MADAGASCAR BIRD CHECKLIST

AFRICA
MADAGASCAR

Altitude ():	I
# Species:	298
# Excl Vagrants:	257
# Endemics:	118
# 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	8

STATUS CODES

Code	Description	##
NT	Near Threatened	18
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,BKA
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	Zebra Dove	Geopelia striata
19	Madagascar Green-Pigeon	Treron australis	Many
20	Madagascar Blue-Pigeon	Alectroenas madagascariensis	Many
Mesites: Mesitornithidae
21	White-breasted Mesite	Mesitornis variegatus	AKR,ANP,AP,IF,LA
22	Brown Mesite	Mesitornis unicolor	Many
23	Subdesert Mesite	Monias benschi	Many
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae
24	Madagascar Sandgrouse	Pterocles personatus	Many
Cuckoos: Cuculidae
25	{Lesser Cuckoo}	Cuculus poliocephalus
26	(Madagascar Cuckoo)	Cuculus rochii	Many
27	Giant Coua	Coua gigas	Many
28	Coquerel's Coua	Coua coquereli	Many
29	Red-breasted Coua	Coua serriana	Many
30	Red-fronted Coua	Coua reynaudii	Many
31	Olive-capped Coua	Coua olivaceiceps	AHH,AKO,FD,IF,TNP
32	Red-capped Coua	Coua ruficeps	Many
33	Running Coua	Coua cursor	Many
34	Crested Coua	Coua cristata	Many
35	Verreaux's Coua	Coua verreauxi	Many
36	Blue Coua	Coua caerulea	Many
37	Malagasy Coucal	Centropus toulou	Many
38	{Thick-billed Cuckoo}	Pachycoccyx audeberti	TA
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae
39	Collared Nightjar	Gactornis enarratus	Many
40	Madagascar Nightjar	Caprimulgus madagascariensis	Many
Swifts: Apodidae
41	Madagascar Spinetail	Zoonavena grandidieri	Many
42	Alpine Swift	Tachymarptis melba	Many
43	Malagasy Swift	Apus balstoni	Many
44	Little Swift	Apus affinis	AP,FD,TM
45	Malagasy Palm Swift	Cypsiurus gracilis	Many
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae
46	Madagascar Rail	Rallus madagascariensis	Many
47	White-throated Rail	Dryolimnas cuvieri	Many
48	Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Many
49	Red-knobbed Coot	Fulica cristata	Many
50	Allen's Gallinule	Porphyrio alleni	Many
51	African Swamphen	Porphyrio madagascariensis	Many
52	Baillon's Crake	Zapornia pusilla	Many
53	Sakalava Rail	Zapornia olivieri	LK,TA
Flufftails: Sarothruridae
54	Madagascar Forest Rail	Mentocrex kioloides	Many
55	Tsingy Forest Rail	Mentocrex beankaensis	TBNP
56	Madagascar Flufftail	Sarothrura insularis	Many
57	Slender-billed Flufftail	Sarothrura watersi	AF,AMNP,AP,BKA,TM
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae
58	Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Many
59	{Pied Avocet}	Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae
60	/Black-bellied Plover/	Pluvialis squatarola	Many
61	{Pacific Golden-Plover}	Pluvialis fulva	TA
62	/Common Ringed Plover/	Charadrius hiaticula	Many
63	Madagascar Three-banded Plover**	Charadrius bifrontatus
64	Three-banded Plover	Thinornis tricollaris	Many
65	/Tibetan Sand-Plover/	Anarhynchus atrifrons	AP,BW,IF,TA
66	/Greater Sand-Plover/	Anarhynchus leschenaultii	Many
67	Madagascar Plover	Anarhynchus thoracicus	Many
68	Kittlitz's Plover	Anarhynchus pecuarius	Many
69	White-fronted Plover	Anarhynchus marginatus	Many
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae
70	Greater Painted-Snipe	Rostratula benghalensis	Many
Jacanas: Jacanidae
71	Madagascar Jacana	Actophilornis albinucha	Many
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae
72	/Whimbrel/	Numenius phaeopus	Many
73	/Eurasian Curlew/	Numenius arquata	Many
74	/Bar-tailed Godwit/	Limosa lapponica	Many
75	{Black-tailed Godwit}	Limosa limosa
