Madagascar bird checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Jamaican Becard, Jamaica, Jan van den Broek

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Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World
Madagascar

This checklist includes all bird species found in Madagascar , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to .

The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows African Bird Club Checklist (2008). If you prefer to view the list based on a different authority, click on one of the list available below. Globally threatened species (status in red) were identified by Birdlife International in Threatened Birds of the World (Birds to Watch 3).

Bird Checklists of the World is part of Avibase and Bird links to the World, which are designed and maintained by Denis Lepage, and hosted by Bird Studies Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

Go back to Bird Checklists of the World
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Sibley & Monroe 1996 Howard & Moore 3rd edition (corrigenda 8) Clements 5th edition (updated 2005) Clements 6th edition (updated 2008) Commission internationale pour les noms français d'oiseaux (CINFO 1993) IOC World Bird Names (2009) African Bird Club Checklist (2008)

No synonyms Czech German Danish Spanish Finnish French Icelandic Italian Japanese Japanese Dutch Polish Portuguese Portuguese (Brazil) Russian Swedish Malagasy

Text only Bird photos

Country or region: Madagascar
Number of species: 295
Number of endemics: 105
Number of breeding endemics: 2
Number of globally threatened species: 31
Number of extinct species: 1
Number of introduced species: 8
Diomedeidae
Wandering Albatross	Diomedea exulans
Black-browed Albatross	Thalassarche melanophrys	Rare/Accidental
Yellow-nosed Albatross	Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Sooty Albatross	Phoebetria fusca	Endangered
Procellariidae
Southern Giant Petrel	Macronectes giganteus	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Pintado Petrel	Daption capense	Rare/Accidental
Great-winged Petrel	Pterodroma macroptera
Barau's Petrel	Pterodroma baraui	Endangered
Soft-plumaged Petrel	Pterodroma mollis
Broad-billed Prion	Pachyptila vittata	Rare/Accidental
Salvin's Prion	Pachyptila salvini	Rare/Accidental
Wedge-tailed Shearwater	Puffinus pacificus
Audubon's Shearwater	Puffinus lherminieri	Rare/Accidental
Hydrobatidae
Wilson's Storm-petrel	Oceanites oceanicus
Black-bellied Storm-petrel	Fregetta tropica
White-bellied Storm-petrel	Fregetta grallaria
Spheniscidae
Rockhopper Penguin	Eudyptes chrysocome	Rare/Accidental
Podicipedidae
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Alaotra Grebe	Tachybaptus rufolavatus	Endemic Critically endangered
Madagascar Grebe	Tachybaptus pelzelnii	Endemic Vulnerable
Phaethontidae
Red-billed Tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus	Rare/Accidental
Red-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon rubricauda
White-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus
Sulidae
Masked Booby	Sula dactylatra
Red-footed Booby	Sula sula
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Phalacrocoracidae
Long-tailed Cormorant	Phalacrocorax africanus
Anhingidae
African Darter	Anhinga rufa
Pelecanidae
Pink-backed Pelican	Pelecanus rufescens
Fregatidae
Greater Frigatebird	Fregata minor
Lesser Frigatebird	Fregata ariel
Ardeidae
Little Bittern	Ixobrychus minutus
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides
Madagascar Pond Heron	Ardeola idae	Endangered
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron	Butorides striata
Black Heron	Egretta ardesiaca
Western Reef Heron	Egretta gularis
Dimorphic Egret	Egretta dimorpha
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Great White Egret	Egretta alba
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron	Ardea melanocephala	Rare/Accidental
Madagascar Heron	Ardea humbloti	Endemic Endangered
Goliath Heron	Ardea goliath	Rare/Accidental
Scopidae
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta
Ciconiidae
