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Some of the World's most fascinating and endangered birds are endemic to Madagascar. Yet for its size - and taking into account its profusion of habitat types - Madagascar has relatively few bird species (only about 265). But it holds more endemic genera (37) than any other African country and its 120 endemic species include 5 endemic families, (2 have representatives in the Comoros) and 1 endemic subfamily. Another 25-odd species belong to interesting genera unique to the Western Indian Ocean islands. To see the bulk of Madagascar's birds, you'll need to visit at least 1 site in each of the island's 3 chief climatic/floristic zones: eastern rainforest, southern spiny bush and western tropical deciduous forest. Each of these holds its own complement of endemics. In addition, a select band of birds is dependent on the island's dwindling wetlands, so be sure to include certain more accessible marshes, lakes and estuaries in your itinerary. Most birders also visit the transition forest of Zombitse National Park. During a stay of 2-3 weeks, and armed with the 2 excellent new field guides (the outstanding Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands by Ian Sinclair & Olivier Langrand is particularly user-friendly and clear in its layout); you should be able to tick off most of the sought-after lifers, as well as a remarkable array of mammals, reptiles, frogs, invertebrates and the fascinating flora. When to go: Eastern Rainforest Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest Transition Forest Southern sub-arid thorn thicket |
Eastern Rainforest - Masoala National Park
Satellite ViewExceptional birding is to be had in this park, which protects the largest remaining Malagasy lowland rainforest. Aside from nearly all the broadly distributed rainforest endemics, specials like the Brown Mesite, Red-breasted Coua, Scaly Ground-roller and the Helmet and Bernier's Vangas, abound. 2 extremely rare species; the Madagascar Serpent Eagle and Madagascar Red Owl, find sanctuary here. (Seeing either of these is never guaranteed however, as they are exceedingly elusive). Masoala is usually offered as an optional extension to the standard birding tour.
Eastern Rainforest - Perinet Reserve & Mantadia National Park
Satellite ViewUsually, this readily accessible montane rainforest (3 hours drive east of Antananarivo) provides a perfect introduction to Madagascar birding. A 3-day stay here will allow you to explore Perinet, the nearby Mantadia National Park and also one of the local marshes. In Perinet (Analamazaotra/Andasibe) itself, you should tick off many generally distributed Malagasy endemics. Local specials include the Red-fronted Coua, Rand's Warbler, Coral-billed Nuthatch Vanga and Tylas. With luck, you'll see Madagascar Wood-rail, Madagascar Flufftail and Collared Nightjar.
A second day in the area should be used for the 10,000 ha Mantadia National Park, a great example of primary montane rainforest. This new park is deservedly becoming one of Madagascar's most visited birding hotspots. Its denizens include all 4 the rainforest-dwelling ground-rollers, the 3 oxylabes, all 3 rainforest-dependent asitys, Forest Rock-thrush and Brown Emutail. The bizarre Helmet Vanga is now known to occur there too.
NB Two marshes in the area - Torotorofotsy and Ampasipotsy - hold Meller's Duck, Madagascar Snipe, Madagascar Rail, Grey Emutail and Madagascar Swamp Warbler, among others. This is possibly the best place in which to seek the ultra rare Slender-billed Flufftail.
Eastern Rainforest - Ranomafana National Park
Satellite ViewThis very beautiful montane rainforest was declared a national park in the 1980s, primarily to protect various species of Lemur. It is arguably the island's single best rainforest birding locality. The ideal length of stay is 3 days, which will allow for time to take in some of the half-day or day walks in the park. Resident birds include the wary Brown Mesite, Henst's Goshawk and Madagascar Long-eared Owl. But heading the wish-lists of most birders are the 4 rainforest dwelling ground rollers. Of these, the pittalike, Rufous-headed and Short-legged are particularly frequently seen in Ranomafana. Other megaticks here include Velvet Asity, Common Sunbird Asity and all 3 oxylabes (Crossley's Babbler, White-throated Oxylabes and the rare, localised Yellow-browed Oxylabes); the Gray-crowned Greenbul, Forest Rock-thrush and Pollen's Vanga. Up on the high ridges, look for the Yellow-bellied Sunbird Asity, Brown Emutail and recently described Cryptic Warbler. At the nearby Vohiparara marsh, you might see the Madagascar Rail, Madagascar Flufftail, Grey Emutail and even the elusive Slender-billed Flufftail.