76	Madagascar Snipe	Gallinago macrodactyla	Many
77	{Red-necked Phalarope}	Phalaropus lobatus	TA
78	/Terek Sandpiper/	Xenus cinereus	Many
79	/Common Sandpiper/	Actitis hypoleucos	Many
80	{Green Sandpiper}	Tringa ochropus	TA
81	/Marsh Sandpiper/	Tringa stagnatilis	Many
82	/Wood Sandpiper/	Tringa glareola	BD,BW,ISP,TA,TM
83	/Common Greenshank/	Tringa nebularia	Many
84	/Ruddy Turnstone/	Arenaria interpres	Many
85	[Ruff]	Calidris pugnax	ISP,TA
86	{Sharp-tailed Sandpiper}	Calidris acuminata
87	/Curlew Sandpiper/	Calidris ferruginea	Many
88	{Buff-breasted Sandpiper}	Calidris subruficollis	TA
89	/Sanderling/	Calidris alba	Many
90	/Little Stint/	Calidris minuta	Many
91	[Pectoral Sandpiper]	Calidris melanotos
Buttonquail: Turnicidae
92	Madagascar Buttonquail	Turnix nigricollis	Many
Crab Plover: Dromadidae
93	Crab-Plover	Dromas ardeola	Many
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae
94	[Oriental Pratincole]	Glareola maldivarum	BW
95	Madagascar Pratincole	Glareola ocularis	Many
Skuas and Jaegers: Stercorariidae
96	#Long-tailed Jaeger#	Stercorarius longicaudus
97	#Brown Skua#	Stercorarius antarcticus	FD
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae
98	[Sabine's Gull]	Xema sabini
99	Gray-hooded Gull	Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus	Many
100	[Sooty Gull]	Ichthyaetus hemprichii	NVI
101	Kelp Gull	Larus dominicanus	Many
102	White Tern	Gygis alba
103	Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus	AKO,AMNP,AP,MNP,TA
104	Lesser Noddy	Anous tenuirostris	AP,MNP,TA
105	Sooty Tern	Onychoprion fuscatus	AKO,AP,NVI,TA
106	Bridled Tern	Onychoprion anaethetus	AP,MNP,NVI,TA
107	#Saunders's Tern#	Sternula saundersi	Many
108	{Australian Fairy Tern}	Sternula nereis
109	{Gull-billed Tern}	Gelochelidon nilotica
110	Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Many
111	Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida	Many
112	{Black Tern}	Chlidonias niger
113	{White-winged Tern}	Chlidonias leucopterus	BW,TA
114	Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii	Many
115	[Antarctic Tern]	Sterna vittata
116	/Common Tern/	Sterna hirundo	Many
117	{Black-naped Tern}	Sterna sumatrana
118	#Lesser Crested Tern#	Thalasseus bengalensis	Many
119	{Sandwich Tern}	Thalasseus sandvicensis
120	Great Crested Tern	Thalasseus bergii	Many
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae
121	#Greater Flamingo#	Phoenicopterus roseus	Many
122	#Lesser Flamingo#	Phoenicoparrus minor	Many
Grebes: Podicipedidae
123	Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Many
124	Madagascar Grebe	Tachybaptus pelzelnii	Many
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae
125	#White-tailed Tropicbird#	Phaethon lepturus	AM,AP,IF,NVI,TA
126	{Red-billed Tropicbird}	Phaethon aethereus
127	(Red-tailed Tropicbird)	Phaethon rubricauda	Many
Penguins: Spheniscidae
128	{Southern Rockhopper Penguin}	Eudyptes chrysocome
129	{Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin}	Eudyptes moseleyi
Albatrosses: Diomedeidae
130	Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross**	Thalassarche carteri
131	&Salvin's Albatrossl	Thalassarche salvini
132	{Black-browed Albatross}	Thalassarche melanophris
Southern Storm-Petrels: Oceanitidae
133	#Wilson's Storm-Petrel#	Oceanites oceanicus	AKO,NVI,TA
134	{White-faced Storm-Petrel}	Pelagodroma marina
135	{White-bellied Storm-Petrel}	Fregetta grallaria
136	#Black-bellied Storm-Petrel#	Fregetta tropica	TA
Shearwaters and Petrels: Procellariidae
137	#Southern Giant-Petrel#	Macronectes giganteus
138	#Pintado Petrel#	Daption capense	TA
