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SPECIALTIES

MADAGASCAR BIRD CHECKLIST

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
VVulnerable22
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 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

1White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduataMany
2Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorMany
3White-backed DuckThalassornis leuconotusMany
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 minorMany

 
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 unicolorMany
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
34Green-capped Coua**Coua olivaceicepsIF
35Red-capped CouaCoua ruficepsMany
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,MJ,MJBD,TA
54African SwamphenPorphyrio madagascariensisMany
55Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusillaMany
56Sakalava RailZapornia olivieriMJBD,TA

 
Flufftails: Sarothruridae

57Madagascar Forest RailMentocrex kioloidesMany
58Tsingy Forest RailMentocrex beankaensisTBNP
59Madagascar FlufftailSarothrura insularisMany
60Slender-billed FlufftailSarothrura watersiAF,AMNP,AP,MJBD,TM

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

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

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

63/Black-bellied Plover/Pluvialis squatarolaMany
64{Pacific Golden-Plover}Pluvialis fulvaTA
65/Common Ringed Plover/Charadrius hiaticulaMany
66Three-banded PloverCharadrius tricollarisMany
67Madagascar Three-banded Plover**Charadrius bifrontatus 
68/Tibetan Sand-Plover/Anarhynchus atrifronsAP,IF,MJBD,TA
69/Greater Sand-Plover/Anarhynchus leschenaultiiMany
70Madagascar PloverAnarhynchus thoracicusMany
71Kittlitz's PloverAnarhynchus pecuariusMany
72White-fronted PloverAnarhynchus marginatusMany

 
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

73Greater Painted-SnipeRostratula benghalensisMany

 
Jacanas: Jacanidae

74Madagascar JacanaActophilornis albinuchaMany

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

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

 
Buttonquail: Turnicidae

95Madagascar ButtonquailTurnix nigricollisMany

 
Crab Plover: Dromadidae

96Crab-PloverDromas ardeolaMany

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

97Madagascar PratincoleGlareola ocularisMany

 
Skuas and Jaegers: Stercorariidae

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

 
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

100[Sabine's Gull]Xema sabini 
101Gray-hooded GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalusMany
102[Sooty Gull]Ichthyaetus hemprichiiNVI
103Kelp GullLarus dominicanusMany
104White TernGygis alba 
105Brown NoddyAnous stolidusAMNP,AP,MJBD,MNP
TA
106Lesser NoddyAnous tenuirostrisAP,MJBD,MNP,TA
107Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatusAP,MJBD,NVI,TA
108Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusAP,MJBD,MNP,NVI,TA
109#Saunders's Tern#Sternula saundersiMany
110{Australian Fairy Tern}Sternula nereis 
111{Gull-billed Tern}Gelochelidon nilotica 
112Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaMany
113Whiskered TernChlidonias hybridaMany
114{Black Tern}Chlidonias nigerMJBD
115{White-winged Tern}Chlidonias leucopterusMJBD,TA
116Roseate TernSterna dougalliiAP,MJBD,MNP,NVI,TA
117[Antarctic Tern]Sterna vittata 
118/Common Tern/Sterna hirundoMany
119{Black-naped Tern}Sterna sumatrana 
120#Lesser Crested Tern#Thalasseus bengalensisMany
121{Sandwich Tern}Thalasseus sandvicensis 
122Great Crested TernThalasseus bergiiMany

 
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae

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

 
Penguins: Spheniscidae

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

 
Albatrosses: Diomedeidae

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

 
Southern Storm-Petrels: Oceanitidae

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

 
Shearwaters and Petrels: Procellariidae

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

 
Storks: Ciconiidae

148African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerusMany
149Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibisMany

 
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae

150#Lesser Frigatebird#Fregata arielMany
151#Great Frigatebird#Fregata minorAP,IF,MJBD,NVI,TA