Spiny Bush - Ifaty Beach
Satellite View29km north of the town Tulear by deeply rutted road you will find Ifaty Beach, the most important birding locality of the dry south.Here the euphorbia-didieraceae bush is at its tallest, with bottle baobabs and octopus trees being prominent features. Highly localised megaticks include the sub-Desert Mesite and Long-tailed Ground-roller as well as LaFresnaye's Vanga and Archbold's Newtonia. Look also for the Running Coua and Sub-desert Brush-warbler. Ifaty is also an excellent place in which to seek the uncommon Banded Kestrel, as well as the White-browed Owl (before dawn); Madagascar Nightjar and Madagascar Buttonquail.
Spiny Bush - St Augustin Bay
Satellite View30kms south of Tulear is St Augustin Bay, where the vegetation is considerably lower than that in Ifaty. It is referred to as coral ragg scrub. The impressive baobabs and octopus trees are replaced by much bushy euphorbia and some bloated moringa trees. This is the best place in which to look for far southern specials like Verreaux' Coua, Littoral Rock-thrush and the recently described Red-shouldered Vanga. When passing small roadside puddles, keep an eye open for the increasingly rare Madagascar Plover.
Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest - Ampijoroa Forest Station
Satellite ViewThe place included on all birders itineraries is Ampijoroa Forest Station, the tourist-accessible part of the Ankarafantsika Reserve. The local specials are mostly not hard to find: look for White-breasted Mesite, Coquerel's and Red-capped Couas and Van Dam's Vanga. Less easily seen is the Schlegel's Asity. Several vangas are quite common, including the Sicklebill, Rufous, Hook-billed, Blue and Chabert's Vangas. Raptors abound, including the very rare Madagascar Fish Eagle, Madagascar Gymnogene, Madagascar Buzzard, Madagascar Sparrowhawk and Frances's Sparrowhawk. More generally distributed species often encountered here include Madagascar Crested Ibis, White-throated Rail, Greater Vasa Parrot, Madagascar Green Pigeon and Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher. At nearby wetlands, you might find Humblot's Heron, Madagascar White Ibis, Madagascar Jacana, Madagascar Pratincole and if you are very lucky, the rare Madagascar (Bernier's) Teal. (If you have a day to spare in the Mahajanga area, a boat excursion into the Bombetoka Bay may also deliver the wetland endemics).
Derek Schuurman
derek@rainbowtours.co.ukhttp://www.rainbowtours.co.uk
Number of bird species: 292
Number of endemics: 103
Is this the highest ratio of endemics to total number of species anywhere in the world?
Madagascar Partridge Margaroperdix madagarensis Meller`s Duck Anas melleri Bernier`s Teal Anas bernieri Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata Madagascar Buttonquail Turnix nigricollis Madagascar Hoopoe Upupa marginata Short-legged Ground-Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus Scaly Ground-Roller Brachypteracias squamigera Pitta-like Ground-Roller Atelornis pittoides Rufous-headed Ground-Roller Atelornis crossleyi Long-tailed Ground-Roller Uratelornis chimaera Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher Ispidina madagascariensis Madagascar Cuckoo Cuculus rochii Giant Coua Coua gigas Coquerel`s Coua Coua coquereli Red-breasted Coua Coua serriana Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii Running Coua Coua cursor Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps Crested Coua Coua cristata Verreaux`s Coua Coua verreauxi Blue Coua Coua caerulea Grey-headed Lovebird Agapornis canus Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei White-browed Hawk-Owl Ninox superciliaris Madagascar Owl Asio madagascariensis Collared Nightjar Caprimulgus enarratus Madagascar Blue-Pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis Kioloides Rail Canirallus kioloides Madagascar Flufftail Sarothrura insularis Slender-billed Flufftail Sarothrura watersi