Yellow-billed Stork	Mycteria ibis
African Openbill Stork	Anastomus lamelligerus
Threskiornithidae
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis aethiopicus
Madagascar Crested Ibis	Lophotibis cristata	Endemic Near-threatened
African Spoonbill	Platalea alba
Phoenicopteridae
Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber
Lesser Flamingo	Phoeniconaias minor	Near-threatened
Anatidae
Fulvous Whistling Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor
White-faced Whistling Duck	Dendrocygna viduata
White-backed Duck	Thalassornis leuconotus
Greylag Goose	Anser anser	Introduced species
Knob-billed Duck	Sarkidiornis melanotos
African Pygmy Goose	Nettapus auritus
Madagascar Teal	Anas bernieri	Endemic Endangered
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Introduced species
Meller's Duck	Anas melleri	Endemic Endangered
Red-billed Teal	Anas erythrorhyncha
Hottentot Teal	Anas hottentota
Madagascar Pochard	Aythya innotata	Endemic Critically endangered
Accipitridae
Madagascar Cuckoo Hawk	Aviceda madagascariensis	Endemic
Bat Hawk	Macheiramphus alcinus
Black-shouldered Kite	Elanus caeruleus
Black Kite	Milvus migrans
Madagascar Fish Eagle	Haliaeetus vociferoides	Endemic Critically endangered
Madagascar Serpent Eagle	Eutriorchis astur	Endemic Endangered
Madagascar Harrier Hawk	Polyboroides radiatus
Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Madagascar Marsh Harrier	Circus maillardi
Frances's Sparrowhawk	Accipiter francesii
Madagascar Sparrowhawk	Accipiter madagascariensis	Endemic Near-threatened
Henst's Goshawk	Accipiter henstii	Endemic Near-threatened
Madagascar Buzzard	Buteo brachypterus	Endemic
Falconidae
Madagascar Kestrel	Falco newtoni
Banded Kestrel	Falco zoniventris	Endemic
Eleonora's Falcon	Falco eleonorae
Sooty Falcon	Falco concolor	Near-threatened
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
Numididae
Helmeted Guineafowl	Numida meleagris	Introduced species
Phasianidae
Madagascar Partridge	Margaroperdix madagascarensis	Endemic
Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix
Harlequin Quail	Coturnix delegorguei
Mesitornithidae
White-breasted Mesite	Mesitornis variegatus	Endemic Vulnerable
Brown Mesite	Mesitornis unicolor	Endemic Vulnerable
Subdesert Mesite	Monias benschi	Endemic Vulnerable
Turnicidae
Madagascar Buttonquail	Turnix nigricollis	Endemic
Rallidae
Madagascar Wood Rail	Canirallus kioloides	Endemic
Madagascar Flufftail	Sarothrura insularis	Endemic
Slender-billed Flufftail	Sarothrura watersi	Endemic Endangered
Corncrake	Crex crex	Near-threatened
White-throated Rail	Dryolimnas cuvieri
Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus
Madagascar Rail	Rallus madagascariensis	Endemic Vulnerable
Little Crake	Porzana parva
Baillon's Crake	Porzana pusilla
Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana
Sakalava Rail	Amaurornis olivieri	Endemic Endangered
Allen's Gallinule	Porphyrio alleni
Purple Swamphen	Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Red-knobbed Coot	Fulica cristata
Jacanidae
African Jacana	Actophilornis africanus
Madagascar Jacana	Actophilornis albinucha	Endemic
Rostratulidae
Greater Painted-snipe	Rostratula benghalensis
Dromadidae
Crab-plover	Dromas ardeola
Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	Rare/Accidental
Glareolidae
Madagascar Pratincole	Glareola ocularis	Breeding endemic Vulnerable
Charadriidae
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius
Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Kittlitz's Plover	Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover	Charadrius tricollaris
Madagascar Plover	Charadrius thoracicus	Endemic Vulnerable
White-fronted Plover	Charadrius marginatus
Lesser Sand Plover	Charadrius mongolus
Greater Sand Plover	Charadrius leschenaultii
American Golden Plover	Pluvialis dominica
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva	Rare/Accidental
Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Scolopacidae
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Little Stint	Calidris minuta
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea
Dunlin	Calidris alpina
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax
Madagascar Snipe	Gallinago macrodactyla	Endemic Near-threatened
Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa	Near-threatened
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Near-threatened
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	Rare/Accidental
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Rare/Accidental
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	Rare/Accidental
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Stercorariidae
Arctic Skua	Stercorarius parasiticus	Rare/Accidental
Great Skua	Catharacta skua
South Polar Skua	Catharacta maccormicki
Subantarctic Skua	Catharacta antarctica
Laridae
Sooty Gull	Larus hemprichii
Grey-headed Gull	Larus cirrocephalus
Kelp Gull	Larus dominicanus
Sternidae
Gull-billed Tern	Sterna nilotica	Rare/Accidental
Caspian Tern	Sterna caspia
Greater Crested Tern	Sterna bergii
Lesser Crested Tern	Sterna bengalensis
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis
Black-naped Tern	Sterna sumatrana
Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	Rare/Accidental
Bridled Tern	Sterna anaethetus
Sooty Tern	Sterna fuscata
Damara Tern	Sterna balaenarum	Near-threatened
Little Tern	Sterna albifrons
Saunders's Tern	Sterna saundersi	Rare/Accidental
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida
Black Tern	Chlidonias niger	Rare/Accidental
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Noddy	Anous tenuirostris
Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus
Fairy Tern	Gygis alba	Rare/Accidental
Pteroclidae
Madagascar Sandgrouse	Pterocles personatus	Endemic
Columbidae
Madagascar Green Pigeon	Treron australis
Madagascar Blue Pigeon	Alectroenas madagascariensis	Endemic
Zebra Dove	Geopelia striata	Introduced species
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon	Columba livia	Introduced species
Madagascar Turtle Dove	Streptopelia picturata
Psittacidae
Greater Vasa Parrot	Coracopsis vasa
Lesser Vasa Parrot	Coracopsis nigra
Grey-headed Lovebird	Agapornis canus	Endemic
Cuculidae
Thick-billed Cuckoo	Pachycoccyx audeberti
Lesser Cuckoo	Cuculus poliocephalus
Madagascar Cuckoo	Cuculus rochii	Breeding endemic
Snail-eating Coua	Coua delalandei	Endemic Extinct
Giant Coua	Coua gigas	Endemic
Coquerel's Coua	Coua coquereli	Endemic
Red-breasted Coua	Coua serriana	Endemic
Red-fronted Coua	Coua reynaudii	Endemic
Running Coua	Coua cursor	Endemic
Red-capped Coua	Coua ruficeps	Endemic
Crested Coua	Coua cristata	Endemic
Verreaux's Coua	Coua verreauxi	Endemic Near-threatened
Blue Coua	Coua caerulea	Endemic
Madagascar Coucal	Centropus toulou
Tytonidae
Barn Owl	Tyto alba
Madagascar Red Owl	Tyto soumagnei	Endemic Endangered
Strigidae
African Scops Owl	Otus senegalensis
Madagascar Scops Owl	Otus rutilus	Endemic
Torotoroka Scops Owl	Otus madagascariensis	Endemic
White-browed Owl	Ninox superciliaris	Endemic
Madagascar Long-eared Owl	Asio madagascariensis	Endemic
Marsh Owl	Asio capensis
Caprimulgidae
Madagascar Nightjar	Caprimulgus madagascariensis
Collared Nightjar	Caprimulgus enarratus	Endemic
Red-necked Nightjar	Caprimulgus ruficollis
Apodidae
Mascarene Swiftlet	Aerodramus francicus	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Madagascar Spinetail	Zoonavena grandidieri
African Palm Swift	Cypsiurus parvus
African Black Swift	Apus barbatus
Alpine Swift	Tachymarptis melba
Alcedinidae
Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher	Ceyx madagascariensis	Endemic
Malachite Kingfisher	Alcedo cristata
Madagascar Kingfisher	Alcedo vintsioides
Meropidae
Madagascar Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus
Coraciidae
Broad-billed Roller	Eurystomus glaucurus
Brachypteraciidae
Short-legged Ground Roller	Brachypteracias leptosomus	Endemic Vulnerable
Scaled Ground Roller	Brachypteracias squamiger	Endemic Vulnerable
Pitta-like Ground Roller	Atelornis pittoides	Endemic
Rufous-headed Ground Roller	Atelornis crossleyi	Endemic Near-threatened
Long-tailed Ground Roller	Uratelornis chimaera	Endemic Vulnerable