 
Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae

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

 
Anhingas: Anhingidae

155African DarterAnhinga rufaMany

 
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae

156Long-tailed CormorantMicrocarbo africanusMany

 
Pelicans: Pelecanidae

157Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescensMJBD

 
Hamerkop: Scopidae

158HamerkopScopus umbrettaMany

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

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

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

173Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusMany
174Madagascar IbisLophotibis cristataMany
175Malagasy Sacred IbisThreskiornis bernieriMany
176African SpoonbillPlatalea albaANP,MJ,MJBD,TA,TM

 
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

177Madagascar Harrier-HawkPolyboroides radiatusMany
178Madagascar Serpent-EagleEutriorchis asturAMNP,MJBD,MNP
179Madagascar Cuckoo-HawkAviceda madagascariensisMany
180Bat HawkMacheiramphus alcinusMany
181Malagasy HarrierCircus macroscelesMany
182Frances's SparrowhawkAccipiter francesiaeMany
183Madagascar SparrowhawkAccipiter madagascariensisMany
184Henst's GoshawkAccipiter henstiiMany
185Black KiteMilvus migransMany
186Yellow-billed Kite**Milvus aegyptiusMany
187Madagascar Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vociferoidesMany
188Madagascar BuzzardButeo brachypterusMany

 
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

189Barn OwlTyto albaMany
190Red OwlTyto soumagneiAMNP,AP,MJBD,MNP
TA

 
Owls: Strigidae

191Madagascar Scops-OwlOtus rutilusMany
192White-browed OwlAthene superciliarisMany
193Madagascar OwlAsio madagascariensisMany
194Marsh OwlAsio capensisMany

 
Cuckoo-Roller: Leptosomidae

195Cuckoo-rollerLeptosomus discolorMany

 
Hoopoes: Upupidae

196Madagascar HoopoeUpupa marginataMany

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

197Malagasy KingfisherCorythornis vintsioidesMany
198Madagascar Pygmy KingfisherCorythornis madagascariensisMany

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

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

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

201(Broad-billed Roller)Eurystomus glaucurusMany

 
Ground-Rollers: Brachypteraciidae

202Scaly Ground-RollerGeobiastes squamigerAMNP,AP,MNP,Pr,RNP
203Short-legged Ground-RollerBrachypteracias leptosomusMany
204Long-tailed Ground-RollerUratelornis chimaeraIF,INP,TA
205Pitta-like Ground-RollerAtelornis pittoidesMany
206Rufous-headed Ground-RollerAtelornis crossleyiMany

 
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

207Malagasy KestrelFalco newtoniMany
208Banded KestrelFalco zoniventrisMany
209/Eleonora's Falcon/Falco eleonoraeMany
210/Sooty Falcon/Falco concolorMany
211Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusMany

 
Parrots: Psittaculidae

212Greater Vasa ParrotMascarinus vasaMany
213Lesser Vasa ParrotMascarinus nigerMany
214Comoro Black ParrotMascarinus sibilans 
215Gray-headed LovebirdAgapornis canusMany

 
Asities: Philepittidae

216Velvet AsityPhilepitta castaneaMany
217Schlegel's AsityPhilepitta schlegeliMany
218Common Sunbird-AsityNeodrepanis coruscansMany
219Yellow-bellied Sunbird-AsityNeodrepanis hypoxanthaMany