139	#Great-winged Petrel#	Pterodroma macroptera	TA
140	{Soft-plumaged Petrel}	Pterodroma mollis	TA
141	{Barau's Petrel}	Pterodroma baraui	TA
142	#Antarctic Prion#	Pachyptila desolata
143	(Slender-billed Prion)	Pachyptila belcheri
144	\|Bulwer's Petrel\|	Bulweria bulwerii
145	\|Jouanin's Petrel\|	Bulweria fallax
146	Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris borealis
147	{Flesh-footed Shearwater}	Ardenna carneipes
148	#Wedge-tailed Shearwater#	Ardenna pacificus	AP,FD,IF
149	#Tropical Shearwater#	Puffinus bailloni
Storks: Ciconiidae
150	African Openbill	Anastomus lamelligerus	Many
151	Yellow-billed Stork	Mycteria ibis	Many
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae
152	#Lesser Frigatebird#	Fregata ariel	Many
153	#Great Frigatebird#	Fregata minor	Many
Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae
154	Red-footed Booby	Sula sula	AP,TA
155	Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster	AP,MNP,TA
156	{Masked Booby}	Sula dactylatra	AP,MNP,TA
Anhingas: Anhingidae
157	African Darter	Anhinga rufa	Many
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae
158	Reed Cormorant	Microcarbo africanus	Many
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
159	Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Many
160	Madagascar Ibis	Lophotibis cristata	Many
161	Malagasy Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis bernieri	Many
162	African Spoonbill	Platalea alba	Many
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae
163	Little Bittern	Botaurus minutus	Many
164	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Many
165	Black Heron	Egretta ardesiaca	Many
166	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Many
167	Striated Heron	Butorides striata	Many
168	Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides	Many
169	(Malagasy Pond-Heron)	Ardeola idae	Many
170	Western Cattle-Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Many
171	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Many
172	Gray Heron	Ardea cinerea	Many
173	Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Many
174	Humblot's Heron	Ardea humbloti	Many
175	{Black-headed Heron}	Ardea melanocephala
176	{Goliath Heron}	Ardea goliath
Hamerkop: Scopidae
177	Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta	Many
Pelicans: Pelecanidae
178	Pink-backed Pelican	Pelecanus rufescens
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae
179	Madagascar Harrier-Hawk	Polyboroides radiatus	Many
180	Madagascar Serpent-Eagle	Eutriorchis astur	AMNP,BKA,MNP
181	Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk	Aviceda madagascariensis	Many
182	Bat Hawk	Macheiramphus alcinus	Many
183	Frances's Sparrowhawk	Tachyspiza francesiae	Many
184	Madagascar Sparrowhawk	Accipiter madagascariensis	Many
185	Henst's Goshawk	Astur henstii	Many
186	Malagasy Harrier	Circus macrosceles	Many
187	[Pallid Harrier]	Circus macrourus	BW
188	Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Many
189	Yellow-billed Kite**	Milvus aegyptius	Many
190	Madagascar Fish-Eagle	Icthyophaga vociferoides	Many
191	Madagascar Buzzard	Buteo brachypterus	Many
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae
192	Western Barn Owl	Tyto alba	Many
193	Red Owl	Tyto soumagnei	Many
Owls: Strigidae
194	Madagascar Scops-Owl	Otus rutilus	Many
195	White-browed Owl	Athene superciliaris	Many
196	Madagascar Owl	Asio madagascariensis	Many
197	Marsh Owl	Asio capensis	Many
Cuckoo-Roller: Leptosomidae
198	Cuckoo-roller	Leptosomus discolor	Many
Hoopoes: Upupidae