Madagascar Rail Rallus madagascariensis Corn Crake Crex crex Sakalava Rail Amaurornis olivieri White-breasted Mesite Mesitornis variegata Brown Mesite Mesitornis unicolor Subdesert Mesite Monias benschi Madagascar Sandgrouse Pterocles personatus Madagascar Snipe Gallinago macrodactyla Madagascar Jacana Actophilornis albinucha Black-banded Plover Charadrius thoracicus Madagascar Pratincole Glareola ocularis Madagascar Baza Aviceda madagascariensis Madagascar Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides Madagascar Serpent-Eagle Eutriorchis astur Madagascar Sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascariensis Henst`s Goshawk Accipiter henstii Madagascar Buzzard Buteo brachypterus Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris Alaotra Grebe Tachybaptus rufolavatus Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii Humblot`s Heron Ardea humbloti White-winged Ibis Lophotibis cristata Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea Schlegel`s Asity Philepitta schlegeli Sunbird Asity Neodrepanis coruscans Yellow-bellied Asity Neodrepanis hypoxantha
Ward`s Shrike-flycatcher Pseudobias wardi Red-tailed Vanga Calicalicus madagascariensis Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa Hook-billed Vanga Vanga curvirostris Lafresnaye`s Vanga Xenopirostris xenopirostris Van Dam`s Vanga Xenopirostris damii Pollen`s Vanga Xenopirostris polleni Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata White-headed Vanga Artamella viridis Chabert`s Vanga Leptopterus chabert Bernier`s Vanga Oriolia bernieri Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi Nuthatch Vanga Hypositta corallirostris Forest Rock-Thrush Pseudocossyphus sharpei Benson`s Rock-Thrush Pseudocossyphus bensoni Littoral Rock-Thrush Pseudocossyphus imerinus Madagascar Magpie-Robin Copsychus albospecularis Madagascar Starling Saroglossa aurata Long-billed Greenbul Phyllastrephus madagascariensis Spectacled Greenbul Phyllastrephus zosterops Appert`s Greenbul Phyllastrephus apperti Dusky Greenbul Phyllastrephus tenebrosus Grey-crowned Greenbul Phyllastrephus cinereiceps Cryptic Warbler Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi Brown Emu-tail Dromaeocercus brunneus Grey Emu-tail Dromaeocercus seebohmi
Madagascar Brush-Warbler Nesillas typica Thamnornis Warbler Thamnornis chloropetoides Madagascar Swamp-Warbler Acrocephalus newtoni Rand`s Warbler Randia pseudozosterops Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa Common Newtonia Newtonia brunneicauda Archbold`s Newtonia Newtonia archboldi Red-tailed Newtonia Newtonia fanovanae Common Jery Neomixis tenella Green Jery Neomixis viridis Stripe-throated Jery Neomixis striatigula Wedge-tailed Jery Neomixis flavoviridis White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes madagascariensis Yellow-browed Oxylabes Crossleyia xanthophrys Crossley`s Babbler Mystacornis crossleyi Madagascar Lark Mirafra hova Madagascar Wagtail Motacilla flaviventris Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava Madagascar Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis Forest Fody Foudia omissa Madagascar Munia Lemuresthes nana
Is this the highest ratio of endemics to total number of species anywhere in the world?
