-Anjozorobe/Angavo	107
Ankarafantsika National Park	145
Antisiranana Province	199
Berenty Reserve	145
Ifaty Forest	160
Ifaty Salt Pans	99
Isalo National Park	120
Mahajanga	130
Mahajanga & Betsiboka Delta	217
Maromizaha Reserve	97
Masoala National Park	136
Nosy Ve Island	104
Perinet Reserve	154
Ranomafana National Park	169
Torotorofotsy Marsh	128
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park	121
Tulear Mud Flats	218
Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park	130
Total Species	296

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.