199	Madagascar Hoopoe	Upupa marginata	Many
Bee-eaters: Meropidae
200	Olive Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus	Many
201	{European Bee-eater}	Merops apiaster
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae
202	Malagasy Kingfisher	Corythornis vintsioides	Many
203	Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher	Corythornis madagascariensis	Many
Rollers: Coraciidae
204	(Broad-billed Roller)	Eurystomus glaucurus	Many
Ground-Rollers: Brachypteraciidae
205	Scaly Ground-Roller	Geobiastes squamiger	Many
206	Short-legged Ground-Roller	Brachypteracias leptosomus	Many
207	Long-tailed Ground-Roller	Uratelornis chimaera	AKO,BW,IF,INP,TA
208	Pitta-like Ground-Roller	Atelornis pittoides	Many
209	Rufous-headed Ground-Roller	Atelornis crossleyi	Many
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae
210	Malagasy Kestrel	Falco newtoni	Many
211	Banded Kestrel	Falco zoniventris	Many
212	/Eleonora's Falcon/	Falco eleonorae	Many
213	/Sooty Falcon/	Falco concolor	Many
214	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Many
Parrots: Psittaculidae
215	Greater Vasa Parrot	Mascarinus vasa	Many
216	Lesser Vasa Parrot	Mascarinus niger	Many
217	Gray-headed Lovebird	Agapornis canus	Many
Asities: Philepittidae
218	Velvet Asity	Philepitta castanea	Many
219	Schlegel's Asity	Philepitta schlegeli	Many
220	Common Sunbird-Asity	Neodrepanis coruscans	Many
221	Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity	Neodrepanis hypoxantha	Many
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae
222	Madagascar Cuckooshrike	Ceblepyris cinerea	Many
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae
223	{Eurasian Golden Oriole}	Oriolus oriolus	IF,TA
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae
224	Archbold's Newtonia	Newtonia archboldi	Many
225	Common Newtonia	Newtonia brunneicauda	Many
226	Dark Newtonia	Newtonia amphichroa	Many
227	Red-tailed Newtonia	Newtonia fanovanae	AHH,BR,RNP
228	Tylas Vanga	Tylas eduardi	Many
229	Red-tailed Vanga	Calicalicus madagascariensis	Many
230	Red-shouldered Vanga	Calicalicus rufocarpalis	Many
231	Nuthatch-Vanga	Hypositta corallirostris	Many
232	Chabert Vanga	Leptopterus chabert	Many
233	Crossley's Vanga	Mystacornis crossleyi	Many
234	Madagascar Blue Vanga	Cyanolanius madagascarinus	Many
235	Hook-billed Vanga	Vanga curvirostris	Many
236	Ward's Flycatcher	Pseudobias wardi	Many
237	Rufous Vanga	Schetba rufa	Many
238	Helmet Vanga	Euryceros prevostii	AMNP,AP,IFR,MNP,PR
239	Bernier's Vanga	Oriolia bernieri	Many
240	Sickle-billed Vanga	Falculea palliata	Many
241	White-headed Vanga	Artamella viridis	Many
242	Pollen's Vanga	Xenopirostris polleni	Many
243	Lafresnaye's Vanga	Xenopirostris xenopirostris	Many
244	Van Dam's Vanga	Xenopirostris damii	ANP,AP,LA
Drongos: Dicruridae
245	Crested Drongo	Dicrurus forficatus	Many
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae
246	Malagasy Paradise-Flycatcher	Terpsiphone mutata	Many
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae
247	{House Crow}	Corvus splendens
248	Pied Crow	Corvus albus	Many
Larks: Alaudidae
249	Madagascar Lark	Mirafra hova	Many
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae
250	Common Jery	Neomixis tenella	Many
251	Green Jery	Neomixis viridis	Many
252	Stripe-throated Jery	Neomixis striatigula	Many
253	Subdesert Jery**	Neomixis pallidior	Many
254	Madagascar Cisticola	Cisticola cherina	Many
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae
255	Malagasy Brush-Warbler	Nesillas typica	Many
256	Subdesert Brush-Warbler	Nesillas lantzii	Many