Madagascar Partridge Margaroperdix madagarensis Meller`s Duck Anas melleri Bernier`s Teal Anas bernieri Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata Madagascar Buttonquail Turnix nigricollis Madagascar Hoopoe Upupa marginata Short-legged Ground-Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus Scaly Ground-Roller Brachypteracias squamigera Pitta-like Ground-Roller Atelornis pittoides Rufous-headed Ground-Roller Atelornis crossleyi Long-tailed Ground-Roller Uratelornis chimaera Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher Ispidina madagascariensis Madagascar Cuckoo Cuculus rochii Giant Coua Coua gigas Coquerel`s Coua Coua coquereli Red-breasted Coua Coua serriana Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii Running Coua Coua cursor Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps Crested Coua Coua cristata Verreaux`s Coua Coua verreauxi Blue Coua Coua caerulea Grey-headed Lovebird Agapornis canus Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei White-browed Hawk-Owl Ninox superciliaris Madagascar Owl Asio madagascariensis Collared Nightjar Caprimulgus enarratus Madagascar Blue-Pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis Kioloides Rail Canirallus kioloides Madagascar Flufftail Sarothrura insularis Slender-billed Flufftail Sarothrura watersi
Madagascar Rail Rallus madagascariensis Corn Crake Crex crex Sakalava Rail Amaurornis olivieri White-breasted Mesite Mesitornis variegata Brown Mesite Mesitornis unicolor Subdesert Mesite Monias benschi Madagascar Sandgrouse Pterocles personatus Madagascar Snipe Gallinago macrodactyla Madagascar Jacana Actophilornis albinucha Black-banded Plover Charadrius thoracicus Madagascar Pratincole Glareola ocularis Madagascar Baza Aviceda madagascariensis Madagascar Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides Madagascar Serpent-Eagle Eutriorchis astur Madagascar Sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascariensis Henst`s Goshawk Accipiter henstii Madagascar Buzzard Buteo brachypterus Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris Alaotra Grebe Tachybaptus rufolavatus Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii Humblot`s Heron Ardea humbloti White-winged Ibis Lophotibis cristata Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea Schlegel`s Asity Philepitta schlegeli Sunbird Asity Neodrepanis coruscans Yellow-bellied Asity Neodrepanis hypoxantha
Ward`s Shrike-flycatcher Pseudobias wardi Red-tailed Vanga Calicalicus madagascariensis Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa Hook-billed Vanga Vanga curvirostris Lafresnaye`s Vanga Xenopirostris xenopirostris Van Dam`s Vanga Xenopirostris damii Pollen`s Vanga Xenopirostris polleni Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata White-headed Vanga Artamella viridis Chabert`s Vanga Leptopterus chabert Bernier`s Vanga Oriolia bernieri Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi Nuthatch Vanga Hypositta corallirostris Forest Rock-Thrush Pseudocossyphus sharpei Benson`s Rock-Thrush Pseudocossyphus bensoni Littoral Rock-Thrush Pseudocossyphus imerinus Madagascar Magpie-Robin Copsychus albospecularis Madagascar Starling Saroglossa aurata Long-billed Greenbul Phyllastrephus madagascariensis Spectacled Greenbul Phyllastrephus zosterops Appert`s Greenbul Phyllastrephus apperti Dusky Greenbul Phyllastrephus tenebrosus Grey-crowned Greenbul Phyllastrephus cinereiceps Cryptic Warbler Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi Brown Emu-tail Dromaeocercus brunneus Grey Emu-tail Dromaeocercus seebohmi
Madagascar Brush-Warbler Nesillas typica Thamnornis Warbler Thamnornis chloropetoides Madagascar Swamp-Warbler Acrocephalus newtoni Rand`s Warbler Randia pseudozosterops Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa Common Newtonia Newtonia brunneicauda Archbold`s Newtonia Newtonia archboldi Red-tailed Newtonia Newtonia fanovanae Common Jery Neomixis tenella Green Jery Neomixis viridis Stripe-throated Jery Neomixis striatigula Wedge-tailed Jery Neomixis flavoviridis White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes madagascariensis Yellow-browed Oxylabes Crossleyia xanthophrys Crossley`s Babbler Mystacornis crossleyi Madagascar Lark Mirafra hova Madagascar Wagtail Motacilla flaviventris Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava Madagascar Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis Forest Fody Foudia omissa Madagascar Munia Lemuresthes nana
A Field Guide to the Birds of Madagascar
S Yamagishi, T Masuda and H Rakotomanana 158 pages Kaiyusha Publishers CoISBN: 4905930812
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Madagascar - A Photographic Guide
Pete Morris & Frank Hawkins, Mark Andrews (Illustrator) Hardcover - 224 pages Pica Press 1998See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 1873403453
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Mauritius, R?union, Rodriges, Seychelles and the Comoros.
Ian Sinclair, et al. Softcover. Struik, 2003See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 1868729567
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Guide to the Birds of Madagascar
Olivier Langrand, Vincent Bretagnolle (Illustrator); Willem Daniels (Translator); HRH Prince Philip Hardcover - 376 pages ( 9 January, 1991) Yale University PressISBN: 0300043104
Buy this book from NHBS.com
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African Bird Club
WebsiteMadagascar's uniqueness is legendary and this is well reflected in its birds. Of the 280 species known from the island, an incredible 100 plus are entirely endemic to Madagascar and a further 20 or so are shared only with neighbouring South West Indian Ocean islands. Of greatest interest to itinerant birders are five endemic families, the mesites, asities, cuckoo-roller, vangas and the incomparable ground rollers, which make Madagascar an essential destination for anyone attempting to see all of the world's bird families...
