The Birds of Madagascar
Overview
Almost 309 species of bird represented with 70 families, 24 orders have been recorded in Madagascar (Compilation of the list Nomenclature Clements, Vahatra and The Birds of Africa Volume III : The Malagasy Region) Of those, about 260 occur regularly, 106 are endemic to Madagascar, and another 30 are endemic to the Malagasy regional.
The modern avifauna of Madagascar comprises a total of 282 species: 132 are aquatic and 150 are forest-dwelling and prefer the open areas. With the 282 species, two are recently extinct : Tachybaptus rufolavatus and Coua delalandei.
Of the 280 living species, 208 are locally breeding (Langrand, 1990 ; Goodman & Hawkins, 2008; Raherilalao & Goodman, 2011), and the other 72 don’t breed on the island, including a large number of migratory species (about 67 species). Among those migratory species, four (04) do breed on the island (Ardeola idae, Glareola ocularis, Cuculus rochii, and Eurystomus glaucurus).
According of the IUCN Red List of Species (2015), Two (02) are Extinct and Forty-four (44) species were found to be threatened:
- 02 Critically Endengered
- 11 Endangered
- 16 Vulnerable
- 15 Near Threatened
Four (04) species present in nature have been introduced to Madagascar by human – (Columba livia, Acridotheres tristis, Passer domesticus, and Estrilda astrild) and another (Numida meleagris) was possibly introduced.
The extraordinary thing about the avifauna of Madagascar is the level of endemism. Seven groups are endemic above the level of genus:
- the family Mesitornithidae
- the subfamily Couinae
- the family Brachypteraciidae
- the family Leptosomidae
- the subfamily Philepittinae
- the family Bernieridae
- and the family Vangidae.
Mesitornithidae or the Mesites: Family endemic to Madagascar with 3 species in two genera : Mesitornis unicolor, Mesitornis variegata and Monias benschi. An undescribed extinct species, apparently in the genus Monias identified from bones found in Anjohibe cave (District of Mahajanga II) , NW Madagascar (Frank Hawkins and Steeve Goodman 2003). In total, four species of mesites are known from the island in recent geological history.
Couinae or the Couas: This subfamily is represented in Madagascar by a single genus Coua, and nine living species. Besides two extinct subfossil species, C. delalandei, which was documented on the island of St. Marie, disappeared 160 years ago. Therefore, a total of 12 species of Coua are known from the recent geological history of the island.
Brachypteraciidae or the Ground-rollers: Family endemic to Madagascar with 5 species in 4 genera; based on DNA study phylogeny. Four restricted to the rain forest : Atelornis crossleyi, Atelornis pittoides, Brachypteracias leptosomus, and Geobiastes squamigera and one to the spiny forest of the South West: Uratelornis chimæra. A sixth species is extinct: Brachypteracias lagrandi collected E of Ankazoabo Sud (Goodman 2000).
Leptosomidae or the Cuckoo-roller: This family is found only in Madagascar and the Comores, and is therefore considered as a family endemic to the Malagasy region. One study based on the difference between the plumages of the populations of Leptosomus discolor gracilis on Madagascar and Grande Comore finally resulted in the elevation of the population of Grande Comore to the rank of species.
Philepittinae or the Asities: Following the initial molecular and morphological studies of Prum (1993), the endemic family Phillepittidae, contain 2 genera with 2 species each, is nested within another widespread Old World groups, the family Eurylaimidae. Following Prum’s work, the species occurring on Madagascar are best considered an endemic subfamily Philepittanae. All species (4) restricted to the primary forest formations: three in the rain forest (Philepitta castanea, Neodrepanis coruscans, and Neodrepanis hypoxantha) and one in the West decidious forest (Philepitta schlegeli). All have been recorded in secondary forest but only where immediately adjecent to primary forest and usually when feeding on introduced nectar or fruit sources.
Bernieridae or the Malagasy warblers / Tetraka / Berniera: This family is currently represented on Madagascar by eight (8) genera (Bernieria, Crossleyia, Cryptosylvicola, Hartertula, Oxylabes, Randia, Thamnornis, and Xanthomixis) and eleven (11) species.
Vangidae or the Vangas: This family is represented on Madagascar by fifteen (15) genera (Artamella, Calicalicus, Cyanolanius, Euryceros, Falculea, Hypositta, Leptopterus, Mystacornis, Newtonia, Oriola, Pseudobias, Schetba, Tylas, Vanga, and Xenopirostris) and twenty one (21) species. Cyanolanius madagascarinus also lives on the Comores, and therefore constitutes a species endemic to the Malagasy region. With the exception of Calicalicus, Newtonia, and Xenopirostris, all of the genera are monotypic, or each represented by a single species. A recent study based on a very old specimen found near Andohahela National Park has revealed a new species of Hypositta, designated as H. perdita.