 
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae

220Madagascar CuckooshrikeCoracina cinereaMany

 
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

221{Eurasian Golden Oriole}Oriolus oriolusIF,TA

 
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae

222Archbold's NewtoniaNewtonia archboldiMany
223Common NewtoniaNewtonia brunneicaudaMany
224Dark NewtoniaNewtonia amphichroaMany
225Red-tailed NewtoniaNewtonia fanovanaeMany
226Tylas VangaTylas eduardiMany
227Red-tailed VangaCalicalicus madagascariensisMany
228Red-shouldered VangaCalicalicus rufocarpalisIF,NVI,RNP,TA,ZVNP
229Nuthatch-VangaHypositta corallirostrisMany
230Chabert VangaLeptopterus chabertMany
231Crossley's BabblerMystacornis crossleyiMany
232Madagascar Blue VangaCyanolanius madagascarinusMany
233Hook-billed VangaVanga curvirostrisMany
234Ward's FlycatcherPseudobias wardiMany
235Rufous VangaSchetba rufaMany
236Helmet VangaEuryceros prevostiiAMNP,AP,MNP,Pr
237Bernier's VangaOriolia bernieriAP,MNP,MR,Pr
238Sickle-billed VangaFalculea palliataMany
239White-headed VangaArtamella viridisMany
240Pollen's VangaXenopirostris polleniMany
241Lafresnaye's VangaXenopirostris xenopirostrisBR,IF,TA,ZVNP
242Van Dam's VangaXenopirostris damiiANP,AP,MJBD

 
Drongos: Dicruridae

243Crested DrongoDicrurus forficatusMany

 
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae

244Malagasy Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone mutataMany

 
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

245{House Crow}Corvus splendens 
246Pied CrowCorvus albusMany

 
Larks: Alaudidae

247Madagascar LarkMirafra hovaMany

 
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

248Common JeryNeomixis tenellaMany
249Green JeryNeomixis viridisMany
250Stripe-throated JeryNeomixis striatigulaMany
251Subdesert Jery**Neomixis pallidiorMany
252Madagascar CisticolaCisticola cherinaMany

 
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

253Malagasy Brush-WarblerNesillas typicaMany
254Subdesert Brush-WarblerNesillas lantziiMany
255Madagascar Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus newtoniMany

 
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae

256Gray EmutailBradypterus seebohmiMany
257Brown EmutailBradypterus brunneusMany

 
Malagasy Warblers: Bernieridae

258White-throated OxylabesOxylabes madagascariensisMany
259Long-billed BernieriaBernieria madagascariensisMany
260Cryptic WarblerCryptosylvicola randrianasoloiMany
261Wedge-tailed JeryHartertula flavoviridisMany
262ThamnornisThamnornis chloropetoidesMany
263Yellow-browed OxylabesCrossleyia xanthophrysMany
264Spectacled TetrakaXanthomixis zosteropsMany
265Appert's TetrakaXanthomixis appertiIF,INP,ZVNP
266Dusky TetrakaXanthomixis tenebrosaAMNP,MJBD,MNP,Pr
267Gray-crowned TetrakaXanthomixis cinereicepsMany
268Rand's WarblerRandia pseudozosteropsMany

 
Swallows: Hirundinidae

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

 
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

274Malagasy BulbulHypsipetes madagascariensisMany

 
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae

275Malagasy White-eyeZosterops maderaspatanusMany

 
Starlings: Sturnidae

276{Wattled Starling}Creatophora cinereaTA
277Common MynaAcridotheres tristisMany
278Madagascar StarlingHartlaubius auratusMany

 
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

279Madagascar Magpie-RobinCopsychus albospecularisMany
280Pelzeln's Magpie-Robin**Copsychus picaMany
281Littoral Rock-ThrushMonticola imerinaIF,INP,NVI,TA
282Amber Mountain Rock-ThrushMonticola erythronotusAP
283Forest Rock-ThrushMonticola sharpeiMany
284Benson's Rock-Thrush**Monticola bensoniINP,ZVNP
285African StonechatSaxicola torquatusMany
286[Northern Wheatear]Oenanthe oenanthe 

 
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

287Souimanga SunbirdCinnyris sovimangaMany
288Malagasy SunbirdCinnyris notatusMany

 
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

289Nelicourvi WeaverPloceus nelicourviMany
290Sakalava WeaverPloceus sakalavaMany
291Red FodyFoudia madagascariensisMany
292Forest FodyFoudia omissaMany

 
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

293Madagascar MuniaLepidopygia nanaMany
294Common WaxbillEstrilda astrildAP

 
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

295House SparrowPasser domesticusMany

 
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

296Madagascar 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 Park121
Tulear Mud Flats218
Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park130
Total Species296

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.