Peregrine Fund
WebsiteThe Peregrine Fund began work in Madagascar in 1990 to help prevent the extinction of the Madagascar Fish Eagle, and attempt to re-discover the Madagascar Serpent-Eagle and Red Owl, species not reliably seen since last collected by museums in the 1930s. We first found the Madagascar Serpent-Eagle in 1993, and, a few months later in 1994, found the first Madagascar Red Owl. At the same time, we joined with CARE and the Wildlife Conservation Society to help create Masoala National Park to protect critical rainforest habitat for these species. As a result, Masoala National Park was inaugurated in 1997 and we continue to study rainforest raptors and assist the park with management-related field studies from Andranobe Field Station, our base of operations built in 1991.
Berenty Reserve
WebsiteSatellite View
The Berenty Reserve was created half a century ago by the d'Heaulme family as a private park; in the last twenty years it has been turned into a nature reserve cum hotel. It is the easiest way to see Lemur catta and Propithecus verreauxi in the wild. Bordering the Mandrare river it is a small patch (100 hectares) of gallery and riverine forest in the middle of what used to be spiny forest and is now mostly sisal fields. The reserve is home to 5 species of lemur, a flying fox (a large fruit bat) and 96 bird species.
IBAs
WebsiteThe birds show a very high degree of endemism with several bird families endemic to Madagascar and the neighbouring Comoros Islands. Over 100 species out of a total of over 200 breeding species are endemic to Madagascar. There are few terrestrial migrants as Madagascar seems to be off the usual Palearctic / African flyway...
Madagascar Lowland Forests
WebsiteMadagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, has been isolated for 150 to 180 million years from other land masses. This prolonged isolation is the major factor that led to extremely high levels of endemism of plant and animal species. Endemism within the island is approximately 80 to 90 percent for all groups, and endemic families and genera are commonplace. It is estimated that 85 percent of the island`s 12,000 species of flowering plants are found nowhere else in the world. This unique biodiversity has led to the recognition of Madagascar...
Ranomafana National Park
WebsiteSatellite View
Ranomafana National Park is located in the Fianarantsoa Province of southeastern Madagascar, it is about 2 hours drive from the city of Fianarantsoa and about 10 hours drive from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar...
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve
WebsiteSatellite View
Amongst the 53 species of bird recorded here, this is the only western dry forest site known for Madagascar grey-throated rail Canirallus kioloides (only previously known from north-western and eastern Madagascar)...
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2000 [December] - Garry George
ReportMadgascar first came up as a real possibility three years ago in Mexico. I was relaxing after a day of Military Macaws and Lesser Ground-Cuckoos on the Mirador near San Blas talking with a fellow traveler named Jim Hully who had just come from seeing Tufted Jays in Durango...
2001 [June] - Stig Linander - Winter Birding in Madagascar
ReportMadagascar is unique in that more than half of the breeding bird species are endemics. But birds are scarce in Madagascar, only about 250 species have been recorded and you can spend a full day without seeing any birds but egrets and crows. Therefore, most birding trips concentrate on the well-known reserves like Périnet and Berenty. But that`s a pity as Madagascar has much more to offer the naturalist. And we actually found birds outside the reserves, especially some hotel gardens turned out to be nice birding spots...
2001 [October] - Ron Hoff
ReportThis was a trip my wife, Dollyann Myers, and I have wanted to do for a long time and it was well worth the wait. It was simply superb! We had a realistic chance of finding 129 endemic or near-endemic species and we encountered them all!!! We actually saw 127 of them and the other two (Yellow-bellied Sunbird Asity and Henst`s Goshawk) were heard either by us or someone else in the group. There were 9 other endemics that we were either out of range for or there was so little chance of actually seeing them that it was almost impossible, so I didn`t include them as actual possibilities to be encountered. Anyway you look at it the trip was a resounding success. This was a trip run by the group known as Ornifolks. Our guide, Guy Eldridge (UK) (Turacotours@AOL.com); was professional, accurate, persistent when needed, and great fun to boot. He also had a terrific sense of humor. I don`t know when I`ve laughed so much on a birding trip...