257	Madagascar Swamp Warbler	Acrocephalus newtoni	Many
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae
258	Gray Emutail	Bradypterus seebohmi	Many
259	Brown Emutail	Bradypterus brunneus	Many
Malagasy Warblers: Bernieridae
260	White-throated Oxylabes	Oxylabes madagascariensis	Many
261	Long-billed Bernieria	Bernieria madagascariensis	Many
262	Cryptic Warbler	Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi	Many
263	Wedge-tailed Jery	Hartertula flavoviridis	Many
264	Thamnornis	Thamnornis chloropetoides	Many
265	Madagascar Yellowbrow	Crossleyia xanthophrys	Many
266	Dusky Tetraka	Crossleyia tenebrosa	AMNP,MNP,PR
267	Spectacled Tetraka	Xanthomixis zosterops	Many
268	Appert's Tetraka	Xanthomixis apperti	IF,INP,TNP,ZVNP
269	Gray-crowned Tetraka	Xanthomixis cinereiceps	Many
270	Rand's Warbler	Randia pseudozosterops	Many
Swallows: Hirundinidae
271	Mascarene Martin	Phedina borbonica	Many
272	Madagascar Martin	Riparia cowani	Many
273	{Bank Swallow}	Riparia riparia	BW,TA
274	/Barn Swallow/	Hirundo rustica	Many
275	{Lesser Striped Swallow}	Cecropis abyssinica
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae
276	Malagasy Bulbul	Hypsipetes madagascariensis	Many
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae
277	Malagasy White-eye	Zosterops maderaspatanus	Many
Starlings: Sturnidae
278	{Wattled Starling}	Creatophora cinerea	TA
279	Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Many
280	Madagascar Starling	Hartlaubius auratus	Many
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae
281	Madagascar Magpie-Robin	Copsychus albospecularis	Many
282	Pelzeln's Magpie-Robin**	Copsychus pica	Many
283	Littoral Rock-Thrush	Monticola imerina	Many
284	Amber Mountain Rock-Thrush	Monticola erythronotus	AKR,AM,AP
285	Forest Rock-Thrush	Monticola sharpei	Many
286	Benson's Rock-Thrush**	Monticola bensoni	INP,ZVNP
287	African Stonechat	Saxicola torquatus	Many
288	[Northern Wheatear]	Oenanthe oenanthe	AKO
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae
289	Souimanga Sunbird	Cinnyris sovimanga	Many
290	Malagasy Sunbird	Cinnyris notatus	Many
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae
291	Nelicourvi Weaver	Ploceus nelicourvi	Many
292	Sakalava Weaver	Ploceus sakalava	Many
293	Red Fody	Foudia madagascariensis	Many
294	Forest Fody	Foudia omissa	Many
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae
295	Madagascar Munia	Lepidopygia nana	Many
296	Common Waxbill	Estrilda astrild	AP
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae
297	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Many
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae
298	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
Amber Mountain	105
Anakao	116
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park	149
Andohahela National Park	129
Andreba Forest-Anjozorobe/Angavo	107
Ankarafantsika National Park	145
Ankarana Reserve	113
Antisiranana Province	198
Belalanda Wetlands	126
Bemanevika	118
Berenty Reserve	145
Betsiboka Delta	141
Fort Dauphin	115
Iaroka Forest Reserve	107
Ifaty Forest	159
Ifaty Salt Pans	99
Isalo National Park	120
Lake Ampitolova	50
Lake Kinkony	93
Mahajanga	130
Maromizaha Reserve	104
Masoala National Park	136
Nosy Ve Island	104
Perinet Reserve	154
Ranomafana National Park	169
Torotorofotsy Marsh	128
Tsimanampetsotsa National Par	124
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park	121
Tulear Mud Flats	217
Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park	130
Total Species	298

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.