Leptosomidae
Cuckoo Roller	Leptosomus discolor
Upupidae
Hoopoe	Upupa epops
Philepittidae
Velvet Asity	Philepitta castanea	Endemic
Schlegel's Asity	Philepitta schlegeli	Endemic Near-threatened
Wattled Asity	Neodrepanis coruscans	Endemic
Yellow-bellied Asity	Neodrepanis hypoxantha	Endemic Vulnerable
Alaudidae
Madagascar Lark	Mirafra hova	Endemic
Hirundinidae
Mascarene Martin	Phedina borbonica
Plain Martin	Riparia paludicola
Common Sand Martin	Riparia riparia	Rare/Accidental
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Rare/Accidental
Motacillidae
Madagascar Wagtail	Motacilla flaviventris	Endemic
Campephagidae
Madagascar Cuckoo-Shrike	Coracina cinerea
Pycnonotidae
Madagascar Black Bulbul	Hypsipetes madagascariensis
Turdidae
Madagascar Magpie-Robin	Copsychus albospecularis	Endemic
Common Stonechat	Saxicola torquatus
Littoral Rock Thrush	Pseudocossyphus imerina	Endemic
Forest Rock Thrush	Pseudocossyphus sharpei	Endemic
Benson's Rock Thrush	Pseudocossyphus bensoni	Endemic
Sylviidae
Brown Emu-tail	Dromaeocercus brunneus	Endemic
Grey Emu-tail	Amphilais seebohmi	Endemic
Madagascar Brush Warbler	Nesillas typica
Madagascar Swamp Warbler	Acrocephalus newtoni	Endemic
Incertae Sedis
Rand's Warbler	Randia pseudozosterops	Endemic
Cryptic Warbler	Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi	Endemic
Thamnornis	Thamnornis chloropetoides	Endemic
Common Newtonia	Newtonia brunneicauda	Endemic
Dark Newtonia	Newtonia amphichroa	Endemic
Archbold's Newtonia	Newtonia archboldi	Endemic
Red-tailed Newtonia	Newtonia fanovanae	Endemic Vulnerable
Long-billed Tetraka	Bernieria madagascariensis	Endemic
Short-billed Tetraka	Xanthomixis zosterops	Endemic
Appert's Tetraka	Xanthomixis apperti	Endemic Vulnerable
Dusky Tetraka	Xanthomixis tenebrosa	Endemic Vulnerable
Grey-crowned Tetraka	Xanthomixis cinereiceps	Endemic Near-threatened
White-throated Oxylabes	Oxylabes madagascariensis	Endemic
Madagascar Yellowbrow	Crossleyia xanthophrys	Endemic Near-threatened
Crossley's Babbler	Mystacornis crossleyi	Endemic
Madagascar Jery	Neomixis tenella	Endemic
Green Jery	Neomixis viridis	Endemic
Stripe-throated Jery	Neomixis striatigula	Endemic
Wedge-tailed Jery	Hartertula flavoviridis	Endemic Near-threatened
Cisticolidae
Madagascar Cisticola	Cisticola cherina
Monarchidae
Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone mutata
Platysteiridae
Ward's Flycatcher	Pseudobias wardi	Endemic
Nectariniidae
Madagascar Green Sunbird	Cinnyris notatus
Souimanga Sunbird	Cinnyris souimanga
Zosteropidae
Madagascar White-eye	Zosterops maderaspatanus
Oriolidae
Eurasian Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	Rare/Accidental
Vangidae
Red-tailed Vanga	Calicalicus madagascariensis	Endemic
Red-shouldered Vanga	Calicalicus rufocarpalis	Endemic Vulnerable
Rufous Vanga	Schetba rufa	Endemic
Hook-billed Vanga	Vanga curvirostris	Endemic
Lafresnaye's Vanga	Xenopirostris xenopirostris	Endemic
Van Dam's Vanga	Xenopirostris damii	Endemic Endangered
Pollen's Vanga	Xenopirostris polleni	Endemic Near-threatened
Sickle-billed Vanga	Falculea palliata	Endemic
White-headed Vanga	Artamella viridis	Endemic
Chabert Vanga	Leptopterus chabert	Endemic
Blue Vanga	Cyanolanius madagascarinus
Bernier's Vanga	Oriolia bernieri	Endemic Vulnerable
Helmet Vanga	Euryceros prevostii	Endemic Vulnerable
Nuthatch-Vanga	Hypositta corallirostris	Endemic
Tylas Vanga	Tylas eduardi	Endemic
Dicruridae
Crested Drongo	Dicrurus forficatus
Corvidae
Pied Crow	Corvus albus
Sturnidae
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Introduced species
Madagascar Starling	Saroglossa aurata	Endemic
Passeridae
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species
Ploceidae
Nelicourvi Weaver	Ploceus nelicourvi	Endemic
Sakalava Weaver	Ploceus sakalava	Endemic
Madagascar Red Fody	Foudia madagascariensis	Endemic
Forest Fody	Foudia omissa	Endemic
Estrildidae
Common Waxbill	Estrilda astrild	Introduced species
Madagascar Mannikin	Lonchura nana	Endemic

Avibase - Bird Checklists of the WorldMadagascar

Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World
Madagascar