2003 [January] - Malcolm Dawson
ReportThis trip was designed as a nine-day surgical strike to Madagascar. I am a family ticker and I needed to get representative members of the Indian Ocean Islands five endemic families. I also wanted to see all of Madgascar`s Ground Rollers. We achieved both of these goals. At the same time we managed a list of 131 species, including 88 of the 120 Malagasy endemics...
2003 [November] Michiel de Boer
ReportThis report covers a birding trip to Madagascar of me and my friend Ronald Jansen. This site contains links to the birdsounds that have been recorded during this trip...
2004 [November] - Clare Moger
ReportThe fact that many trip reports record a lot of endemics gave me the impression that many species were quite common in Madagascar. However, this isn`t the case, and the birding, especially in the forests in the east, is pretty tough as most species occur at very low densities. It`s a matter of specifically going for each bird, and generally seeing it just once. This is especially true of the mesites, ground-rollers (except perhaps Pitta-like), and many of the vangas and bulbuls (which might actually be vangas based on recent research!). However, the effort is well worthwhile, as a lot of the birds are really stunning...
2004 [November] - Tropical Birding
ReportOne of Tropical Birding’s four trips to the Red Island for 2004, this was one of our best Madagascar tours to date, recording 121 endemics and near-endemic bird species in a total list of 189 in 20 days of birding. We saw every species of Ground-roller including mind-blowing views of Scaly, Short-legged, Pitta-like, Rufous-headed and Long-tailed Ground Rollers. We also had absorbing looks at each of the world’s three Mesites, all the Asities, including the seldom seen Yellow-bellied Sunbird Asity, all of the world’s Coua species and all 13 Vanga species that were possible on this itinerary...
2005 [June] - Greg Roberts
Report...This is not the optimum time of year to bird Madagascar, so several species were missed. We did not see or hear Short-legged and Rufous-headed Ground-Roller, Brown Emutail and Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity. We heard but did not see Brown Mesite, Madagascar Rail and Van Dam’s Vanga. Nonetheless, I saw 48 of 55 target species; Bill missed 11 or so of a possible 130 species...
2006 [November] - Calan Cohen & Deirdre Vrancken
ReportThis tour started in the early morning with a early flight arrival and after breakfast at a nearby restaurant we proceeded to a wetland for some introductory Madagascar birding...
2006 [October] - Simon Harrap - Birdquest
Report2006 [October] - Time Earl - Travelling Naturalist
Report...Other birds to delight us included a super male Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, a couple of Chabert’s Vangas, several Crested Drongos (said to be the king of all creatures because they duped God into believing they had put out a great fire – the real heroes were bats) and a pair of Madagascar Wagtails which were building a nest on a road bridge. A stunning male Madagascar Green Sunbird posed for us before we slipped away for a great lunch in a nearby restaurant...
2006 [September] - Richard Cruse
ReportThis tour of Madagascar proved to be very successful, despite fairly difficult conditions. We managed to see all 10 couas and 15 of the 16 possible vangas but the seven days of bad weather did not give us any chance of seeing all of the ground-rollers. We saw a total of 165 species, including 94 true endemics and 13 regional endemics, as well as 20 species of Lemur...
2007 [November] - Simon Woolley
ReportA dream fulfilled! In autumn 2007, courtesy of some time off from our employer, we were finally able to visit the fabled island of Madagascar, in peak wildlife season, just at the end of the dry season.
2007 [October] - Christian Boix
Report...By carefully scanning the shores a small group of Fulvous Whistling Ducks was also found. Along the shoreline we added Common Moorhen (ssp pyrrhoroa) and a triple endemic whammy, a stunning Madagascar Kingfisher, a pair of Madagascar Grebes and perched on exactly the same spot as last year our first Madagascar Pond Heron...
2007 [October] - Josh Engel
Report...The afternoon we arrived served up an amazing start to our Madagascar experience. We arrived at lunchtime, but by the time breakfast was served we had already seen several distinctive Malagasy birds, including White-headed and Chabert’s Vangas and Greater Vasa Parrot. Best though was a brilliant Crested Coua, that we watched at our leisure as it ate drying sap from the bark of a tree...
2008 [October] - Cuan Rush
ReportOur adventures on the “eighth continent” began in the capital, Antananarivo, with a visit to Tsimbazaza Zoo. This offered us a taste of what was to come later on during the tour and it was here we notched-up the first of many endemics...
2008 [October] - Josh Engel
Report...Not only did we see all of the endemic families of bird, we had incredible views of all four asities, four of the five ground rollers (hearing the fifth), all three mesites, and--including the Masoala extension--every single vanga...
2009 [November] - Keith Valentine
ReportMadagascar just keeps on producing the goods year after year, and this particular 2009 season was exceptional as we racked up unbeatable views of all five Ground-Rollers, all four Asities (including all the males in full breeding plumage), all three Mesites and the very rare Slender-billed Flufftail. We also enjoyed a remarkable 25 species of fabulous lemurs and a host chameleons and other interesting wildlife...
2009 [October] - Glen Valentine
ReportOur extremely memorable and enjoyable tour to the diverse and endemic-rich island of Madagascar kicked off in the bustling expanse of Antananarivo. With the sun glistening off the brilliant green rice paddies and contrasting red brick kilns we traversed the open meat markets and vegetable stands towards Tsimbazaza Zoo and nearby Lake Alarobia...
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Fanomezantsoa Andrianirina
Tour OperatorOthers have said of him: Fano is an amazing local resource and has many years of tour guiding experience. He was the ground agent for many of Rockjumpers tours to Madagascar (which is how we met him), and has proved able to deal with whatever situations arise. He speaks Malagasy, French, English and German, and is a perfect gentleman. He has organized private tours, including a torturous (but successful) expedition to see the legendary Red Owl...
Field Guides
Tour OperatorAnnual trips...
Peter Ginn Birding Safaris
Tour OperatorA Natural History Tour to Madagascar with Birding as the main focus - annual trip...
Rainbow Tours
Tour OperatorRegular tours...
Remote Rivers
Tour OperatorAlthough greatly changed by man since 1771, Madagascar remains a truly wonderful country with unique wildlife, bizarre plants, superb climate, and the nicest people you will find anywhere. Even the cities and towns are fascinating, thanks to some inspired architecture and the Malagasy love for flowers, music, and warm colors...
Rockjumper Birding Tours
Tour OperatorWe at Rockjumper are rightly considered the “Malagasy experts”, having run more tours to the island than all other birding companies combined! We offer a wide array of tours to the island, ranging from 12 days for our budget Essential tour, to our 22 day Comprehensive tour.
Tropical Birding
Tour OperatorWe are an innovative and rapidly-growing company offering superb birding tours to many tropical destinations throughout the world. One of the things that sets us apart is our commitment to protecting the same birds that we love to show our clients. We are running several tours in conjuction with BirdLife International where we will donate half, or in a few cases ALL of the profits to bird conservation!
Chez Maggie Hotel - Morondava
AccommodationThe Chez Maggie Hotel is a wonderful hide-away located directly on the beach facing the setting sun...
Madagascar Hotels
AccommodationSearchable database
Birding in Madagascar
WebsiteWaking slowly, stretching languidly and reaching out their arms to take in the warmth of the early morning rays of sun, beautiful with their clean white fur contrasting with deep russet arms and thighs and ridiculously cute black teddy-bear faces with bright, burning amber, eyes. The Coquerel`s subspecies of Verreaux`s Sifaka is truly a beautiful animal and a wonderful vision with which to start any day. Daybreak in a new land is always exciting for the species hungry foreign birder, to wake a dawn in such a wonderfully bizarre location totally exhilarating. So it passed on August 4th, 1995 that Jeff Blincow, Nigel Goodgame and Mark Piper emerged from their tents amongst the western deciduous forest of Ampijoroa reserve, Northern Madagascar.
Endangered Birds of Madagascar
WebsiteSimply that...
Madagascar Bird Photographs
WebsiteA very variable (in terms of quality) collection of bird photographs.
Peregrine Fund Madagascar Project
WebsiteMadagascar is one of the world`s highest conservation priorities because many of the animals and plants are in imminent danger of extinction, including three species of birds of prey.
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This site was last updated on Monday, 30th January 2012.
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